The city of Spectre (Big Fish)

D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
I am working on a concept for this photo and I just can't decide if I like it or not. I think the concept is good but I am missing something and I can't figure out what.

Stepping through the portal back to an older time. City is in very muted/faded color.

don_4200_2-frameshop.jpg
 
B

Blacktop

Senior Member
Don Kuykendall said:
I am working on a concept for this photo and I just can't decide if I like it or not. I think the concept is good but I am missing something and I can't figure out what.

Stepping through the portal back to an older time. City is in very muted/faded color.

don_4200_2-frameshop.jpg
Click to expand...

This would make a great shot, if

1. Those two boulder (are they boulders?) weren't there.(My eye goes right to them.
and 2. You have too much tree. Especially the top part.

I would zoom in some more, and get rid of the middle distraction, then we can go from there.:eek:

Would love to get a hold of a RAW file.
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
Blacktop said:
This would make a great shot, if

1. Those two boulder (are they boulders?) weren't there.(My eye goes right to them.
and 2. You have too much tree. Especially the top part.

I would zoom in some more, and get rid of the middle distraction, then we can go from there.:eek:
Click to expand...

The boulders and the broken tree are important parts of the movie so they really need to be in the photo.

The trees and the bounders are fake and made out of styrofoam and rebar with a concrete coating. They have been sitting out in the weather for 12 years now. The building are also just shells with no interiors. Interesting place to walk around.

This is two stills from the movie. Beginning of movie and end of movie.

ab647430-3d9b-11e4-bbe3-755c172a07d0_611c7f62f115360cb722613875ca958d4be169b1.jpg

Some of the building had been removed for safety since they were never meant to last this long.
 
kevy73

kevy73

Senior Member
shallower depth of field - focusing on the background - making the trees blur away a little... To me that would lead your eye into the image. At the moment there is just so much info that you can't process it all. You spend too much time looking at 1 part. That is my take on it. But I shoot most things at no more than f4...
 
C

Carroll

Senior Member
Don, your composition idea is really good, and with more of your tweaks, will make an excellent image...IMO.
Having said that, a few ideas that I had for you to consider: (Keep in mind, these are worth the price paid...) Oz

My suggestions, FWIW...

1. Crop just a little more of the trees on either side, which could crop more of the sky at the top, if you leave the crop size the same.

2. Unless they are important, clone out the two "Stobs" sticking down from the top of the arch framed tree limbs.

3. Use Nik Silver Efex control point (or other control point) to de-contrast and lighten the boulders and the trash can (area), so that they go away a little.

4. Use control point blur inside the tree frame to give the "Time Portal" look. Analog Efex Pro Zoom and Rotate Blur is an interesting one, and there are others. Just select the area to be edited in PS and use the blur tool in that area where you want it. Zoom and Rotate will let you keep the center (as big as you want) focused, and blur the rest of the selection area as much or as little as you would like. That way you would have a clear center, with the rest of the framed area blurred some, to send your eyes straight on through the portal. (Way too much coffee this AM?)

5. My choice would be black and white, instead of the green tone, for inside the tree "Frame"... or, perhaps sepia, or some "Old looking" duo tone... I think color for the tree frame out is great, perhaps a little more saturation...

6. If you do not have a dropbox account, I suggest to get one (It's free), and upload original full resolution file, and let the members download the file, and have a shot at helping you...or not...that does open it up to crazies like me! LOL
 
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D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
This shot is a bust. I was never quite happy with it. It was going to be for a local photo competition and the theme is Broken. Going to post the one I finally decided on in a minute.
 
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