Centurion

chuckles · 30-12-2005, 17:28

Hadrian wants a wall where?

Arkady · 30-12-2005, 17:40

Crying out for the full 'Gladiator' treatment...

A slightly more considered attempt (edited)

RobertP · 30-12-2005, 17:50

If a pro photographer says that is the way to present such an image then I have to believe it.
I have obviously got a long way to go before I can understand it though.
Sorry but to me a rich interesting image just became a far less interesting dull one. Maybe I'll get it one day.

GfK · 30-12-2005, 17:53

I'm not really keen on either.

In the original shot, the background, while blurry, is far too bright and distracting. I sort of agree with RobertP about Arkady's 'modification' - same shot only duller.

Maybe slightly desaturate the background in the original shot? Might work better.

Quote:

If a pro photographer says that is the way to present such an image then I have to believe it.

Doesn't mean he's either A) Right all the time, or B) You have to agree with him all the time.

CT · 30-12-2005, 17:55

I think Rob is just presenting an alternative treatment.

I like the original image it's just a tad over-saturated for my tastes but that's a personal thing.

RobertP · 30-12-2005, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by GfK

Doesn't mean he's either A) Right all the time, or B) You have to agree with him all the time.

I am partially colour blind so I don't offer my opinions with confidence of being right

But I do see the original being a bit oversaturated

RobertP · 30-12-2005, 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by CT

I think Rob is just presenting an alternative treatment.

I didn't really think it was statement of how it 'should be'.

To me this is one of those times when I can't see why the conversion was done. Sometimes I do, but I can't here.
I was kinda hoping someone would come and explain why

GfK · 30-12-2005, 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobertP

I am partially colour blind

Me too, and I know of at least one other person here who is also colour blind.

Anyhow, here's my effort with desaturated and darkened background. I think it works better but each to their own:

digitalfailure · 30-12-2005, 18:14

It does look more gritty after Robs fiddle, very much like the opening scenes of the film gladiator. I like it like that, looks like he's seen some action

Arkady · 30-12-2005, 18:14

It's just a treatment that's possible - not better or worse - just different. And as the man says just because I earn a living doing this don't make it right.

I just watched the new Gladiator DVD and so it's fresh in my mind - watch the film and it's all blue and horribly dark at the beginning. All I was doing was re-creating an effect that I've seen elsewhere. The possibilities are endless.

CT · 30-12-2005, 18:17

Those red skin tines are a pretty good clue. Desaturate till they look right and you wont be far away, which is what I've done.

RobertP · 30-12-2005, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arkady

It's just a treatment that's possible - not better or worse - just different.

Maybe that's where I'm going wrong. When people present monochrome versions of pictures I assume they thought it improved the shot. If there never was an 'improvement' intended then there is not one to see

Arkady · 30-12-2005, 18:23

It's just a convention, like WWII images - we're so used to watching footage in black and white that colour shots look 'wrong' somehow.
That's why Spielberg did Schindler in mono.

I'm used to seeing desaturated, dark and moody - Gladiator, Rome so anything else looks wrong to me. To me. To me it is an improvement.
It's all about personal preference.
In fact it's good to see none of us agreeing for a change...

CT · 30-12-2005, 18:29

There's no right or wrong way to present a picture, that's half the challenge and the fun.

It's interesting that Gfk desaturated the background only, which is one choice, but if one part of a pic is oversaturated then the whole pic is oversaturated.

You could still argue a stong case for keeping the saturation iin the uniform in Gfk's version and just reducing those red skin tones, which would work well too, and with his more subdued background it would accentuate the Centurian.

Choices.

RobertP · 30-12-2005, 18:30

I feel like someone just turned the light on

I can dislike most monochromes in peace now

Arkady · 30-12-2005, 18:33

Or this...

Which I think is more sympathetic to the original.

CT · 30-12-2005, 18:35

LOL Film never gave you this much choice! Digital kicks @ss!

RobertP · 30-12-2005, 18:37

I much prefer that. I didn't like the way the brass and silver were indistinguishable before.

Personally I'd go somewhere between the original and CT's version. He wouldn't be wearing that decoration if it was not meant to stand out.