Baguette parisienne (Updated)
Saturday, March 19. 2005
Paris, France (Feb 1, 2005)
Another photo from Paris, taken from the walkway along the river Seine on the rive gauche, looking towards the Panthéon. I waited for half an hour in this cold and raining morning for somebody to cross that little street in a moment without cars and I was finally rewarded by this person carrying a french loaf. By far not the only kind of bread made in France, the baguette is however the best known abroad.
Updated: click here for updated entry
Update Monday, March 21 . 2005
I am very pleased to know that this photo generated some discussion. I always welcome critiques, both positive and negative, as they help me improving and understanding what in my photos works and attracts the attention to different viewers. Upon request from Alfred, this is the un-manipulated image, straight from the camera.
Straight RAW->JPG from the camera
The camera is a Nikon D100. As such, the original image is in color. I always shoot in RAW format (Nikon NEF), so the image above has been converted to 8bit JPG from the 12bit of NEF, using the default settings (no white balance or color correction) and resized from 6Mpix to 332x500 pix. The exposure was 1/125 sec f/11.
As you can see, the original post was heavily manipulated. I use photoshop extensively, and this photo is no exception. Apart from the B/W conversion and toning, I have selectively burned and dodged different areas of the photo much as one would do in the darkroom (the motivation was to highlight the person that was not sufficiently contrasted against the background, and to recover details from the darker and lighter areas of the buildings). The smudges all over the place are the result of my “pen” passing over the areas that I wanted darker or lighter (see e.g. the smudge between the two windows on the left). The general softness noted by btezra is also a product of photoshop, obtained superposing a semitransparent blurred duplicate layer on the original image.
I understand Alfred concerns, and knowing where to stop with the manipulation is not always easy, and in may cases is a question of personal taste. I am posting below another version of the same photo, in which I have taken away the burning, dodging, toning and soft focus adjustment layers (leaving only the channel mixer layer for the B/W conversion, and the contrast/brightness adjustment layer, plus a bit of sharpening necessary to compensate for the natural softness of the D100).
BW with no “smudges” and soft effect.
This “straight” B/W version is not bad, but I still prefer the toned softer one. In the end is a matter of personal taste. In a way the softer version relates more closely to how I was feeling when I was pressing the shutter that morning. The B/W version has a stronger “journalistic” feel and is more faithful to “reality”, but falls short in conveying what my mind was actually seeing, e.g. my “subjective reality” of that morning (in fact, there are several other photos in the series, and bridges is one of them, even though the manipulation there is more subtle). The “dreamy” effect that the softer and smudged version has was done on purpose to reconcile the output of the camera with my memories of the day. This is of course very subjective, and different opinions unbiased by my personal experience are welcomed and helpful.
I understand that I have used the word “subjective” a lot in the discussion. I would like to know your opinions on the B/W version, and I would again thanks everybody for the honest comments.
Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry
No Trackbacks
Comments
Display comments as
(Linear | Threaded)
Worth the wait I think. This is just as I imagine all of Paris must look 
I love the soft sepia tone as well.
I love the soft sepia tone as well.
This is so classic Parisien, but at the same time, the height of the photo is very unique. I like the sepia tones here, adding to the nostalgic effect.
realy nice shot, I love this photo and I can feel the movements...
Thats dedication for you, waiting an hour for the image you want. Thats a narrow street, even more so because of the height of the buildings. Once again you make me want to visit Paris...
Great Image. I love the tower in the background.
Great Image. I love the tower in the background.
I really love this shot and “Bridges”, both very classic and beautiful images.
Hermosa fotografia! Todo el espiritu del Paris que me gusta atrapado en un fotograma...
I love this classic looking scene. Your waiting definitely paid off, as the woman toting the baguette is a really nice touch. I should learn to be this patient!
Massimo, there’s so much character in this shot. I find myself focusing on all the windows; those in the foreground containing such a variety of tones, and those all the way back through the street, like dozens of eyes blinking open and shut. Though I’ve never been to Paris, this is what I would hope and imagine it looks like. I wish that vehicle wasn’t parked there...it would allow this photo to be timeless. As it is, however, is still amazine.
I have to post another comment Massimo - now youre into art. This is a winner
That’s dedication for you. It certainly paid off, great catch. The sepia really gives it a classic old look, very suited to the scene.
~I/eye do like the presentation, for me slightly a bit too soft, but I admire what you went after, especially the toning applied!~
Massimo! I know you can handle this: The photo looks too manipulated. The softness, and the “smudge” effect looks like it`s too much. The pedestrian, the street, the buildings, the timing, the entire photograph is a knocker, but would be even better if it were more “straight b/w”.
I`d love to see the original unmanipulated version. This photo is worth working with.
