City Through The Trees

[Chris Dodkin]

I've revisited a shot I'd taken back in April, and applied what I've learned recently about B&W toning, and more creative PP.

City Through The Trees

What do you think?

 

[Brian Moore]

It's very cool. What was your vantage point, Chris,...Balboa Park area? What accounts for the bright illumination in the foreground? (I wonder how it would look with normal illumination?) I really like the little cloud-like puffs of light emanating from the trees.

 

[Ralph Thornton]

You've created some interestng lighting effects with the change. looks almost like some of those trees are on fire.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Yep - Cabrillo Bridge at Balboa park - you have to shoot through the railings, but the gaps are wide enough

The foreground illumination is from a couple of streetlights over the freeway at the junction.

By normal illumination, are you thinking daylight, or just a color night version?

The effect of the light bursts through the trees was what sold me on the PP on this shot - reminds me of what you see when flying over a city at night.

Original color night shot from the same set here:

 

[Pete Askew]

I like it Chris. Maybe a bit too 'hot' bottom RH side but I like it all the same. Nice softness on the trees and the city has an air of mystery to it that is missing in colour. All you need now is some grain. Maybe a bit like this:

Hope you don't mind. What do you think?

 

[Chris Dodkin]

You've created some interestng lighting effects with the change. looks almost like some of those trees are on fire.

Great description of the effect Ralph - I think that's partially the diffusion giving off the fire-like glow

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks Pete, I get where you're going - I do like the cooler B&W tones though in this shot, rather than the warmer look.

Here's a revision with an exposure grad to tone down the foreground illumination, and some Tri-X 400 grain

 

[Pete Askew]

You're probably right about the tone Chris, I was being lazy and using a simulation with coarse grain that has a tone associated with it. I'd be tempted to up the grain size though but that's because I see images like this as if they were shot with film and this would probably have been push processed and have had larger grain. I kind of expect to see more texture if that makes sense.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I always have an issue with grain at web resolution - it tends to be less visible!

But then it's over 25 years since I printed anything in a dark room

 

[Brian Moore]

By normal illumination, are you thinking daylight, or just a color night version?

In the original post the foreground illumination is bright enough to appear enhanced. I just meant un-enhanced illumination.

 

[Darren Bradley]

Looks like Pete beat me to the punch. As soon as I saw the photo, I was going to comment on how it was a very interesting take on this spot (a very familiar spot for me!), but that the lower right seemed a bit too hot and blown out. I like the revised treatment.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Catching up with some older threads from my busy weekend and this is my fave shot so far...
the revisit is great!
I remember commenting that i didnt so much like the the lost shadow in the colour shot you had done...
Its a lot more successful in this shot
I really like the way the eye is drawn around all the little pockets of sort of smokey light ...
I really like this Chris!!

 

[Paul Lange]

This is pretty smart but I do have to agree about the lower RHS. Doesn't look too bright in the colour image so guessing the PP has ramped this up a bit.