[CS] Cafe in Zagreb

[JemHayward]

As discussed in s separate thread, here is an image that I thought would be really good when I took it, but isn't too inspiring now I've got it on screen. Where did i go wrong and is it recoverable.

For those who haven't been keeping up [CS] has been suggested as "Critique Sought" - i.e. you can be rude and it won't start a flame war!

20140814-_DSF0428 by JemHayward, on Flickr

 

[gavreid]

That was a tough one to get - your eye has a greater dynamic range than the camera does and will compensate as you focus on different parts of the view, so you saw somthing that looked quite different. The meter looks like it's exposed it for the bright scene and not for the bike. I guess that would really have needed a bit of flash to get the bike well exposed against the bright background if that's what you'd wanted.

Assume you have it in RAW, you could try pulling down the highlights quite a bit and up the shadows. Apply a graduated filter and perhaps pull up the exposure at the bottom of the picture a bit...

 

[Pete MB&D]

I can't make my mind if its the woman behind the counter the couple at the table or the bike is the subject.
How about cropping out the bike etc



Pete

 

[daveofbradford]

Hi I would use levels to amend the areas. Like mentioned above I assume you use RAW / NEF and not jpeg
Dave

 

[gavreid]

Just playing with your jpeg to try to get the bike.

 

[dan m]

Thanks for kicking the [CS] idea off!

My take - A tricky shot lighting wise, for sure (should have used flash ;-)). I imagine the dynamic between the couple was what drew you to take the photo. However, that's being upstaged by the bike and the woman peering across the counter. If the voyeur was the focus, perhaps a lower viewpoint, centering her between them would have emphasized that.

 

[stevec67]

I'd lose the bike, otherwise it looks like am advertising shot for the bike.

 

[JemHayward]

Brilliant advice folks... It is a raw file, so I can play about with it quite a lot. I'll wait until suggestions dry up, and then have a go at the file to produce a final version.

 

[JemHayward]

Done some work on the image... it ended up as a monochrome, and I think much improved by everyones input. Don't think it'll make the cut for the exhibition, but its nearer to my original vision.

Zagreb Cafe Mono by JemHayward, on Flickr

 

[gavreid]

That's come out great - nice job! I like bikes myself but each to their own...

 

[dan m]

Nice job on removing the bike. I'd have no idea how to go about that.