[robbo]

I put this image in Sharing to see what people thought of my first try at this technique. Based on the fact that there was no feedback, I assume it was not well received. I know some don't like it and I even used to chuckle when I saw on a dormroom wall the B&W posters with the one red rose in a lonley girl's hands. None the less I had to try. So regaredless of your taste, your critique is welcome. Of course there is always the chance that the post-production technique isn't the issue, but rather this novice's shot actually stinks. So take your shots.

[Summerleft]

Personally I feel the B+W makes the image a bit flat.
It also looks a little blurred on my monitor, maybe a closer crop taking off a little of the left hand side, But out of interest can we see the colour version? with the vibrant red I'm wondering how much life this would bring to it.

[Rob Barron]

hi Robbo, from what I can see, your technique is fine. You have brought out the colour of the part you chose and left the rest in mono. My feeling is that this technique is not really about how to do it (make two layers, mono top one and erase back to the coloured version) but in choosing the right photo and the right part of the photo to bring the colour back. I don't think it is about choosing a big red section as that area of the picture might not be the main focal point of the image.

in this shot, the boat is the main focal point but if I were to spend a bit of time looking at the boat, it would be the deck and all the detail of what is happening on the deck, not the static hull which doesn't contain any real interest (every boat has a hull so unless it's a hull with something specific to focus on it doesn't really float my boat.... except it does.... but if we go down that route we'll all be confused ).

There was no way to selectively bring back the colour of the deck as that is white anyway. hence my conclusion that your processing technique is fine but this simply isn't a good subject to do it with.

The picture of a rose in a lover's hand is emotive and so has an impact. The red coat and shoes in Schindler's list is powerful and emotional. So, consider the type of photo you use and make the selective colour do something in the image. Looking forward to seeing your next attempt

Cheers,
Rob

[robbo]

Summerleft - I think it is a little blurred. There were 25 - 30 MPH wind gusts, so between the boat moving off the peer and me bracing myself against the wind, I am sure there was some movement. Not ideal conditions. Here is the color version. I think the red building takes away from the red hull and that is the reason I went B&W. Feel free to comment on this version as well.

Rob - I understand what you mean. For example, the colorful bouys hanging on the peer might have been a more interesting choice.

Thanks for the feedback all. I'll keep filing all this advice away for future use.

[Summerleft]

Sorry I did have a chuckle imagining hanging onto a post or soemthing trying to take photos in the wind! lol

I did have a play with the image but will post later as photobuckets up for site maintenance

[_MB_]

I agree the technique is fine, theres only maybe a wee bit of the hull underwater still red. I'm not that interested in this technique but thats no reason for others not to comment.

Looking at the colour version, theres so much more going on here that I much prefer it, but then I spend a lot of time in places like this anyway so thats no surprise

Maybe a buoy in amongst some lobster creels would have worked better? These selective colour things are as you point out very often done for something like a close up of a bride in white's hands with red roses or the like - it works better compositionally in these cases as the backdrop is often quite homogeneous whereas in this pic theres lots of variation in tones and shapes and lines that is fine for a practice to see if you can do it, which you have demonstrated you can, but it doesn't necessarily make for a pleasing photo.

I saw your pic first time round and didn't comment because I thought you'd maybe be sick of the site of my comments and through not liking the effect at the best of times, didn't want to colour (excuse the pun) the comments of subsequent posters.

[robbo]

Rob - Good advice and I liek the humor.

Summerleft - Your imagery is not far off!

MB - Don't ever shy away from commenting on my photos. The more I learn - good, bad and indifferent - the quicker I produce some quality photos of which I can be proud.

[nichpr]

I, for one, like the selective color technique. Like Rob says, however, it depends on the photo.

I always focus on the bright bits that define a subject - here it was the buoys. I also try to determine what the subject is and eliminate everything else - thus the crop.

[robbo]

I wondered if the bouys would be a better choice. I will try that with the original and see how it looks. Thanks for your input and guidance. I like the crop btw.