Opinions Wanted

On 21/05/2014 04:46, Eric Stevens wrote:
Some years ago I used my trusty D70 to take a photograph of a west
coast bay in rough conditions. Recently I've been trying to arrive at
a composition suitable for printing on matte paper in A2 size and
suitable for framing and hanging on a wall.

My present problem is that every member of my family has a different
idea of the best composition and in an attempt to bring peace I have
made three different versions. That hasn't really helped as I now have
three different sets of strong opinions.

I know that computer monitors are not ideal for viewing and proofing
prints of this kind but I am interested in gathering the opinions of
anyone in this newsgroup who is bold enough to state one. You can find
a JPG of each version in:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ok28ebd3p...M2OQuylz7CgFza

2 for me, FWIW. 3 a close second.

On Wed, 21 May 2014 15:46:16 +1200, Eric Stevens wrote:

Some years ago I used my trusty D70 to take a photograph of a west coast
bay in rough conditions. Recently I've been trying to arrive at a
composition suitable for printing on matte paper in A2 size and suitable
for framing and hanging on a wall.

My present problem is that every member of my family has a different
idea of the best composition and in an attempt to bring peace I have
made three different versions. That hasn't really helped as I now have
three different sets of strong opinions.

I know that computer monitors are not ideal for viewing and proofing
prints of this kind but I am interested in gathering the opinions of
anyone in this newsgroup who is bold enough to state one. You can find a
JPG of each version in:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ok28ebd3p...M2OQuylz7CgFza

Personally, I'd prefer #2. For me, the first and third could use more
visual interest on the left side - I don't care for the balance.

On 5/20/14 PDT, 9:48 PM, Tony Cooper wrote:
On Wed, 21 May 2014 16:33:57 +1200, Eric Stevens
wrote:

On Wed, 21 May 2014 00:14:14 -0400, Tony Cooper
wrote:

On Wed, 21 May 2014 16:11:02 +1200, Eric Stevens
wrote:

On Wed, 21 May 2014 00:01:20 -0400, Tony Cooper
wrote:

On Wed, 21 May 2014 15:46:16 +1200, Eric Stevens
wrote:

Some years ago I used my trusty D70 to take a photograph of a west
coast bay in rough conditions. Recently I've been trying to arrive at
a composition suitable for printing on matte paper in A2 size and
suitable for framing and hanging on a wall.

My present problem is that every member of my family has a different
idea of the best composition and in an attempt to bring peace I have
made three different versions. That hasn't really helped as I now have
three different sets of strong opinions.

I know that computer monitors are not ideal for viewing and proofing
prints of this kind but I am interested in gathering the opinions of
anyone in this newsgroup who is bold enough to state one. You can find
a JPG of each version in:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ok28ebd3p...M2OQuylz7CgFza

I'd go with #2, but it's your photo.

Why not three framed versions, each in a different room?

Open plan house. Effectively only the one suitable room. :-)

The cost is in the frame and the matting, not the print. Print all
three and change what's in the frame once a month.

The glass is the most expensive item.

I don't think photographs always need glass. In fact, sometimes it
takes away.

With or without glass, the framing and matting is more expensive than
the print. Prints can be switched.

And one doesn't do away with the glass on changing prints.

Me, I'd also go with no. 2 and in the future not consult with family.
Or make a fourth cropping and print that....

On 5/20/2014 11:46 PM, Eric Stevens wrote:
Some years ago I used my trusty D70 to take a photograph of a west
coast bay in rough conditions. Recently I've been trying to arrive at
a composition suitable for printing on matte paper in A2 size and
suitable for framing and hanging on a wall.

My present problem is that every member of my family has a different
idea of the best composition and in an attempt to bring peace I have
made three different versions. That hasn't really helped as I now have
three different sets of strong opinions.

I know that computer monitors are not ideal for viewing and proofing
prints of this kind but I am interested in gathering the opinions of
anyone in this newsgroup who is bold enough to state one. You can find
a JPG of each version in:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ok28ebd3p...M2OQuylz7CgFza


Here's our chance to stand up for yourself. Pick the one that you like
best, and take a strong stand. If you wife likes a different version,
concede. She will owe you one. It's a great chance to get yourself a new
lens.


--
PeterN

On 5/21/2014 12:33 AM, Eric Stevens wrote:
On Wed, 21 May 2014 00:14:14 -0400, Tony Cooper
wrote:

On Wed, 21 May 2014 16:11:02 +1200, Eric Stevens
wrote:

On Wed, 21 May 2014 00:01:20 -0400, Tony Cooper
wrote:

On Wed, 21 May 2014 15:46:16 +1200, Eric Stevens
wrote:

Some years ago I used my trusty D70 to take a photograph of a west
coast bay in rough conditions. Recently I've been trying to arrive at
a composition suitable for printing on matte paper in A2 size and
suitable for framing and hanging on a wall.

