Diana Magor, MPSA, APSA  


Piano by Diana Magor, MPSA, APSA

February 2018 - Piano

February 2018 - Diana Magor, MPSA, APSA

Original

About the Image(s)

Piano dmm feb 2018
This was a surprising find when we went round the Carrie Furnace old steel works in Pittsburgh on one of the Conference trips. Before going, we had to sign something that said we promised not to sue them if we died onsite -which we found hilarious, since at that point we would be totally unable to do anything. However, we thought the trip was fantastic –a wealth of rusty machinery and no-one to tell us we couldn’t any of it. There were some parts marked as no-go areas and some were impossible for me to get to but mostly it was no problem. I took so many photos, using a tripod and taking 3 of everything and in some places even more shots because of the very low lighting. I have started opening them in Photomatix-I tried the HDR setting in Photoshop but found it produced such brilliant colours that it looked wrong. I prefer Photomatix where I can choose a preset and alter it if I want. This was from 3 images, and I used the Painterly preset. Then I converted it to mono using Nik ‘wet rocks’ and finally I added a vignette. Has this gone too far or should I still be playing with it? I have included one of the originals –the one nearest to an average exposure. I also removed a pipe and some plastic from the right hand side and cropped a small amount off the left.
1/8 sec F9 at 250 ISO 25mm lens


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




Stephen Levitas   Stephen Levitas
Removing the pipe and cropping of course are appropriate, and you have a very good eye for that. But I will accept your own words that perhaps you have "gone too far," because this image shouts of its post-processing, and I think the post-processing should be generally agnostic for the viewer, at least in this sort of straight shot. I definitely prefer, as usual, the monochrome, but perhaps this should be a little bit less dramatic.   Posted: 02/05/2018 21:55:03
Diana Magor   Diana Magor
Sorry you don't like it! I wanted a dramatic look and I felt the straight conversion to mono was too tame, but I accept your criticism and as you can see I wondered whether it had gone OTT. OK, win some, lose some.   Posted: 02/12/2018 09:57:26
Stephen Levitas   Stephen Levitas
Diana, please take my comment as coming from an outlier. Most everyone likes strong contrast these day. So I represent a minority opinion on this. Let's hear from the others as to how they like what you have done with this--they all have the competition experience that I don't.   Posted: 02/12/2018 10:05:06
Diana Magor   Diana Magor
Not a problem . I know you prefer straight shots.   Posted: 02/12/2018 17:30:08



 
I like the dramatism that wet rock gave to the image. I think an image like this favors it.
I would only try to make absolute blacks less extensive, trying to achieve some detail as much as possible and also lose some absolute white.
Good job!
  Posted: 02/19/2018 16:35:06



 
Wonderful old piano... Removing what you did does improve your image. I like the angle and wet rocks added some good contrast. I like the dark blacks. I wouldn't change anything in this image. Great job.   Posted: 02/19/2018 18:41:28



Jennifer Doerrie   Jennifer Doerrie
I, too, like the contrast and effect on this image. The corner being dark also works for me, as they add to the "grungy" feeling of the place. If I were going to be extra picky, I'd try to create a bit of a base for the foreground wooden support that is slightly cropped. There also seems to be a small bit of the pipe remaining on the right slightly below center that I'd suggest removing. This is just different enough from most competition subjects that it hopefully would stand out for that reason.   Posted: 02/26/2018 00:13:18
Diana Magor   Diana Magor
I agree the bit of pipe needs to go but I wasn't worried about the base being chopped off, but my husband agrees with you. I am ever hopeful that judges will like my pictures but I seem to have more rejections than acceptances always.   Posted: 02/26/2018 04:32:49