Little Green Men

SammyC · 14-12-2005, 17:09

Ok, I'm posting this for two reasons, one I'd like comments on the composistion and also the effect (if you spot it), but also to promote a discussion on the copyright-ness of the image (i.e. a photo of art):

RobertP · 14-12-2005, 17:31

Put it down to my age, but I don't like it.

Some graffiti can be close to art but most is just vandalism. I don't see art in this graffiti.

As to the photograph, I don't feel qualified to offer technical critique but... The bricks look a bit unnatural in colour like the saturation has been boosted just to brighten the graffiti. The desaturated background does focus you on the wall but then there is no focal point for your eye. I don't know what to look at.

My 2p

***Dave*** · 14-12-2005, 17:35

Composition leads you into the shot OK. Would advise boosting contrast & saturation of colour to really make it stand out, plus change window & end wall to B&W for max impact.

Liberalis · 14-12-2005, 17:43

Regarding the copyright, If its on public display I doubt you'd have any problems, the only one I could think of is permissions from who-ever owns the land/building.

CT · 14-12-2005, 17:51

I quite like this sort of stuff. There's no doubt that the original dislays ability and bears no resemblance to the mindless graffiti which has been sprayed over the top of it. I think the wall fills the frame too much to really benefit from your duotone treatment?

I don't see any copyrght problems - none that I'd worry about unduly anyway.

SammyC · 14-12-2005, 18:21

Thanks for the comments chaps. I love graffiti that shows ability, there are some really talented artists in Bristol. I don't include the mindless tagging that is everywhere.

I do understand people perspective on the vandalism aspect but where this is a large abandoned bonded wharehouse so I can't personally see it as vandalism.

The saturation is as boosted as it can be really, it was a VERY misty day and was even apparent at this distance. As Robert noticed it has given it a slightly unnatural look to the bricks.

CT, so do you mean the wall is too large in the picture or that the duotone treatment just doesn't add much?

CT · 14-12-2005, 18:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by SammyC

.

CT, so do you mean the wall is too large in the picture or that the duotone treatment just doesn't add much?

I think it could work quite well but more of the surroundings in B&W might really accentuate the two treatments.

fingerz · 14-12-2005, 18:29

I'm not going to comment on the 'is grafitti art?' debate because I think that's subjective.

However I do have an opinion on photographing other people's art. I think that you should always try to take a picture which reflects your view of it. I like to walk away thinking that if someone else went to the same place, with the same camera, under the same weather conditions, I'd still have a different photograph because I reflected something other than just the art itself.

That sounds really muddled reading it back but basically I'm saying that I don't like 'straight shots' of someone else's art because photos like that can be taken by anyone who knows how to work a camera properly. The only exception is stuff like journalism/posterity/criminal evidence etc. In those cases (where the whole point is to illustrate what you're talking about as clearly as possible) then straight shots are clearly important.

SammyC · 14-12-2005, 18:35

I think your comment, CT, and Jamey's are complementary. If the shot had been of a scene (for want of a better term) with the wall in it and with the duotone (is that a technical term?) effect it would have more punch and not just be a picture of a wall.

Does that make sense?

fingerz · 14-12-2005, 18:43

Yes.

And I think you're right.

Matty · 14-12-2005, 19:32

its pretty good, someones obviously taken a lot of time over it, perhaps they should have done it on a canvas instead though eh!

Photo is good, nice PS work, but as Robert says, the colours on the bricks are a tad off, otherwise its good!

I agree with Jamey, you have to do something different and interpret it your way.

CT · 14-12-2005, 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by SammyC

duotone (is that a technical term?)

Yes. I didn't use it too accurately actually I was just trying to get out of typing 'part black and white and part colour' but I've had to do it in the end anyway.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tu.../duotone.shtml

SammyC · 14-12-2005, 19:57

Ok, without going out to shoot another version (which I will do when I have some daylight!), does this aid in any way?

Not sure myself

milou · 14-12-2005, 20:42

I'd have to agree with Jamey. I think we may have had a similar sort of discussion about this on another forum prompted in part by a few shots I took of some Southampton street art [this stuff was commissioned - the art that is ;o)]: http://www.pbase.com/milou/streetart

SammyC · 14-12-2005, 21:24

There's some beautiful artwork in that gallery Milou, and it does particularly show Jamey's point of 'straight on' photography.

We have a fair bit of graffiti in Bristol, obvious famous stuff such as Banksy, but lots of other stuff too. I shall be back!

***Dave*** · 15-12-2005, 07:04

Looks better. Last possible improvement is to also lasso around edge of building & top & left of shot , to adjust levels to darken trees etc.

Big fan of graffit in corrct places. Actually had a friend spray some on a whole bedroom wall in my 1st house...........nightmare to paint over when trying to sell though

SammyC · 15-12-2005, 08:53

Thanks for that Dave, should be able to burn those trees the same.

Venomator · 07-01-2006, 23:45

[quote=SammyC]Ok, I'm posting this for two reasons, one I'd like comments on the composistion and also the effect (if you spot it), QUOTE]

Sorry Sammy - missed this thread first time around for some reason !

Why give it context at all ?

Duo-tone/B &W + colour or whatever how does it fare if everything other than the wall is cropped ? IMO it may be more representative ?

