Israel Yosef
May 2023 - Morocco 2023 - courtyard in the old city
Original
About the Image(s)
In the month of March of this year, I was on a photo tour in Morocco. I took this photo in one of the courtyards in the old town of Fez.
What do you think?
I shoot in RAW format and process with Lightroom: basic adjustment, detail, texture, etc. Then I converted to B/W with filter Nick Collection - Silver Efex Pro 3. In the Silver Efex Pro 3 filter, I used "Control Points" (recommended by Lance A.Lewin) to edit locally the left wall and the right wall (darkened and reduced the texture...).I brightened the birds and the donkey, as well as the entire courtyard and the wall with arches opposite. I also applied the Gaussian Blur filter and blurred the left and right sides.
Camera settings: Leica Q2. ISO 400, 1/2500s, f/8, 28mm, lens: Leica SUMMILUX 1:1.7/28 ASPH .
17 comments posted
Hi Isreal, There is so much detail in this image, that you might consider making a large print of it. It has so many things to explore--the chickens, donkey, fabrics, boxes, and many textures. It makes me wonder who lives there. I want to know more about this place. The light and shadow in the image create a wonderful atmosphere.
My only suggestion is to straighten the image. To my eye, it looks just a bit tipped to the left. Making the top edge of the building parallel to the ground might look more balanced. What do you think? Posted: 05/04/2023 20:25:04
My only suggestion is to straighten the image. To my eye, it looks just a bit tipped to the left. Making the top edge of the building parallel to the ground might look more balanced. What do you think? Posted: 05/04/2023 20:25:04
Hi Bunny,
I agree with you that it is necessary to align the slope to the left,
and it would be interesting to see who lives there, clothes are drying on a rope in the background, so someone lives there,
one could wait a little and suddenly someone would appear,
but I was with a group and I was afraid of losing them in the labyrinths of the old city.
Thank you for your comment.
All the best
Sincerely
Israel Posted: 05/06/2023 02:46:24
I agree with you that it is necessary to align the slope to the left,
and it would be interesting to see who lives there, clothes are drying on a rope in the background, so someone lives there,
one could wait a little and suddenly someone would appear,
but I was with a group and I was afraid of losing them in the labyrinths of the old city.
Thank you for your comment.
All the best
Sincerely
Israel Posted: 05/06/2023 02:46:24
Hi Israel,
I don't think the image needs to answer the question of who lives there. It merely needs to suggest that someone lives there and that the viewer can imagine a story to fit the scene. Engaging the viewer like that is the sign of a good image. Your photo does that! Posted: 05/06/2023 08:03:57
I don't think the image needs to answer the question of who lives there. It merely needs to suggest that someone lives there and that the viewer can imagine a story to fit the scene. Engaging the viewer like that is the sign of a good image. Your photo does that! Posted: 05/06/2023 08:03:57
Hi Bunny,
Thank you :) Posted: 05/06/2023 12:26:21
Thank you :) Posted: 05/06/2023 12:26:21
Hello Israel,
You have access to some unique villages and towns in Israel. This photograph tells a harrowing story of living in challenging times; this image has a strong emotional impact as well. This image should do well in a photojournalism competition.
My suggestion to help improve your image is to open the shadows on the right, especially the lower half of the right side of the photo, a little so the viewer can make out some details. You want the area to still be in natural shadow. Then it appears the donkey was lightened, but he looks a bit electric; I recommend backing off on that adjustment a little. You can adjust the brightness of the overall image by moving the tone curve to the left and then completing your adjustments in the basic panel in Lightroom. Have you adjusted the tone curve in LR before?
You can also use the original color image to compare the shadows and see that the B&W image has much darker shadows than the color version. So you have some leeway to make adjustments.
Thanks for sharing a great photo this month.
lt
Posted: 05/12/2023 09:15:41
You have access to some unique villages and towns in Israel. This photograph tells a harrowing story of living in challenging times; this image has a strong emotional impact as well. This image should do well in a photojournalism competition.
My suggestion to help improve your image is to open the shadows on the right, especially the lower half of the right side of the photo, a little so the viewer can make out some details. You want the area to still be in natural shadow. Then it appears the donkey was lightened, but he looks a bit electric; I recommend backing off on that adjustment a little. You can adjust the brightness of the overall image by moving the tone curve to the left and then completing your adjustments in the basic panel in Lightroom. Have you adjusted the tone curve in LR before?
You can also use the original color image to compare the shadows and see that the B&W image has much darker shadows than the color version. So you have some leeway to make adjustments.
Thanks for sharing a great photo this month.
lt
Posted: 05/12/2023 09:15:41
Hi LuAnn
You're right to lighten the shadows on the right side of the wall.
I use curves in LR but rarely, more often in Photoshop.
I am very grateful to you for your comment and detailed description of what needs to be edited.
I will definitely use your recommendations.
All the best to you and your family.
