Critique Welcomed Dark City

[Dave Farnes]

Experimenting with various settings, going for a harsh, sinister look. Opinions most welcome.

(If you prefer pretty tourist pics, they are on my FaceBook page.)

 

[Brian Moore]

I like the first one very much, Dave. It's almost like a negative. I wonder how it would look inverted? (There's a fine art photographer I know in New York--Andrew Prokos by name--who has done a whole series of inverted images, some B&W and some color. In particular, his "Inverted UAE" is very interesting.)

 

[Dave Farnes]

Thanks for the suggestions. Took a look at some of Andrew Prokos photos, a truly beautiful collection of images. I will have to have a much longer look, his work is just amazing.

I tried inverting the image as you suggested.



Tried adding an effect called "Predator" supposed to emulate the creatures eye-view from the movie, interesting..

 

[Brian Moore]

Dave I'm glad you took a look at Andrew's work. He is not only great photographer, he is also a thoroughly fine fellow. Thanks for trying the inverted version. Actually I think I like the positive better. That ultra white sky is cool. (However the inverted predator version is interesting. It almost looks like a circuit board.)

 

[Rob MacKillop]

New meds, Dave? Stay the course, as the results so far are very promising!

 

[Dave Farnes]

The only med I am on this time of year is a chilled Sauvignon Blanc.

Modern architecture and the river seem to be my thing, I shall carry on next time I am there.

 

[Wes Hall]

The inversion is arresting Dave, I'm not usually a fan of doing that style of image manipulation, but Brian was onto something here.

I'll have a look at the artist that prompted it.

I do like the X factor of the 3rd shot Dave, it carries the 'sinister' vibe and motif of dystopian life. Composition is made for a nice bit of 6x6 shooting.

 

[Dave Farnes]

Thank you Wes. An X symbol generally means No, adds to the sinister feel. Always interesting shapes and patterns to be found in bridges.

I do like the black sky in the inverted image, worth more experiments with different subjects.

 

[Milan Vjestica]

A good idea and the first image works. Is this a technique that can be applied well in peak sunshine i.e. early afternoon, for land and city scapes?

 

[Dave Farnes]

I think that would work, peak sunshine would give high contrast. These were taken late afternoon around 5:30pm.

 

[Pete Askew]

Firstly, I like the high contrast originals very much, especially the first too - although I do crave a moodier sky in the second (gradient with increased clarity / micro-contrast maybe, or red filter?). And of the manipulated variants, I like the Predator version more as the abstraction it brings works very well I think.