Urban in BW

Somehow, I always think urban shots look better in BW. These were shot last week in Cardiff. I used CS5 and Silver Efex filters for most of them. C&C welcome - just because I'm a mod now, doesn't mean you can't pull my shots to pieces.:)

Post your own urban BW if you wish.

See BW slide show on Flickr

Urban 1
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/...9e78f21b_z.jpg

Urban 2
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/...050b86e1_z.jpg

Urban 3
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/...ab5cefc9_z.jpg

Urban 4
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/...11967e34_z.jpg

Urban 5
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/...9447dfab_z.jpg

Urban 6
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/...c277ce1b_z.jpg

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Somehow, I always think urban shots look better in BW.

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I agree (but let's hear the counter view from others)

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C&C welcome - just because I'm a mod now, doesn't mean you can't pull my shots to pieces

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RIGHT ... if that's okay with you, Sir!

Overall, a lovely exploration of line and shape. Although in the context of this being seen as a set, I don't 'get' #4. But that's probably not the way to view it.

Which do I find are most pleasing to my eye?

#2 for its curves. Lovely flowing lines.
#3 (which is my pick-of-the-bunch). The verticals, horizontals and angled lines create a wonderful harmony. The way they have been composed together in this image gives us a simplicity of line. I like it's clear, clean lines. It's not cluttered. There is also a lovely range of tones across the image that give it depth, texture and richness.

#5 doesn't work for me because of that 'thing' that is reflected. Looks like something you'd see outside a Las Vegas casino and diverts my attention away from lines of the building.

And #6 is just a bit too busy for my taste.

What Donald said, no really, I agree with everything... except one could get sea sick looking at #2 (only kidding)

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just because I'm a mod now, doesn't mean you can't pull my shots to pieces

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Ok, one more thing then; I'm not sure about the toning of #1 and #6, or #4 for that matter, but that's probably a personal choice thing, just not colours, subtle though they are, I would have chosen.

Good series, I ought to try it one day so you can retaliate ;)

Cheers,

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Originally Posted by Donald

Overall, a lovely exploration of line and shape. Although in the context of this being seen as a set, I don't 'get' #4. But that's probably not the way to view it.

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Thanks, Donald.

It's probably a bit hard to get the context of #4 unless you were there. It's a public notice board area where people post all sorts of messages, looking for others, advertising alternative events etc. It's the sort of thing you might get in a country village but the cultural content of it is different. I thought it was typical of an urban setting for that reason.

#3 gets my vote, I love symmetry. #5 is a distant second, I like the tones but not that crazy about the tilt. The rest don't really work for me. Number 4 is interesting but I'm with Dave on the tone. I think I would prefer B&W and perhaps zoomed out a bit for context.

Wendy

B & W urban shots can have a timeless look to them that's only dated by clothing and automobiles.

And... a final one. This is a maritime control tower in Cardiff Bay.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/...11a1d213_z.jpg

Loving #3.

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Originally Posted by niallc99

Loving #3.

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Thanks, Niall. I printed it today at A4, and it looks very lush.:cool:

Rob excellent set (as usual). For me they have a real 'sixties' feel to them. Nice to see a following for Ianto. It must be all that communal bathing, tight sports shorts and male bondage...I mean bonding (Rugby?)

I don't have a favourite but I am not quite as keen on the control tower

I think #5 is brill, but I keep looking at #2 because I don't know what it is. #5 is my favourite and I'm not too keen on the control tower. :)

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Originally Posted by arith

I keep looking at #2 because I don't know what it is....

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It's a multi-storey carpark in Cardiff, Steve. Some people shoot beautiful wild-life creatures in far-flung exotic locations. Wirefox shoots his forty-grand Audi outside his Cheshire mansion-house, and some lucky togs shoot semi-clad super-models in tantalising poses (which are then Photoshopped to the peak of perfection by some minion).

I do multi-storey car-parks in Cardiff.

Here's a larger shot of it. It's basically your bog-standard car-park with some very fancy curly bits bolted on the side by some over-zealous architect. I was standing right underneath it, hence the odd angle.

Must dash now, the super-models are waiting. :rolleyes:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/...086488c6_z.jpg

Now that I really like and in good old fashioned b/w too. I was beginning to think a lot of the b/w images on the forum had been hanging in the snug of the Rovers Return or my monitor had taken up smoking.

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Wirefox shoots his forty-grand Audi outside his Cheshire mansion-house

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How dare you...it belongs to the neighbour. I don't have the after shave conditioning balm to drive one of those things. I could have shot one of the neighbours Mercs but my hearing aid keeps picking up Radio 4 every time I go near the things. Anyway I would have to buy a panama hat to put place the parcel shelf (in a precisely, casually positioned sort of way).

http://soloimages.smugmug.com/Still-...11_FKXz8-M.jpg

Nice series, as usual, Rob. I like #3 best. 1, 2, 5, and 6 are very interesting pattern/texture shots, done very well, but the clean triplet in #3 makes it very strong, I think.

Cheers,
Rick

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Originally Posted by rick55

Nice series, as usual, Rob. I like #3 best. 1, 2, 5, and 6 are very interesting pattern/texture shots, done very well, but the clean triplet in #3 makes it very strong, I think.

Cheers,
Rick

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Thanks, Rick. It's my favourite too. I printed it and it looks very swish!