Pedestrians Vs Traffic - How would you improve this?

[highlydope]

I think I like this photo but am looking for creative ways to improve it. Is it too tilt-shifty? Too motion blurred? Too saturated? Too split toned? Cropped uninterestingly? I'm open to all feedback. Exif data is below the pic...



Exif data:

Camera: Nikon D5000
Exposure: 0.8 sec @ f/8
Focal length: 35 mm
Speed: ISO 200
Flash: No
Lens: 35 mm f/1.8

[Niresangwa]

I like this alot. In terms of this shot in particular, I don't think it's oversaturated, but you may wish to desaturate the blue channel a little, and boost the reds to bring out the brake lights. Personally, I enjoy the over all hue, but were it mine I would boost curves a touch and then apply a low opacity warming filter just to brighten it a little.

The motion blur, I love, and brings a stark abstract quality to precise focus of the pedestrians. The slight niggle I have is the bicycle in the extreme bottom left, which I would clone out were it mine. I think you need that little breathing room in the bottom left though, and cropping it out simply wouldnt work due to the scale of the subjects.

If I had the chance of a re-shoot, i would also have taken a shot or two at decreasing shutter speeds, seeing if a little less motion blur would improve things - not saying t would, again I appreciate the huge swath of smudged light...

[highlydope]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

I like this alot. In terms of this shot in particular, I don't think it's oversaturated, but you may wish to desaturate the blue channel a little, and boost the reds to bring out the brake lights. Personally, I enjoy the over all hue, but were it mine I would boost curves a touch and then apply a low opacity warming filter just to brighten it a little.

The motion blur, I love, and brings a stark abstract quality to precise focus of the pedestrians. The slight niggle I have is the bicycle in the extreme bottom left, which I would clone out were it mine. I think you need that little breathing room in the bottom left though, and cropping it out simply wouldnt work due to the scale of the subjects.

If I had the chance of a re-shoot, i would also have taken a shot or two at decreasing shutter speeds, seeing if a little less motion blur would improve things - not saying t would, again I appreciate the huge swath of smudged light...

Thanks. I made the edits you suggested. Better?

[klam]

I like it. But I cant figure out which way the cars are travelling due to your blur.

I would have kept the bike and removed the yellow sign next to it. The yellow sign takes away fron the yellow blurs and the yellow lines on the road.

Heck remove the bike and the sign.

[deck]

My comment would be about composition...
I wish the pedestrian is in the middle of the pedestrian lane with the cars passing on both sides... but that's just my taste...

Other than that I think the shutter speed could have been faster a bit, say 1/10 or 1/15... that way you can see more of the shape of the car, maybe you can experiment on that...

Lastly, i think the editing is just right, contrast and color is done with taste... except for a reddish cast at the top right of the photo... but good nonetheless

[windrider86]

Didnt want to close this because you have some great replies, but please make sure your photos are no larger than 740. These are all at 800. txs

[ednorm]

I find teh shot confusing, it tends to have mt eyes seeking the point of the shot. I do not know if it is the motion blur or the people you intended to focus on, they both look good enough, the color seems a little extreme and the object of the composition is hard to grasp.

ed

[in2fx]

I like the crop without the bicycle and think the speed is pretty good too, although would like to have seen an extra one with a slightly faster shutter speed.
Well Done

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by ednorm

I find teh shot confusing, it tends to have mt eyes seeking the point of the shot. I do not know if it is the motion blur or the people you intended to focus on, they both look good enough, the color seems a little extreme and the object of the composition is hard to grasp.

ed

I think this reply illustrates a good point... the part about his eyes 'seeking the point'. Aesthetically its a pleasing shot as I mentioned earlier, and technically it achieved what you were looking to do (motion and precision of the pedestrians)... but one of your questions was whether the composition worked.

In my mind, one of the things I aim for when creating a composition is to stimulate the viewer, and slightly unsettle them. I think Ed's reply is an endorsement of you having managed to do that, much better than someone simply saying 'i do/do not like the composition'.

Just my opinion of course. Were I to post an image for critique and get that response, I'd be very satisfied. Of course that probably wasn't your goal at all. I'd much rather be the director fo the movie that leaves you wondering about it after you leave the cinema rather than the one which is entertaining but instantly forgettable.

Also, yes, I like the re-edit you did. I'd still like to see more red/yellow saturation in the picture to go up against the blue/green tones!