Consultation on Rue Huber, originally uploaded by jjvornov.
This is a reworking of one of my favorite street photos. Here’s the previous version from last Febuary posted to Flickr
It’s almost embarassing to put these two version up against each other, but I’m very pleased to see the progress I’ve made in creating memorable images. Importantly to me, I can see the same idea working in the previous version, I’ve just done a much better job of correcting the color and performing local brightness and contrast to tell a story and guide the reading of the image.
There are two factors at work. One is better tools. Thanks to my internet and book instructors like Thom Hogan and Vincent Versace, I’m using Capture NX and Nik Color Efex in PS to post process. The improved white balance is due to the NX RAW conversion and neutral point tools. The enhanced lighting is from Nik Efex.
The second factor is a more conscious approach to bringing out the light in the photo. The buildings and sky in the background all share the same tone level now with the figures being emphasized in relation. The maps are now at full white with the faces brought up to a similar level, placing the figures in the darker background.
And I thought I used to be pretty good at this. I hope that in a year I’ll have the chance to rework this image again and once again be embarrassed by past efforts.