Gloomy Day at STL campus...

[IzzieK]

I went to school on that wet, miserable day. As I was going out of my building, this was what greeted me (along with others..) I badly need a C&C on this one if you can afford to give me one, even just one...I'd like to know if I was able to make you feel what I felt that day looking at this...and oh, do I need to walk around that puddle sort of feeling? I tried to make the scenario a bit lighter but the gloomy feeling I wanted to convey disappeared. Somehow, it doesn't feel right to lighten the whole thing...

[Digital]

Isabel, this photo reflects my mood (no pun intended).
Nice capture.


Bruce

[AB26]

Isabel, the art is capturing the mood in that moment in time.

From what you describe the mood to have been I took the liberty in doing adjustments to depict that mood. Never fear to have an image look like what you actually saw in that moment.

Make your images express your feeling in that moment.

Good shot, make it work for you.

[Mike Buckley]

do I need to walk around that puddle sort of feeling?

A composition that more predominantly includes the puddle and a perspective that allows us to view it from a very low angle might convey that feeling more strongly.

Next time take your snorkel gear so you don't have to avoid the puddle.

[kap55]

A composition that more predominantly includes the puddle and a perspective that allows us to view it from a very low angle might convey that feeling more strongly.

I think Mike's suggestion is a very good one.

As far as processing the image you have captured, I would leave the foreground as is and try to do more work on the clouds - the right settings should convey a more gloomy, depressed mood.

[IzzieK]

Andre...I like the mood better. The sky is more pronounced; the lights at the top rooms are more in line with the darkish weather outside...I thought if I darken the whole scenario it will be too dark and vice versa if I lighten it the gloomy mood I want to convey will disappear. You did this one very well. Thank you for helping...

[IzzieK]

Thanks Mike and Brian for the look...and Mike for the suggestion. I never thought of going more downward. I was thinking of the puddle I have to navigate to go to the carpark at the time...Dang! I didn't intend to drown...

[FrankMi]

Just a thought Isabel, rainy day puddles provide a unique way to get reflections that are not possible under any other conditions. If there are puddles available, look for shooting angles that can make the best use of the reflections!

[Downrigger]

I "got it" right away. So very creative of you to try to capture a "down" feeling in an image... the vast majority of efforts strive for the pretty (if not beautiful), the grand, the intense, the intriguingly mysterious. Capturing ordinariness of a discouraging sort that still compels is a much taller order, I think. Very hard to pull off. Andre's darkening of the sky addresses my first impulse on seeing the original, and carries this image a little further towards its task. But mainly, an attagirl to you for taking on something rarely attempted and getting as close as you did to its achievement.

[IzzieK]

Frank..I was thinking of drowning in that puddle . Next time I will be more prepared. The scenario attracted me at the time that has to do with the $600 Master Suite discount of Photoshop 6 I suppose. I was thinking of software and then the resulting cause if my pooter cannot carry the new load...then this scenario came about...

Anyway, thanks for the suggestion. I will have a look-out for those...

Just a thought Isabel, rainy day puddles provide a unique way to get reflections that are not possible under any other conditions. If there are puddles available, look for shooting angles that can make the best use of the reflections!

[IzzieK]

Mark...I sense that you are a simple man with very simple taste...Yes, Andre's darkening of the skies helps more to convey that gloominess I was trying to achieve.

Thank you for the encouragement...after today I will slowly bring back my camera packs and accessories to my den. I promise...

I "got it" right away. So very creative of you to try to capture a "down" feeling in an image... the vast majority of efforts strive for the pretty (if not beautiful), the grand, the intense, the intriguingly mysterious. Capturing ordinariness of a discouraging sort that still compels is a much taller order, I think. Very hard to pull off. Andre's darkening of the sky addresses my first impulse on seeing the original, and carries this image a little further towards its task. But mainly, an attagirl to you for taking on something rarely attempted and getting as close as you did to its achievement.

[jamn4ex]

I felt the gloomy day, that you described. I like Andres version too.

[IzzieK]

I felt the gloomy day, that you described. I like Andres version too.

Many, many thanks for looking James...I certainly appreciate it.

[FootLoose]

I don't know if I feel what you felt, Izzie, because I love wet gloomy days but you captured the happy gloom for me.

[Stagecoach]

Isabel,

For me this is an image that you can 'play' with in a number of different ways but only 'you' will be able to decide which one fits your mood at the time.

Looking at both your version and Andre's I get the feeling that the weathers brightening up but only you will know if that was the case and the saturated greens seem to suggest that to me as well.

Here's a couple of other alternatives, certainly not saying they are better in any way and I attempted to use different gradients in each to focus more on the puddle.

You took on a good challenge with a great result.





Grahame

[IzzieK]

Greg...in Oz, wet days can be a good feeling at times because of the weather conditions. Here in Missouri, I complained of 6 degs Farenheit (-14C equivalent your way), but thinking of those that lives in Canada, 6 degrees is peanuts. That wet, gloomy day shot was brrrrrrrrr.......cold. If truth is to be told, on that day I parked too far from my building and my umbrella was in a good place -- in my car.... Aaahhh the good ol' days when I was young and the rain was running after us games are not going to come back...

Thanks for looking...

I don't know if I feel what you felt, Izzie, because I love wet gloomy days but you captured the happy gloom for me.

[IzzieK]

Grahame, I like your darker version too... 'was playing with filters in PS yesterday too an I felt the darker mood was the one I preferred for that shot. If you will look closely at the first photo, the puddle was not so clear because it was still raining...

Thank you for the advice...and comparison...

Isabel,

For me this is an image that you can 'play' with in a number of different ways but only 'you' will be able to decide which one fits your mood at the time.

Looking at both your version and Andre's I get the feeling that the weathers brightening up but only you will know if that was the case and the saturated greens seem to suggest that to me as well.

Here's a couple of other alternatives, certainly not saying they are better in any way and I attempted to use different gradients in each to focus more on the puddle.

You took on a good challenge with a great result.





Grahame

[Stagecoach]

Isabel,

It's not advice, it's just another option/variation. I have been playing with landscapes recently in damp, wet and moody weather and it's quite challenging getting that feel of the scene, but fun.

Grahame

[IzzieK]

Thanks Grahame...It is bitterly cold here...very nice snow on the ground too...my kids (doggies) love it! Not gloomy at all...