dunno why i'm having such a hard time cropping this, but i am. well, i'm sick and feeling overall lousy maybe that's why. anyway, here it is uncropped. i have two cropped versions i'll show you. i'd appreciate your help. thanks guys! :)

here's the 2nd version.

i think maybe this last version works the best, but i'm not sure. maybe you have a different crop in mind??? HELP!! :) any other suggestions would also be appreciated. :) thanks!

Shelia I quite like both, I just slightly prefer the second one, this is probably because it looks closer to the aspect ratio of 35mm film and DSLR sensor, the compact digi cams usually have a deeper image which always looks a little strange to me. Lovely toning Simon

Oh I cross posted lol sorry, still prefer the 2nd though for the foreground detail

Message edited on: 01/04/2006 01:05

2nd for me. cuts out the excess sky while leaving enough foreground to have me feeling like I'm there...

I like the second one too. Makes it almost a pan.But I think the tones used make it look a little "nonlife" Maybe you could try a dif tone or keep it colour to bring it up a bit. You know that's just me though.

#2 for me. Rare to see everyone agree like this, lol.

#2 for me. There imho is to much empty space above the tree line in #1 and #3

everyone agrees on #2??? Wow! That's good because i actually liked it better myself. then i started thinking composition was wrong 'cause the tree line was exactly in the middle. doug, here's #2 in a different tone and brightened just a tiny bit. better? i think i kind this one a bit better. thanks so much guys for the help!!! sure do appreciate it! :)

I do like that one better. :)

IMO the tree in the middle is not a problem at all, if it was a lone tree it would be a different matter, but the tree in question is part of the overall scene.

Edit: I prefer the other tone although the B&W works well too

Awkward lot aint we lol

Message edited on: 01/04/2006 09:42

Message edited on: 01/04/2006 09:44

thanks guys! :) LOL @ Simon!!! i like both tones. here's the same tone just brightened a bit. guess i'll have to decide. choices, choices!!! :) i think doug was right about it needing to be brightened up.

I think Doug may have meant that would prefer colour, he said bring it up not brighten, just my interpretation of his words. To be honest I still prefer #2 the last one for me lacks contrast. You could try, a duplicated layer and converting the top layer to B&W and dropping off the opacity to give you muted colours

Message edited on: 01/04/2006 11:38

Ok we have kind of gone past the cropping bit onto tones etc. This is my todays upload and just a very quick edit to show you what I mean. #1 straight shot #2 convert to B&W #3 convert B&W to tone with curves #4 duplicate #1 place #2 over #1 and reduce opacity to about 85% for muted colours, this can be played with further, add grain/blur to soften etc but left as is as an example. Simon

ooooh, i LOVE that, Simon!!! Your final result is gorgeous, but i must admit i ADORE the B/W (#2) the way it is!!! what you're doing...yeah...i do that a lot now...layer the color and b/w to achieve a look with desaturated colors. i do like it a lot!!! Thanks so much for showing what you did!!!! and thanks for clarifying what doug said. You're absolutely right. sorry...i'm still sick and taking medicine that's making me a bit loopy...well, loopier than my normal loopy self! LOL! :) In generrral, i love my BW images to have a LOT of contrast. well...i'll play some more. i guess ya'all will see what i decide on when i post it in my gallery!!! that final desaturated one you did is growing on me Simon. :) thank ye! :)

I think you just have to play about with things like that, what works for one image may not work for another. I kinda got the impression that your shot was on an overcast day. My shot was the closest I had to hand without delving into the archives lol I thing that black and white can be very dramatic with a detailed sky but doesnt always work with a flat sky, having the choice of both is something that may not have been possible in the film days, or at least not unless you had a cam body with each. Certainly going half way wasnt really possible, at least not for me, but in the digital world having that option can be quite interesting sometimes. Anyway got stuff to do, maybe catch up later/tomorrow, funny thing the time difference. Simon

can't really remember if the day was overcast or not as i took that shot about 4 years ago i guess. i think it was though. i think that was the day we were walking and then got caught in a down pour! have fun, Simon, and thanks again!!! ;)