Hi Bob - I like your maritime image and what caught my eye on the original was that sharp red color. Just for experiment I decided to download your original to see what some color filters would do. In Silver Effex Pro I went for the Fine Art Process, ended up with a green filter (which was not much different than what you had), adjusted brightness and structure some, cropped a smidge tighter and put a slight vignette on the lower corners. Not sure your take needed anything, but I do like a slight vignette on a shot like this. Kind of causes the eye to zero in on the subject. Maritime stuff is interesting to play with - nice take and thanks for the opportunity.   Posted: 05/05/2020 00:25:42

Thanks Gary. I tried that Silver Efex style but wanted to not lose detail in the other dark tones of the image. Your tweaks are just fine with me. Glad you enjoyed working on the image,   Posted: 05/05/2020 06:03:05

Bob,
thanks for sharing this image; I agree with Gary, something pleasing about maritime images. I am inclined to agree with Gary that the image is a bit washed out, and I think the stronger tones in Gary's version help give the image a bit more umpf. love the textures on the side of the boat and the reflections in the water.   Posted: 05/09/2020 15:19:08

Thanks for your comments Leah. Welcome to the DDGrp. Sorry for the delayed welcome, I've had yard work on the outside and trying to get my first RAID bu system up and running. I'm not seeing the "washed out" bit on my image. Not sure if you recently watch the BW webinar by Don Toothaker, and caught his comment about NewEnglanders believe in White Whites and Black Blacks in their images. I've only been out of New England for less than 4 years so I made the white on the bow White. Don't get me wrong, I'm not offended and appreciate your comments and I am thick skinned to protect from the cold. :-) Can you please clarify what you thought was too white? Gary also used a vignette, which I generally do not do on a subject this large. Gary's version also has less details in the shadows. I believe it is just a matter of preferences. Thanks again   Posted: 05/09/2020 21:32:27

Bob, water and reflections in the water are such great photographic subjects. When I studied your image, I wanted to see how the suggestions of adding a bit more contrast would look. Also, I liked Gary's idea of cropping a little tighter on the left of the photograph. It was great fun playing with it a bit. Here's what I arrived at. Your thoughts?

  Posted: 05/10/2020 14:26:38

Pete, thanks for working on my image. I do like the detailed contrast that you used on the reflection to make it sharper and the red color of the boat darker. I cannot agree with the cropping of the left side of the boat. It makes it less natural, the items are tools of the lobsterman's trade and I do not find them objectionable in the Mono version. I also tend to crop & stay with the 2:3 ratio so that if/when I get it printed it does not need a costly custom mat. Yup, I'm a thrifty Yankee. I don't print my own stuff, and I don't cut mats.
Thanks again.   Posted: 05/10/2020 17:01:12

Hello Bob,

A wonderful image with a story to tell, well done. I love the reflection and the nice calm water. I see good details in the reflection and I like that the reflection is a little darker than the boat it reflects to allow for details to come through. You have a good foreground, midground, and background so the image shows depth. I appreciate seeing the things in the back of the boat as they contribute to the story of a fisherman's boat.

If I were to add anything it would be to see a little bit more of the background height if the original image was cropped. This could be why the boat is a little high on the upper horizontal rule of thirds. The top of the frame just feels a little tight. With your artistic touch, I sense you are comfortable with the tones, so I agree with you they are good.

I think this would be a great photo to frame!

Best wishes,
LuAnn   Posted: 05/13/2020 14:17:23

Thanks LeAnn. Well here is the real original. With my zoom lens I was able to selectively exclude what I knew I would not use. I wanted the reflection and worked the image to make sure that was included and the remainder would be erased. The Rule of thirds wasn't really a consideration. Other times when I went down to the harbor the boat was gone or packed in so tight that I had boats in the foreground. Since this was October less boats than summer and 3 of my 10 days we had Noreaster storm and there would of been no reflection. Also some people get picky when the photog crops various antennas, etc on the cabin roof. The odds are not 100% of capturing what you intend when you drive up to the harbor. Appreciate your comments.   Posted: 05/13/2020 16:37:52