Selective Desaturation - Street Photography - ???

Nikon AF Nikkor 24mm f/2.8D

11/03/2008 12:12:22 PM · #1

Hi everyone... thought I would start a little thread on this now... just because there were so many comments about it...

Here are the two versions of my entry: (the first is the entry, and the second is the full black and white one...)

this following blab is what I put in the comments section of the image (just for reference)

"I DO like the complete Black and White version better... BUT as some have also realized... many voters spend about 1-2 seconds looking at a pic before voting... so I figured that the only way to draw their attention to this AMAZING catch was to cheeze it up like this... in terms of getting a more deserving score, I stick by my choice... The way I figure, the 20 commenters who complained about it may have given me like a 9-10 rather than a 5-6 IF I left it all in black and white, BUT the other 150 voters wouldn't have noticed the little boy and the armless man so they would have given me a 3-5, although since I grabbed their attention, they probably gave me a 6-7... it was a VERY tough choice to make..."

so... what does everyone think??? I just thought it would be interesting to discuss these images, and also selective desaturation as a whole... =)

.

11/03/2008 12:18:55 PM · #2

B&W, no question. Gritty, grayscale images have long been associated with street photography, and the selective desaturation comes across as a gimmick that distracts from the story IMO.

Prash

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

11/03/2008 12:24:02 PM · #3

FWIW, the select desat one got a perfect 10 from me.. ths only 10 I gave in that challenge. I agree pure B&W with grains etc. have traditionally been the street winners... but I personally value innovation... call me novice:-)

11/03/2008 12:25:16 PM · #4

Novice.

Prash

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

11/03/2008 12:25:33 PM · #5

Originally posted by scalvert:

Novice.

:-)

salmiakki

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Sony Sonnar T* 35mm F2.8 ZA

11/03/2008 12:25:45 PM · #6

B&W. no contest

Message edited by author 2008-11-03 12:25:58.

mindbottling

Canon EOS R6

Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM

11/03/2008 12:29:25 PM · #7

I agree with B/W. Selective saturation seems gimmicky, and even more so in a Street challenge. I think the B/W tell the story on its own. Now if the voters don't care to look at the whole image, that's an entirely different problem.

Shutter-For-Hire

Nikon AF Nikkor 24mm f/2.8D

11/03/2008 12:29:58 PM · #8

ok, now, just as another question... in terms of getting the best score.... did I make the right choice? keep in mind those speedy voters... =)

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

11/03/2008 12:32:53 PM · #9

I don't know about the score. Those who are somewhat new'ish will tend to like the selective desat, so you probably made the right decision for a challenge score. For the sake of the photograph, the moment? Definitely B&W.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

11/03/2008 12:36:53 PM · #10

Originally posted by Shutter-For-Hire:

... in terms of getting the best score.... did I make the right choice?

No, I don't think so. The blue ribbon winner required just as much study to really appreciate the story. Selective desat probably cost you more in terms of lower votes from people who don't associate the technique with street photography (the likely culprit for that spike in 3 votes) than you might have otherwise lost from a speedy voter.

Message edited by author 2008-11-03 12:40:54.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

11/03/2008 01:22:39 PM · #11

I think the BW would have been a better choice for entry. The contrast of the image draws the attention of the viewer to the right place and the story behind the picture.

The desat seems to be done just because and doesn't really add anything to the story.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/03/2008 01:28:38 PM · #12

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

The desat seems to be done just because and doesn't really add anything to the story.

I don't know -- if one is going to use the technique at all, this seems like an appropriate place, where the two main subjects are highlighted.

What might work to emphasize the subjects yet, not seem so obviously gimmicky would be to tone down (partly desaturate) the parts left in color, so that the effect is not quite so garishly different from the surroundings.

glad2badad

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic

11/03/2008 01:31:12 PM · #13

As is, the desat is the better scoring choice IMO with the two images currently presented. However, with a little more attention to post-processing on the B/W (it was advanced ruleset...some dodge & burn would serve a similar purpose as the desat did) this could have competed with the Top 5 IMO. Not that 9th is anything to sneeze at for sure!!! :-)

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

11/03/2008 01:38:28 PM · #14

For me, selective desat should be used, well, selectively :-) It can be gimmicky or distracting, even manipulative of the viewing experience if overused, or used in the wrong image.

In this particular image, I find the color elements to almost be shouting at me: "LOOK HERE AND HERE! GET IT?"

The b/w version is superior, as it allows the viewer to notice the key elements in their own time, their own way, and the impact is stronger.

Nuzzer

Canon EOS-7D

11/03/2008 02:34:09 PM · #15

B&W, the selective desat seems to pull me towards the rubbish bin!

Shutter-For-Hire

Nikon AF Nikkor 24mm f/2.8D

11/03/2008 08:48:58 PM · #16

thanks for all the input... I think that i might try something more subtle next time, like put the man and boy ALMOST completely desaturated... just a TINY bit of colour and maybe drop the contrast a hair on everything else...

I agree... it's ok to attempt to draw the viewers attention to the boy and the man, i just have to be more suble about it... i agree that the colours there were a bit of a punch in the face... a tad too strong =)

i do have to say, i am surprised that it still did so well =)

thanks everyone =)

.

Message edited by author 2008-11-03 20:50:05.

ErinKirsten

Nikon Z9

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED

11/03/2008 08:54:58 PM · #17

I would have voted higher on the pure bw - I enjoy the occasional black and white shot but this to me felt overdone (as mentioned in my comments). I agree if you were going to do it (which I think BW only still would have scored higher) than a desaturated, less happy color, version would be better. I think the biggest difference I have found on this site from others on the web is the professional view of photographers on here. I think if you took this to another more gimmicky site your SC version would do better. Just my humble opinion of course and hey, who am I to say what works here - just figuring it out myself. Great shot!

bobnospum

Sony Alpha a99 II

Tamron AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD IF Macro Lens for Sony

11/03/2008 09:15:27 PM · #18

Can I play too?

Submitted with de-sat

Outtake in B&W