farnz Posted February 2, 2007 Share #1 Posted February 2, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) This Greek Orthodox priest had just finished a wedding ceremony and had retired to he rear of the altar where he turned his gaze towards the heavens ... I'm not sure whether I prefer the B&W version or the colour version that brings out the gold. What do you think? Thanks for looking and, as always, your comments are appreciated. D2, f2 @ 1/5th, ISO 100 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/15093-looking-for-divine-inspiration/?do=findComment&comment=159538'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 2, 2007 Posted February 2, 2007 Hi farnz, Take a look here Looking for divine inspiration . I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stuny Posted February 2, 2007 Share #2 Posted February 2, 2007 Pete - I expected to like the "pagentry" of the color one best, but once I saw the B&W it was a toss-up -- both excellent. The priest, in this shot and in the service has an intensity of look that borders on disturbed. Very nice details, colors or tones (depending on rendition) and contrast. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted February 2, 2007 Share #3 Posted February 2, 2007 Pete, I find this shot a bit comical and for that reason enjoy it very much. Some of you know that I am a priest of the Anglican variety and this priest looks exactly how I feel, for the most part, after doing a wedding!!!! You caught a genuine moment there :-) Lord Have Mercy! On another note, I would work on bringing out the tones in the B&W version, as it is now I find it a bit flat for my taste. I would increase the contrast and do some dodging and burning here and there. I would certainly dodge the face of the cleric a bit and his hands. Great catch. Cheers, Padre Wilfredo+ Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted February 2, 2007 Share #4 Posted February 2, 2007 PS. I just showed this picture to my Associate Rector here at the parish office, and she burst into laughter. I think you really have something here. Cheers and Blessings, Wilfredo+ Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker Posted February 2, 2007 Share #5 Posted February 2, 2007 Pete, That's wonderful! I really like the colour version - as Wilfredo says the B&W might benefit from lifting the tones as it is a bit flat. The colour versions has all the quality of a renaissance painting! Very well caught pose and great exposure and colour Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Posted February 2, 2007 Share #6 Posted February 2, 2007 Pete, you've caught a great moment in colour, that will also work in black and white. Well done. The image has the potential to be fabulous, but IMO will need attention in PS. You will make progress once you decide what the subject is, a priest or an altar, and then emphasise the subject. For me, the colour version is about the beautiful altar which with all its colours completely overpowers the human element. In B&W, you have the opportunity to focus on the priest and the subject of his gaze and play down the rest. I suggest the best image will come from the B&W. The upper right panels have lost the detail. Did you not secure that at the time of capture, or have you lost it during processing ? If it's there on the original file it will be worth bringing it through. If it's not, can you re-build it from similar elements in the pic ? The windows are a distraction. What can you do with them, other than cropping out ? There is no interest there, yet the highlights drag your eyes to them. Crop and see. I understand you will lose the top of the cross, but you can afford that. Have fun wth it. Rolo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter41951 Posted February 2, 2007 Share #7 Posted February 2, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) The photograph is great! The colour one (at the moment) works really well. Rolo's made some good points about the mono one, so it may turn out to give quite a different impression. The only suggestion I'd make is to burn in the windows a bit, so that they don't draw so much attention to themselves. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Posted February 2, 2007 Share #8 Posted February 2, 2007 Pete, I followed through with the B&W and it does take quite a bit of work. The image is very busy and keeping the detailed subdued, but interesting is a challenge. The eye can wander and study, but isn't dragged by the highlights. I am n no doubt that this is a much better B&W work. (but that's only my opinion). I suggest it's well worthy of your time to investigate. IMO, the image ends up as a very fine 'painting'. Good luck with it. Rolo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted February 2, 2007 Author Share #9 Posted February 2, 2007 Stuart, Wilfredo, Keith, Rolo, and Peter, many thanks for your constructive criticism and find comments, which encourage me greatly. The windows at the top were a problem and regrettably I blew the highlights during capture. I thought that the D2 did