My present problem is that every member of my family has a different
idea of the best composition and in an attempt to bring peace I have
made three different versions. That hasn't really helped as I now have
three different sets of strong opinions.

I know that computer monitors are not ideal for viewing and proofing
prints of this kind but I am interested in gathering the opinions of
anyone in this newsgroup who is bold enough to state one. You can find
a JPG of each version in:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ok28ebd3p...M2OQuylz7CgFza

I'd go with #2, but it's your photo.

Why not three framed versions, each in a different room?

Open plan house. Effectively only the one suitable room. :-)

The cost is in the frame and the matting, not the print. Print all
three and change what's in the frame once a month.

The glass is the most expensive item.


I would never cover an art image with glass, unless it was a reproduction.

--
PeterN

On 5/21/2014 6:23 AM, -hh wrote:
On Wednesday, May 21, 2014 6:17:47 AM UTC-4, -hh wrote:
Eric Stevens wrote:



I know that computer monitors are not ideal for viewing and proofing

prints of this kind but I am interested in gathering the opinions of

anyone in this newsgroup who is bold enough to state one. You can find

a JPG of each version in:



https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ok28ebd3p...M2OQuylz7CgFza



In looking through the three images, one thing I noticed is that #3 was the

"least" crop of the three. I don't know if its the full frame original or not.



In any case, I didn't really care too much for #1 or #2 ...



#1 seems to emphasis the foreground, rather than the bay.



#2 is bringing the eye into the hills/cliffs beyond the bay, which hints at your intent



#3 has even more foreground, which seems even more distracting.



What I'd suggest is ... more/different crops. Might help too with the family, as

no one gets "their way" from the first round.



Here's a direction that I'd suggest considering - - this is quick & dirty; I might

want to have kept a bit more sky to the top:



https://www.dropbox.com/s/l4ib67605r...cker3-crop.jpg

Admin ... I've not used dropbox much; this might be the public link:

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/hc36x7ou7...IG5X_nxh082rQa




Nope. Sitll not viewable: Put the image in the public folder. Right
click ad a menu appears. Got to "copy public link."


In any case, I hope it inspires some expression. My thought process was that

with the piece's title being "Bay", the context of the open water on the left is

a necessary element. Similarly, I believe that you have more interest in the

hills/cliffs than in the grasses, so this was adjusted accordingly (max/min).






--
PeterN

#2 of course. #1 is a photo of the sky and #3 is a photo of grass.

#2 is beautifully balanced.

--
m-m
http://www.mhmyers.com

Le 21/05/14 05:46, Eric Stevens a écrit :

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ok28ebd3p...M2OQuylz7CgFza

My opinion is that is your's that count, not your family.
If you are the photographer, your own sense of composition should be
trusted. As well as the choice of treatment, paper and so on.
If you keep asking, one will want it matte and another glossy, with a
large frame or a thin one, and boost saturation or make it BW. Whatever
choice to make is yours to make.

The third one is the one that please the most my own sense of balance,
but I am not even from your family.
And if it was my shot, I would have made it differently, or made a dyptich.

Noëlle Adam

On 5/21/2014 2:36 PM, YouDontNeedToKnowButItsNoëlle wrote:
Le 21/05/14 05:46, Eric Stevens a écrit :

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ok28ebd3p...M2OQuylz7CgFza

My opinion is that is your's that count, not your family.
If you are the photographer, your own sense of composition should be
trusted. As well as the choice of treatment, paper and so on.
If you keep asking, one will want it matte and another glossy, with a
large frame or a thin one, and boost saturation or make it BW. Whatever
choice to make is yours to make.

The third one is the one that please the most my own sense of balance,
but I am not even from your family.
And if it was my shot, I would have made it differently, or made a dyptich.


That never happens in my house. The closest we come is that my wife
likes one image. We have a rule that we have followed for over fifty
years. I make all the major decisions, and she makes the little ones.
The major decisions are whether we should go to war, whether we get a
new car. The little ones include which picture should be hung, where we
go for dinner, what color to paint the walls, etc.


--
PeterN

On Wed, 21 May 2014 12:21:33 -0400, PeterN
wrote:

I would never cover an art image with glass, unless it was a reproduction.

It depends on how long you want to keep it. The right glass helps
protect against fly droppings, ultraviolet light etc. Prints the size
I've been making tend not to be throw-away items.
--

Regards,

Eric Stevens