Sincerely
Israel Posted: 05/12/2023 09:58:29
You're right to lighten the shadows on the right side of the wall.
I use curves in LR but rarely, more often in Photoshop.
I am very grateful to you for your comment and detailed description of what needs to be edited.
I will definitely use your recommendations.
All the best to you and your family.
Sincerely
Israel Posted: 05/12/2023 09:58:29
Israel,
Each month you share with us such great images of the various locations you are able to photograph. I always want to see each month where you have been with your camera.
One thought for image use NIK Color Efex Lighten/darken center preset. I used maximum depth. It brings your eye into your nice shot
Regards
Emil Posted: 05/12/2023 12:09:43
Each month you share with us such great images of the various locations you are able to photograph. I always want to see each month where you have been with your camera.
One thought for image use NIK Color Efex Lighten/darken center preset. I used maximum depth. It brings your eye into your nice shot
Regards
Emil Posted: 05/12/2023 12:09:43
Hi Emil,
I really appreciate your praise, thank you.
Your idea and editing of the photo is interesting and I like it.
Thank you very much for your time and comment.
All the best to you.
Sincerely
Israel Posted: 05/15/2023 06:45:07
I really appreciate your praise, thank you.
Your idea and editing of the photo is interesting and I like it.
Thank you very much for your time and comment.
All the best to you.
Sincerely
Israel Posted: 05/15/2023 06:45:07
Hi Israel, I fall into the more PJ camp with bringing out the details in the shadows of both the right and left sides and overall. There is so much interesting detail and textures in the subjects you captured that they need to be brought to life. Posted: 05/12/2023 20:52:50
Hi Bob,
LuAnn also suggested lightening the dark areas in the photo and I agree with you and her.
Thank you very much for your time and comment.
All the best to you.
Sincerely
Israel Posted: 05/15/2023 06:48:53
LuAnn also suggested lightening the dark areas in the photo and I agree with you and her.
Thank you very much for your time and comment.
All the best to you.
Sincerely
Israel Posted: 05/15/2023 06:48:53
Israel, you've continued your streak of astounding photographs! The more I looked at this image, the more I saw. The donkey on the right side was an excellent part of the story. Since it was hard to notice in the shadows, I moved the light to the side with the donkey. Your thoughts?
Posted: 05/19/2023 18:18:10
Posted: 05/19/2023 18:18:10
Hi Pete,
I agree with you, the donkey is the center of attention and your idea of lightening the left side and the donkey is excellent, I love it.
When I decided to publish this photo, I did not know how best to edit the photo, thanks to the ideas of our group, I now have an idea of how to make it better than it was. Now I have an idea of how to make it better than it was.
All the best to you and your family.
Sincerely
Israel Posted: 05/20/2023 01:44:53
I agree with you, the donkey is the center of attention and your idea of lightening the left side and the donkey is excellent, I love it.
When I decided to publish this photo, I did not know how best to edit the photo, thanks to the ideas of our group, I now have an idea of how to make it better than it was. Now I have an idea of how to make it better than it was.
All the best to you and your family.
Sincerely
Israel Posted: 05/20/2023 01:44:53
Israel, You do have some great places to photograph and I'm always looking forward to the next adventure you present. I lean more toward the dramatic lighting Emil's edits include but really do think getting the vertical lines of the building parallel with the edge of the print is critical. Both sides would be nice but even if you only get the left side lined up, it gives the viewer a reference allowing them to understand the perspective and implies more intent on your part. That said, I love em all!
Posted: 05/23/2023 13:37:31
Posted: 05/23/2023 13:37:31
Couldn't help myself. I decided to do a little editing in LR and wanted to share. First I straightened the image so the column on the left were parallel to the edge of the image. Not sure that's the final answer and may need some tweaking. Also dropped a linear gradient in from the bottom right to open up the shadows and finally increased the exposure to lighten the entire image. Just some thoughts Posted: 05/23/2023 13:56:59
Posted: 05/23/2023 14:28:43
I also adjusted the horizonal alignment to get the roofline at the back of the building aligned with the top of the image. Posted: 05/23/2023 14:30:27
Hi Mark,
Thank you for your comment, your compliments, your ideas and for your photo editing.
I agree with you that the alignment of the pillars on the left betrays order and improves perspective.
I believe that all the ideas together of our group will improve my photo many times over.
A huge thank you to everyone.
Looking forward to your comment and other members of our group, our group is the best.
All the best.
Sincerely,
Israel Posted: 05/25/2023 05:54:28
Thank you for your comment, your compliments, your ideas and for your photo editing.
I agree with you that the alignment of the pillars on the left betrays order and improves perspective.
I believe that all the ideas together of our group will improve my photo many times over.
A huge thank you to everyone.
Looking forward to your comment and other members of our group, our group is the best.
All the best.
Sincerely,
Israel Posted: 05/25/2023 05:54:28