14-12-2005, 17:09	#1 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	Little Green Men Ok, I'm posting this for two reasons, one I'd like comments on the composistion and also the effect (if you spot it), but also to promote a discussion on the copyright-ness of the image (i.e. a photo of art):

14-12-2005, 18:21	#6 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	Thanks for the comments chaps. I love graffiti that shows ability, there are some really talented artists in Bristol. I don't include the mindless tagging that is everywhere. I do understand people perspective on the vandalism aspect but where this is a large abandoned bonded wharehouse so I can't personally see it as vandalism. The saturation is as boosted as it can be really, it was a VERY misty day and was even apparent at this distance. As Robert noticed it has given it a slightly unnatural look to the bricks. CT, so do you mean the wall is too large in the picture or that the duotone treatment just doesn't add much? __________________ Canon 350D Canon 18-55 kit lens Canon 28-105 f3.5-4.5 USM Canon 50 1.8 Mk 1 Sigma 70-300 APO Macro DG Kenko extension tubes My photographs

14-12-2005, 17:31	#2 (permalink)
RobertP Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Woodford Essex Posts: 841	Put it down to my age, but I don't like it. Some graffiti can be close to art but most is just vandalism. I don't see art in this graffiti. As to the photograph, I don't feel qualified to offer technical critique but... The bricks look a bit unnatural in colour like the saturation has been boosted just to brighten the graffiti. The desaturated background does focus you on the wall but then there is no focal point for your eye. I don't know what to look at. My 2p

14-12-2005, 17:35	#3 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 15,355	Composition leads you into the shot OK. Would advise boosting contrast & saturation of colour to really make it stand out, plus change window & end wall to B&W for max impact.

14-12-2005, 17:43	#4 (permalink)
Liberalis Been here a while Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 381	Regarding the copyright, If its on public display I doubt you'd have any problems, the only one I could think of is permissions from who-ever owns the land/building.

14-12-2005, 17:51	#5 (permalink)
CT Feet under the table Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Mids UK Posts: 3,500	I quite like this sort of stuff. There's no doubt that the original dislays ability and bears no resemblance to the mindless graffiti which has been sprayed over the top of it. I think the wall fills the frame too much to really benefit from your duotone treatment? I don't see any copyrght problems - none that I'd worry about unduly anyway.

14-12-2005, 18:29	#8 (permalink)
fingerz Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 790	I'm not going to comment on the 'is grafitti art?' debate because I think that's subjective. However I do have an opinion on photographing other people's art. I think that you should always try to take a picture which reflects your view of it. I like to walk away thinking that if someone else went to the same place, with the same camera, under the same weather conditions, I'd still have a different photograph because I reflected something other than just the art itself. That sounds really muddled reading it back but basically I'm saying that I don't like 'straight shots' of someone else's art because photos like that can be taken by anyone who knows how to work a camera properly. The only exception is stuff like journalism/posterity/criminal evidence etc. In those cases (where the whole point is to illustrate what you're talking about as clearly as possible) then straight shots are clearly important.

14-12-2005, 18:35	#9 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	I think your comment, CT, and Jamey's are complementary. If the shot had been of a scene (for want of a better term) with the wall in it and with the duotone (is that a technical term?) effect it would have more punch and not just be a picture of a wall. Does that make sense?

14-12-2005, 18:43	#10 (permalink)
fingerz Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 790	Yes. And I think you're right.

14-12-2005, 19:32	#11 (permalink)
Matty Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: kings hill Posts: 5,269	its pretty good, someones obviously taken a lot of time over it, perhaps they should have done it on a canvas instead though eh! Photo is good, nice PS work, but as Robert says, the colours on the bricks are a tad off, otherwise its good! I agree with Jamey, you have to do something different and interpret it your way.

14-12-2005, 19:57	#13 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	Ok, without going out to shoot another version (which I will do when I have some daylight!), does this aid in any way? Not sure myself

14-12-2005, 20:42	#14 (permalink)
milou Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 583	I'd have to agree with Jamey. I think we may have had a similar sort of discussion about this on another forum prompted in part by a few shots I took of some Southampton street art [this stuff was commissioned - the art that is ;o)]: http://www.pbase.com/milou/streetart

14-12-2005, 21:24	#15 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	There's some beautiful artwork in that gallery Milou, and it does particularly show Jamey's point of 'straight on' photography. We have a fair bit of graffiti in Bristol, obvious famous stuff such as Banksy, but lots of other stuff too. I shall be back!

15-12-2005, 07:04	#16 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 15,355	Looks better. Last possible improvement is to also lasso around edge of building & top & left of shot , to adjust levels to darken trees etc. Big fan of graffit in corrct places. Actually had a friend spray some on a whole bedroom wall in my 1st house...........nightmare to paint over when trying to sell though

15-12-2005, 08:53	#17 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	Thanks for that Dave, should be able to burn those trees the same.

07-01-2006, 23:45	#18 (permalink)
Venomator Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 922	[quote=SammyC]Ok, I'm posting this for two reasons, one I'd like comments on the composistion and also the effect (if you spot it), QUOTE] Sorry Sammy - missed this thread first time around for some reason ! Why give it context at all ? Duo-tone/B &W + colour or whatever how does it fare if everything other than the wall is cropped ? IMO it may be more representative ?