The 505 - *Critique Please?* by northy

The 505 - *Critique Please?*

I *think* there is a good idea lurking in here somewhere, but this is seriously suffering in execution...

This is three photos layered using various masky / adjustmenty / layerly thingies in PSE10 (have i mentioned that i suck at PSE???)

Anyhow... please be honest... does this concept stand a chance? and if so, have you any suggestions as to what i could do to make this work better...

I've had this idea kicking about in my mind for a while since someone posted a thread with a link to pictures somewhat like this... and when Jeff (@jsw0109) gave me a push challenge of shooting something on the street with bold colour, I thought it was time to give this a try...

Also tagging this for November list... today's word is patriotism... red and white for Canada... plus the Toronto icons...

Thank you so much for being so patient and kind... I'm feeling very out of my element these days (work is crazy busy and I barely have time to breathe, let along eat or take photographs) as with one thing or another I have little time for street... Your continued encouragement is immensely appreciated...
@jsw0109 well - this is from the street and the colour is bold... but i don't know how well this actually works or if it can ever be made to work... :)
November 7th, 2012  
I think this is a great idea! I've tinkered with making a panorama of similar type icons...I've just not actually gone and taken the photos.

Anyway, what if you placed the skyline more near the windows where the are similar tones?
November 7th, 2012  
Maybe because I am not familiar with all the pieces, it feels cluttered? To me
November 7th, 2012  
@cmc1200 yes - i think i could try that...

@tigerdreamer tx Karen... i think that's good feedback... i think if this is to work, it has to feel comfortable to look at for someone who is unfamiliar with the bits and pieces... i will need to think of how to address this (i clipped quite a bit out of one of the images... perhaps i need to do the same elsewhere?)
November 7th, 2012  
I think it is a bit too busy - there is nothing that catches your eye - a subject.
November 7th, 2012  
what were you going for? Hustle and bustle.. It has that. The concept doesn't stand out for me, These mixes are hard to get sitting right but I think you should continue to try and get it right :) Sometimes it takes a while to develop such ideas.
November 7th, 2012  
Cool catch
November 7th, 2012  
@northy you are so close with what you're trying to do... I remember the shots from that thread. This is an excellent start.
November 7th, 2012  
Very nice capture.
November 7th, 2012  
Concept is wonderful, no useful advice from me re improving! I have zilch experience!!
November 7th, 2012  
I think the layer at bottom of page is a bit too muted and needs to be stronger and more saturated
November 7th, 2012  
I think that the red is too bright and it hurts the eyes (mine at least)
November 7th, 2012  
I find it interesting - my brain keeps trying to figure out what it's looking at (I think I'm trying to 'see' a reflection & work out the logistics of it).
I've never really played with this idea, so not sure I can offer any useful advice. I do find the red band of the tram pulls my eye. I'm not sure if balancing the colours would improve the shot or not.
Definitely worth exploring more! It's held my interest for quite a while now.
November 7th, 2012  
The concept works. But the more different your element pictures are, the weirder the result will be. This is weird. But not too weird. ;-) Really makes your eyes and mind work.
November 7th, 2012  
I like the double exposure. For me, the colors of the train could bij more realitsic. A higher saturisation i think is no problem. The part at the bottom could be more balanced with the rest of the composition. Nice experiment
November 7th, 2012  
TC
I like the concept and I too think it can work! My original thought and one I keep going back to is...what is the gray dome on the right side? It is visually strong and for me, distracts me from looking at the whole image. I like the way the CN Tower meshes with the train. I also like the people walking down the street with the city skyline. I also like the structural arches on the left. I hope you continue to work with this and share!
November 7th, 2012  
I ditto what Bankmann says. At the moment with these 3 images it's hard to work out. Is it a reflection, is the tram crashing through a cinema screen, do those people realise they are walking on the skyline? Could be weirder then it would be more interesting. Maybe start with just 2 images? Keep trying!
November 7th, 2012  
I don't have any advice...but I like it. Maybe because I know Toronto and recognize the different bits that are in there and see how it ties together. It is very busy.
November 7th, 2012  
Wow now thats different.. I would not know what to do differently.
November 7th, 2012  
I like the bottom skyline part merged with the people. I reckon if you toned down or took out the bus this would be great.
November 8th, 2012  
I can't possibly offer any advice just opinion! To my eye there is a bit too much going on tbh. I like the boldness of the main image but not sure whether the image at the bottom doesn't quite fit due to differing scale and colour tones xx
November 8th, 2012  
Interesting idea. It looks really busy to me - maybe one less layer would work better?
November 9th, 2012  
I don't know if I can critique. I have never used ps1. I like the kind of 'painting' feel of the streetcar. Very primary colour Warhol sort of feel. I think maybe one less layer as others have suggested might make sense but I'm not sure about taking out the streetcar (bus) To me that is the picture.
November 12th, 2012  
I like it but wish I didn'! In size, colour and position the streetcar is dominant. The tones of the cityscape are muted, but I quite like that... it makes me look harder. I don't care for the pale blue windows of the building, not sure why... maybe they work against rather than with the rest. It's a painting of course, but I like my paintings more impressionistic. Not sure how you would achieve that! If the colours of the streetcar were less saturated you might get a better balance? The important thing is to ask yourself what you were trying to say and how close you got to it.
November 12th, 2012  
I bet TTC would buy it for an ad of some sort.
November 24th, 2012  
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