pretty well considering the multiple light sources and the wide dynamic range and if I had the opportunity again I would underexpose to hold the windows and recover the shadow detail with CS2. (Yeah, I know that now. ) I didn't crop the top of the cross because it's where the priest is looking and I felt that the image would lose some balance but I'll look at that again in light of Rolo's suggestion. I'll see if I can rebuild or recover highlight detail; it may work with cloning the windows out altogether - we'll see. I'll also rework the B&W to try to give it some life. Keth's comment about the Rennaissance painting is interesting because I felt the same myself when it 'popped out of the can'. I'll show my higorance and say that it seemed to have Rembrandt's overtones, although I'll state forcefully in the same breath that I'm in no way comparing this image with the work of a Master. (Maybe there's a topic for Barnack's Bar: which camera would Rembrandt have used? ) Wilfredo: I didn't know that you're an Anglican priest but thanks for confirming the reality. The poor bloke was just wiped out. You clerics obviously have life harder than it might appear to the uninitiated! Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmires Posted February 2, 2007 Share #10 Posted February 2, 2007 Pete, I really like this. I prefer the B+W version, but agree with others that it could be even better with some PS work. If it were mine, I wouldn't worry too much about the blown highlights in the windows, but concentrate on isolating the priest's gaze upon the crucifix. The windows could even (with a little imagination) be symbolic a higher power... In any case, I think you captured quite a moment. Cheers, David I Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmr Posted February 2, 2007 Share #11 Posted February 2, 2007 Pete, good shot with lots of interest. Good advice from Rolo too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert_parker Posted February 2, 2007 Share #12 Posted February 2, 2007 Pete Like Keith, I intuitively prefer the colour version but I suspect you've got a winner here, whichever route you take Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 2, 2007 Share #13 Posted February 2, 2007 Very powerful shot. I reckon if you were to Rolo-fy this shot in B&W, with the emphasis on the priest and on Christ, with toned down other areas, you'd have a fabulous photograph. If you want to Rolo-fy it, of course . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
azzo Posted February 3, 2007 Share #14 Posted February 3, 2007 An extremely nice image in both versions. Personally i'd go for the b&w. Definitely worth some more time spent on it. A very nice capture Pete. Azzo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted February 3, 2007 Share #15 Posted February 3, 2007 Pete, You wrote: "I didn't know that you're an Anglican priest but thanks for confirming the reality. The poor bloke was just wiped out. You clerics obviously have life harder than it might appear to the uninitiated!" This is very true, it is extremely demanding work with endless multi-tasking. Photography is my spiritual escape :-) Blessings! Wilfredo+ Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted February 4, 2007 Author Share #16 Posted February 4, 2007 David, John, Robert, Andy, Azzo and Wifredo, thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, for which I am very grateful. I'll attempt a 'Rolo-fication' when time permits and post back if I haven't managed to completely ruin it. I've some ideas for taming the highlights involving the 'multiply' blending option and using a layer mask but my clone tool might also get a thorough work out. Still learning to understand the vagaries and complexities of CS2 so any suggestions are most welcome. Thanks to all, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter41951 Posted February 4, 2007 Share #17 Posted February 4, 2007 On reflection I'm reminded of El Greco in the colour version - it's the hands and raised eyes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted February 4, 2007 Author Share #18 Posted February 4, 2007 On reflection I'm reminded of El Greco in the colour version - it's the hands and raised eyes. Thanks, Peter, and I'm suitably flattered but also surprised; I thought that El Greco only shot with Samsungs. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamilsukun Posted February 4, 2007 Share #19 Posted February 4, 2007 Pete, I found both images very successful. On my monitor the B&W version exhibit a very rich palette of tones. Thanks fo sharing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Posted February 4, 2007 Share #20 Posted February 4, 2007 Peter, there's no doubt there's a masterpiece in this image, but I found it very tricky to bring it out. It's probably the most difficult I've downloaded from this Forum especially because of the competing points of focus. When you hit the button, you'll be ever so pleased with it. Rolo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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