I'm going back through older files looking for conversion candidates - I'll try to only do this once in awhile, but since we have to make up weeks 1-3....
Caught this young man enjoying his pipe and a book one afternoon. This is on the third floor of the Al Faw palace.
The original:
No real objective to B&W other than I prefer it that way, and the color was pretty darn blah. Conversion was using CS3's B&W conversion tool.
The re-edit is wonderful! He really pops out now and I love the light on his face now plus his uniform stands out. Awesome shot which delivers comfort and emotion. Thanks for sharing!
I have spent some time looking and thinking about all 3 versions. I really just like them all because it is a really telling shot any whichway. The original is not blah - the sepia foreground tones are lovely and warm, and the green theme in the opposite windows serves to separate them from and avoid competing with the main foreground composition, and also provides a little information; on the other hand the bws look like classic war journalism - the first subtle, the second having a nice clarity. Definitely a Photo of the Year.
Damn I wrote something and then DPC ate it. Let's see if I can remember what I wrote.
I do like this better in black and white. The moment you captured is quite interesting. I'm fascinated by the fact that he is smoking a pipe! It's such a peaceful scene and it makes me wonder if he got to enjoy life this way at home too. What a contrast to compare this moment to what he might actually face during the rest of his day.
The personal, the well organized, the symmetrical - all parts of a photo I tend to appreciate. There is a tranquility in this photo which is often needed to allow the viewers imagination to enter the photo. You did it.
Funny, i would have guesseds an antanna to a radio and not a pipe. It's always nice to see soldiers in a different, more human light. I really like the re-occuring L pattern in this shot with the wall and the soldier and the window in the background. Well done!
Nicely composed photo, and good candid moment. He really does look like he's enjoying some free time. Your re-edit does bring out more detail in his face.
Awesome capture! He looks so natural sitting there reading..you have shown a side of his personality which makes this a success. On the black and white conversion I think you have lost some of the good tonal range of the original. I think it would look much better if you could bring out the camo with black and white conversion where you could darken and lighten different colors. Also, if you could burn the wall behind and below him I think it would work better as a natural frame. There just seems to be a loss off character in the walls from the conversion. Take a look at the thumbnail versions side by side if you haven't already...
Another thing that might help is a "contrast USM"..I don't really know if that is the correct term, but what I do is apply a USM with a very high radius like 100 pixals and set the amount to 10 or so and thresholds to 0.
Anyway, it is a great capture as is and please keep it for your b/w collection as I really love it!
Awesome! I CAN'T not comment on this. You know how I LOVE soldier photography! I love how the back lighting frames his head, almost like a halo, which is quite appropriate for any one of our soldiers :) It's so nice to see such relaxed enjoyment on a guy. Comforting in light of the extreme sacrifices soldiers are called on to make in the course of their jobs.
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