I`d love to see the original unmanipulated version. This photo is worth working with.
Massimo, I’m a big fan of Paris and this photo captures the spirit of the city beautifully. I especially like the scale of the pedestrian in contrast with the architecture. Nice work.
your dedication in waiting for the perfect shot definitely paid off here, really beautiful atmosphere and the tones are simply wonderful. fantastic work on this
I have to vote Alfred the most controversial commentator in the bunch. But you are way off the mark this time Alfred! Perhaps Massimo will post the original for you ... or not. But I have no doubt you could learn something of his artistry and creativity by taking a second look.
Everything worthwhile is worth waiting for. I feel like I am in a dream, and about to walk up the tiny street, as it definitely pulls you right into the image. The textures and window outlines add to the mystery feeling. Everything in this image, from the buildings structures, bicycle, street lamps, and the person with the french loaf, screams Paris. Absolutely fantastic.
wow, such interesting light and misty quality; I guess from the rain. It adds a very nostalgic and romantic feel to this great shot.
Upon request I have uploaded the original shot and a minimally manipulated B/W conversion. Have a look above.
The original is pretty much an average shot based on the available light. The B&W is stronger than this and the sepia toned image just speaks for itself. Interesting to see all three - wonder what Alfred thinks?
Thank you for taking time to show the two other versions. Charles is right when he says the b/w is stronger than the “straight” version. The original post made me feel- It didn`t knock me out, but it was way above average. That`s why I asked to see the unmanipulated version. I would never throw out bad criticism to anyone whos work I didn`t know. I really hope I didn`t offend you - or Charles.
The link to “bridges” show a photograph with less obvious manipulation, and I think it was very well done. I honestly don`t know how to improve your photograph more to my liking, taste is as you said subjective, but it made me feel, it got reactions, it made me twist my brains, and maybe my comment was helpfull to you too? I hope so
The link to “bridges” show a photograph with less obvious manipulation, and I think it was very well done. I honestly don`t know how to improve your photograph more to my liking, taste is as you said subjective, but it made me feel, it got reactions, it made me twist my brains, and maybe my comment was helpfull to you too? I hope so
No offence taken Alfred. On the contrary we need more people to speak their minds on this forum, and thats why we are promoting objective critism on the Photo Critique on www.photoblogsmagazine.org
Alfred, of course your comment was very helpful for me, as it made me think more about the shot. I have always doubts about any shot I post, and having feedback is extremely useful.
As Charles said, this is exactly the kind of constructive comments that make worth posting photos on a photoblog, and this is why I am so excited for the “critique forum” on the photoblogs magazine. Positive comments are useful to gauge the interest that a photo attracts, but constructive criticism (positive or negative) is even more useful as photography is continuous learning process, and this exchange of ideas and personal experiences is very valuable.
As Charles said, this is exactly the kind of constructive comments that make worth posting photos on a photoblog, and this is why I am so excited for the “critique forum” on the photoblogs magazine. Positive comments are useful to gauge the interest that a photo attracts, but constructive criticism (positive or negative) is even more useful as photography is continuous learning process, and this exchange of ideas and personal experiences is very valuable.
I love the manipulated shot. You’ve created something wonderful.
I still have to read through all the above comments but I like the first shot and thanks for taking the time to make an explanation!
Ah, another “where do we stop the Photoshopping” discussion
I’m 100% with you on this Massimo. Manipulate away to your heart’s desire until you get the image your mind saw (not your eye). I do generally avoid Photoshopping a lot of my images because I want to make sure I learn to use my camera as well as I can. But not everything can be done in-camera, and I love playing in my digital darkroom when I need to match an image to a vision. Very well done here!
I’m 100% with you on this Massimo. Manipulate away to your heart’s desire until you get the image your mind saw (not your eye). I do generally avoid Photoshopping a lot of my images because I want to make sure I learn to use my camera as well as I can. But not everything can be done in-camera, and I love playing in my digital darkroom when I need to match an image to a vision. Very well done here!
That’s true. The boulangeries in Paris are just amazing... Love to start the day walking in and getting one of those amazing baguettes...
You know, that bw version isn’t bad at all, sure it doesn’t have the dreamy quality of the toned version, but it’s still an image i think most anyone would be very pleased with.
On the photoshop front, my opinion is that as long as you’re open about your processing, as Massimo always is, go for it. Unless you’re creating a legal document of the scene, that is.
On the photoshop front, my opinion is that as long as you’re open about your processing, as Massimo always is, go for it. Unless you’re creating a legal document of the scene, that is.
The sepia is a great choice. It wouldn’t be quite the same in colour.
Add Comment
Calendar
|
November '08 | |||||
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
