Andrew Hersom, APSA, EPSA, EFIAP  


Halloween Ghouls at play by Andrew Hersom, APSA, EPSA, EFIAP

August 2019 - Halloween Ghouls at play

About the Image(s)

This is one of a series I took a few years ago around Halloween of a bike
display in a public park with "ghouls" riding on them. I simplified the
background, cropped, dehazed and then used a filter in Topaz which I can't
remember (sorry). I showed you another version last year (colour) which has
been reasonably successful but this version gets nul points. Any suggestions
for improvement?


This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted




 
Dear Andrew,
Ha! I didn't know you were in another group as well as our group 40! It's like I discovered your double life!
As for this picture, I think black and white is a good medium for the topic. Right now it has a lot of realism, to me it suggests a newspaper photograph of Halloween decorations.
To me the image invites a more painterly treatment. I would suggest keeping it B&W but playing around with filters and also extreme contrast sliders, making the dark areas darker and the whites whiter. The tree in the middle bifurcates the frame, you could experiment with removing it. The architecture in the background has a pleasing Gothic feel that you could emphasize. You could also experiment with adding some spooky lights to the windows. There is a lot of fun to be had with this image. I hope you post any changes you make, I'll come back and see.
  Posted: 08/04/2019 20:23:21



Mike Cowdrey   Mike Cowdrey
(Groups 21 & 34)
I think that this actually works better than the colour version, because of the outlines and increased definition which sometimes happens with a mono conversion.I guess the reason that the colour version might impress exhibition judges more is because they only have 3 - 4 seconds to make a decision, and in those circumstances colour can rule.   Posted: 08/06/2019 04:36:35



Ian Ledgard   Ian Ledgard
I have just looked at your previous version Andrew. It contained just flashes of colour and a very busy background.
I post it below for those who may not have seen it.
I feel that this mono version works much better because of the background is less intrusive despite the tree Alison mentions. Perhaps it needs a tweak or two and I would suggest brightening the two upper ghouls as the appear rather muddy.   Posted: 08/11/2019 13:21:20
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Andrew, this image works well in black & white.
I wonder if it has to do with the color is 3 subjects whereas the black & white is 4. I see that in the black and white, if it was 3 would make a triangle.
I like the idea about some spooky lights in the trees.
  Posted: 08/15/2019 00:03:52
Andrew Hersom   Andrew Hersom
(Group 40)
Yes, that is very plausible - thanks.   Posted: 08/18/2019 09:21:35



Tom Pickering   Tom Pickering
(Groups 0 & 53)
There is something to be said for Jennifer's assertion about 3 vs 4, but there is a balance to the 4 ghosts here that I like. You might consider taking most of the background out, except for the foreground, so that the tree and grass and house don't pull focus:   Posted: 08/21/2019 23:48:10
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Andrew Hersom   Andrew Hersom
(Group 40)
I have removed one of the figures and taken off the top.   Posted: 08/22/2019 02:18:00
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Yes Andrew, that's it. Your last version with only 3 figures works best.   Posted: 08/30/2019 12:34:18