Lobster Trap

[DigitalScape]

Lobster traps stacked on the dock waiting for the season to begin (or the next trip out).






I tried a B&W processing on this and then, went back and did a selective coloring of the B&W processed image - thoughts??

[Adzman808]

PERSONALLY, I prefer image#1

The shot has a lot of DOF (no harm in that) but in BW the tones of the traps merge a bit too much to the background... There's also a pseudo vintage-ness to the BW in this instance... (sorry if you don't agree with that, just IMHO)

Shot#1 has -to my eye- a lovely colour pallet, the traps are seen as they are colourful, yet faded and well used.

I like this about that shot. A lot it's those colours that tell that story, let them stand proud.

I'm a bit 'bah humbug' about selective colour, so for me that's a no-no.... BUT in all fairness, this is a good subject for it, as it does show the shot for what it is, a reportage of an old activity in a modern world. But yeah.. selective colour... Sorry.

[DigitalScape]

I appreciate your comments, Adam (no issues with them at all).

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[IzzieK]

I have a problem -- I can't choose which one I like now. Reading Adam's review, I tend to agree with him a bit because there are times I like selective colouring. To each his own I suppose, but there is no harm in doing that version too as it adds interest to an otherwise just one colour shot like #2. I'd be left wondering if you did not include #1...call that one an overview and the two artistic endeavours.

[DigitalScape]

Thank you John and Izzie, I appreciate your comments/feedback.

[Wavelength]

I too like the first one; i love selective coloring in portraits

[Tony Britton]

I especially like the first photo. Your composition is great.

Tony

[bnnrcn]

#1 for me John, a nice shot

[FootLoose]

I like the subject, John, and the first shot documents it well. But I find it blends a bit with the background. I am bedevilled by this problem too when shooting around the harbour. One solution might be to get down lower, or move in much closer for a detail shot after the initial context shot.

[joebranko]

#1 is my #1.

[Manfred M]

Definitely #1 for me as well. The tones are already quite muted and going B&W blends too many similar tones to create an image that loses more than it gains. As for the decoloured image, the background tones already quite muted, so again, you lost more than you gained in the conversion.

Just as an aside. I know whether i am going B&W or colour before I press the shutter release. Some images look great in B&W while others look better in colour and very, very rarely do they look equally good in both B&W and in colour.

[DigitalScape]

Thank you everyone, I appreciate your comments/feedback.

[NorthernFocus]

Nice image. I'd have thought the subject lent itself to B/W but I actually like the color version best. IMO in the B/W there's not enough separation between subject and BG.

Those are old school traps. No plastic and stainless steel there.