Ed Ford, APSA  


A Quiet Retreqt by Ed Ford, APSA

May 2023 - A Quiet Retreqt

About the Image(s)

Simply put, a quiet place to sit and contemplate - a place of potential peace and quiet in a wooded area. I chose a sepia tone to further support the story of a gentle peaceful place.

Shot with a Nikon Z fc, 16-50mm lens. Processed in Photoshop and Silver Efex Pro 3.


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




Dom Mignone   Dom Mignone
ED,
I am not a fan of "old timey" images, but I like this one. Since I don't do them, I really have no comments for improvement.
Dom   Posted: 05/11/2023 12:52:45
Ed Ford   Ed Ford
Thanks Dom. I liked the softer hues in order to give a sense of calm. B&W can be very harsh and I wanted a more peaceful air about the image. I may go back and revisit the idea. Thanks again for the input.   Posted: 05/12/2023 20:31:15



Robert Cordivari   Robert Cordivari
I like the overall composition of this photo.
I'm curious what it would look like in BW.
When I get to my computer I'll test it out.   Posted: 05/12/2023 15:56:58
Ed Ford   Ed Ford
Thank you Robert. I will say the same to you as I did the Dom. Still I would be very interested in your vision for the image. If you wish the original is attached.   Posted: 05/12/2023 20:37:50
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Kirsti Näntö-Salonen   Kirsti Näntö-Salonen
Hi Ed, I love the mood of the image. The stairs that lead into the image just invite one to sit and dream on the bench. I think that the soft sepia tones suit very well in the atmosphere. - I am a fan of the "old time" look, too: I wonder if you have used the NIK "Antique plate 2" filter with the lovely soft negative vignette in this one? I tried to change the vignette into a little more rectangular shape to show the fine lamp slightly bette . What do you think: does it now compete with the bench too much?   Posted: 05/13/2023 08:39:36
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Ed Ford   Ed Ford
Hi Kristi,

Thank you for your efforts. Your version works for me. I had to choose to leave the lamp in or crop it out. I chose to leave it in because I believed the stairs leading to the bench overpowered it . That is true for the original and both of our versions as well. I actually see it as a positive limiting agent keep your eyes in the image.

Thanks again for the effort.   Posted: 05/13/2023 18:49:32



Kirsti Näntö-Salonen   Kirsti Näntö-Salonen
Hi, I like the lamp, too! It is part of the frame of the main object and I think that it balances nicely the trees on the left, and the stairs.   Posted: 05/14/2023 02:37:48



Jeff Manser   Jeff Manser
Hi Ed - I think the stairs and bench are the stars of the show and I would consider a crop from the top, down to the top of tree. I'd also try a crop to exclude the streetlamp(or clone it out). The image then becomes all about the restful bench at the top of stairs and the simplicity of the scene. Just a thought!   Posted: 05/14/2023 20:04:27
Ed Ford   Ed Ford
Hi Jeff, Thanks very much for your input. To be honest I had already considered both during my editing, and chose not to do so for the following reasons:

When I cropped to top down my eye lost a sense of context from the intended story - a refuge from business.

Cropping off the light pole left me with a sense of imbalance as that left the trees on the left side the only vertical elements in the image and they are all on one side. Plus it would have cut into the stairs.

I cannot say I won't do something different with the image in the future and will keep your suggestion for it in mind. They just did not fit my current purposes.

Thanks again for the suggestions, I value your input and that of all of the people in the group.   Posted: 05/16/2023 16:31:42



Albert Zabin   Albert Zabin
I really like the image. I would prefer a pure brown tone rather than the yellow brown of sepia. That's just my preference. I think Kirsti's modification of the vignette helps the mood you created   Posted: 05/31/2023 11:57:27