Too much/little processing? (First Submission!)

[Malgalin]

Here's my first submission to the DPS forums ever:

I'm interested to hear what people think of the degree of processing that has gone into this image. It's uncropped, the levels have been adjusted to bump up the contrast, the saturation has been increased and an unsharp mask has been applied.

Main question: Does this render the image too artificial looking?

Also, would you recommend a crop that removes the traffic lights etc from the left side? (I find it a little distracting...)

Any other critique welcome



Nikon D3000, Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2 Lens
300mm
1/125s
f/5.6
ISO 200
Flash did not fire

[Barry Jackson]

It looks great to me.

I think the lights and other black elements help to frame the subject, especially when you have a lot of other black elements scattered around the main subject.

I usually don't like a light area such as the upper left corner that is so far from the subject and close to an edge, but in this case I don't mind it. the abundance of wires helps to soften the problem such an area would normally cause.

I think the sign at the top is a nice addition even though it also breaks the rules I would normally follow.

Good composition, even if a few rules are broken.

[Malgalin]

Thanks for the comments, Barry.

I was undecided about the sign, too. I have several shots of the tram that don't include some of the elements that I thought might be distracting, but this is still the one that felt a little more interesting. Maybe it's the framing effect you suggest.

[vainqueur]

Did you do something to the tram? I think the composition is nice, although the lights and wires might cause some distraction there, I think you made up for that with the tram having stronger and more vibrant colors. I am not very sure if this photo will have the same effect if the overhead wires were to all disappear because I kinda find the overhead wires supporting the tram in a way...

Another suggestion but don't know if it will work. You want to try turning everything to b&w other than the tram or at least tuning down the colors for all the other objects other than the tram.

[Malgalin]

Thanks, Vainqueur. I didn't do anything specifically to the tram, but it was the thing most effected by the saturation bump.

I've attached three variations on the idea you suggested, too. One straight BW Spot Colour, and two lightened/dulled spot colours. Let me know what you think:

[vainqueur]

Originally Posted by Malgalin

Thanks, Vainqueur. I didn't do anything specifically to the tram, but it was the thing most effected by the saturation bump.

I've attached three variations on the idea you suggested, too. One straight BW Spot Colour, and two lightened/dulled spot colours. Let me know what you think:

I kinda like the second photo more.