Alan Kaplan
October 2024 - Next…
Original
Original 2
About the Image(s)
I usually don’t get side-tracked by the Halloween theme when putting together a composite for October, but I succumbed this year. There are only 2 images in the composite as, here, less is truly more. I placed a raven, a poetic symbol of death, on one of the tombstones, but it detracted rather than enhanced the image, and I didn’t even think about placing a pumpkin in the graveyard. Photoshop’s Levels Adjustment Layer played a role in darkening the completed composite. Other than that, this was a “less is more” endeavor.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted
Hi Alan,
I am fan of dark and scary images so this one is right up my street. I also like minimalist images.
Composition is on the grid and good placement of the hooded figure. The Title throws me a bit, and not sure... perhaps thats what you were aiming at ?
You mention PS Levels to set the darkness, I normally use PS exposure layer and drop the Gamma level to achieve the level required that way it doesnt affect the bell curve too much to give a good image exposure. In turning an image from day into night I follow the Kelby method (see YoyTube). I have made a mock up these suggestions to let you see what I mean. Its just another way to treat your image, and hope you dont mind. Posted: 10/08/2024 17:15:01
I am fan of dark and scary images so this one is right up my street. I also like minimalist images.
Composition is on the grid and good placement of the hooded figure. The Title throws me a bit, and not sure... perhaps thats what you were aiming at ?
You mention PS Levels to set the darkness, I normally use PS exposure layer and drop the Gamma level to achieve the level required that way it doesnt affect the bell curve too much to give a good image exposure. In turning an image from day into night I follow the Kelby method (see YoyTube). I have made a mock up these suggestions to let you see what I mean. Its just another way to treat your image, and hope you dont mind. Posted: 10/08/2024 17:15:01
Thank you for the Gamma level and the Kelby method suggestions. I'll check them out. In addition, I like the blue cast to your treatment. The title is simply death--personified by the hooded figure--inviting the next person to be buried in this cemetery. Posted: 10/08/2024 18:46:18
Ah ! "Next" I get it, very good, very fitting. Thanks for that. Posted: 10/15/2024 14:05:06
Hi Alan! I think that your dark cemetery scene has just the right mix of elements to awaken the viewers imagination that will provide the rest. The title is perfect, too. Posted: 10/13/2024 22:19:09
I am enjoying the October theme and wish I had joined a bit earlier to participate. Maybe I will include one for November.
Hi Alan, I agree that simple can be better and this makes for a terrific scene with the hooded character. You blended in the pieces to give the viewer a spooky surprise as the eyes wander through the image. If you wanted the character to stand out a bit more, you could crop out some of the gravestones. Overall, nicely done. Thank you for submitting it. Posted: 10/20/2024 13:16:35
Hi Alan, I agree that simple can be better and this makes for a terrific scene with the hooded character. You blended in the pieces to give the viewer a spooky surprise as the eyes wander through the image. If you wanted the character to stand out a bit more, you could crop out some of the gravestones. Overall, nicely done. Thank you for submitting it. Posted: 10/20/2024 13:16:35
Matt, Welcome to Group 54. People who judge the competitions in my camera club pay a lot of attention to images that may or may not need to be cropped. It seems a majority of the images in the competitions over the years, in the judges' opinions, need to be cropped. It seems to me that it's a matter of what the image is trying to convey. Sometimes cropping helps focus on a single person or thing, but sometimes cropping eliminates features that contribute to the overall setting. In this composite, I chose to keep the tombstones as I felt that they were needed to emphasize who the gray figure is. Often, it's simply a matter of taste. Thank you for your feedback. Posted: 10/21/2024 23:52:14
Hi Alan, I really enjoy your image. I think the title and the story make it great. I like the edits that Bruce introduced, transforming the day into nigh, in my opinion, complements the story so well.
Posted: 10/26/2024 07:39:09
Posted: 10/26/2024 07:39:09
I'm glad you like my composite. The cemetery is a small cemetery that isn't more than 20 meters wide and 2 blocks long and is on a busy street rather than being close to a church. It may have been associated with a church a couple of centuries ago. I enjoyed reading the history on some of the very old tombstones as I composed my photo. Posted: 10/29/2024 12:38:54