Robert Barley  


Light and Shadow by Robert Barley

June 2020 - Light and Shadow

About the Image(s)

I liked the shadow patterns cast on the concrete by the seating and the table. I thought it looked best in BW. No special post-process other than I used the app Blackie for the conversion.


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




Jerry Hug   Jerry Hug
It truly is a B/W image. Blackie did a great job of giving a good range of blacks and grey tones. It also held back and I see nice tones in the white pipes.   Posted: 06/04/2020 11:42:54
Robert Barley   Robert Barley
Thanks, Jerry. I do like Blackie, but it always requires a square crop, so that can be a downside. Of course, I prefer a square crop most of the time, so for me it isn't too much of a problem.

  Posted: 06/06/2020 21:24:22



Richard Sprott   Richard Sprott
A nice B&W image. Since you couldn't crop the dandelions, you might consider pulling them unless they are a feature you like.   Posted: 06/04/2020 14:33:35
Robert Barley   Robert Barley
It's in a public park, so I'll let the groundskeeper deal with them...😊
Thanks for your suggestion, though.

  Posted: 06/06/2020 21:20:05



Sol Blechman   Sol Blechman
I've tried this one several ties and I like yours best. You could clone out the weeds and darken the upper right part of the table...the picture is the shadows. Good conversion to B&W   Posted: 06/04/2020 17:50:18
Robert Barley   Robert Barley
Initially I kind of liked the weeds, but after you mentioned it, I did another edit without the weeds and lines in the concrete. I think I may like it better. Thanks for the suggestion!



  Posted: 06/06/2020 21:18:13



Dave Edwards   Dave Edwards
This is an interesting image. There many different shades of black and white, and patterns from the top of the table down to the concrete. I'm curious, did it take awhile before you decided on the composition and did you take a lot of photos? There is so much to photograph.

I don't have Blackie. The reviews were not the best, but it seems to work for you. I should obtain this app. Worse case I would be out of a dollar.   Posted: 06/07/2020 10:47:25
Robert Barley   Robert Barley
Blackie receives regular updates and i have to say it is better than it was. Having written that, I will add that it isn't perfect. The cropping issue is my biggest complaint. I work around that by cropping in Snapseed first, and then going to Blackie. Also, I'm processing with my iPad Air 2 on an old, old iOS version, so I don't see some of the problems relating to newer versions of iOS. (That's one reason why I don't upgrade.)

  Posted: 06/07/2020 12:03:55
Robert Barley   Robert Barley
Sorry, I didn't answer your question. I took two shots from different heights. I decided one was better, so I edited it. I did a little straightening to get the leg parallel to the frame edge. Then I cropped several ways until the composition seemed best. The problem(s) came from the other seats and their respective shadows. Eventually, I had to settle on a single square crop. Then it was off to Blackie. In hind sight, I should have cloned-out the lines in the concrete as suggested by Sol.

  Posted: 06/07/2020 12:12:21



Dave Edwards   Dave Edwards
Thanks for the comments. With a scene like this I could spend some time trying to get the just right composition. Again, I liked all the different patterns. Also I purchased Blackie. Worse case I'm out of a buck.   Posted: 06/07/2020 13:11:43



Pamela Hoaglund   Pamela Hoaglund
I really like the lines and shadows and it pleads B&W. I would probably just walk by this but I have recently watched a PSA webinar on Wabi Sabi and I think this might fall into that category. Finding beauty in the imperfect which would cause me to leave the cracks in the cement and the weeds.   Posted: 06/07/2020 18:03:23



Lynne Royce   Lynne Royce
Interesting compilation of shapes and shadows giving viewer lots to explore with their eyes. Good, thoughtful composition.   Posted: 06/13/2020 16:52:02



Stephen Levitas   Stephen Levitas
(Group 32)
I really like your study of light and shadow. I don't think it's possible in this image to show only the shadows, but I find that the most interesting part of the study. If you shoot something like this again, you might consider shooting only the shadows.   Posted: 06/17/2020 14:19:14
Robert Barley   Robert Barley
Thank you for your kind comments. I also like your suggestion, and I will try it the next time it find something like this. Thanks!

  Posted: 06/17/2020 16:11:34



Stephen Levitas   Stephen Levitas
(Group 32)
Since I visit all the DD groups each month, I sometimes like to point out subject matter coincidences to everyone. This month, four people have dealt with deeply cast shadows:
Group 11, Henry Heerschap.
Group 32, Jennifer Doerrie.
Group 51, Bob Barley.
Group 78, Jason Kravitz.   Posted: 06/19/2020 00:28:42
Robert Barley   Robert Barley
Thanks for the mention and the image share. I should go through the other groups more than I do.

  Posted: 06/19/2020 07:56:01
Stephen Levitas   Stephen Levitas
(Group 32)
Remember the new "Current Images" button at the top of the page, which shows all groups' all images in a summary format, for a quick view.   Posted: 06/19/2020 08:35:55