I was on a train station last night - very old fashioned. So, I took a picture and have PP'ed it into B&W. Which of these do you prefer (and why)?
This was the original (all photos resized to 1920 x 1080 so as not to take a lot of bandwidth).
This led to the following two pictures - each a different type of crop.
This one, concentrating on the other platform.
This one gives the oncoming train more prominence - and the associated passengers
Your views appreciated.
Alan
I prefer the first of the monochromes - I think railways stations in the dark are mysterious places and the monochrome expresses this. For this reason, I’m less fond of the version with more people. Also, I like the square aspect - reminiscent of days of shooting 6x6!
Thanks - I like that one too.
Personally I prefer colour because I can take in more detail, though the overblown red lights are a bit much.
For me there is much less interest in the square version. If I wanted a photo of the other platform I would have taken it from a different vantage point. Also, I feel threatened by the approaching train, as the crop makes me feel as if I am standing too close to the edge of the platform, which in any case is very narrow by modern standards.
I remember stations like this from my youth: I am glad to see they abandoned the gaslighting! 😀
David
David,
It's good that you feel threatened - it means the photo has induced some emotion. As it turned out, you were right - it was a goods train and it didn't stop...
I didn't have time to get a new vantage point - my train followed the goods train.
I too prefer the first B&W photo to the square format. The people on the second sound uninteresting and blurry.
When asking for a preference, it's always best to number the photographs. 😉
Hola Alan.
The third, without a doubt. The second is empty, and he first one is fine, but I like better the third with the train approaching. Do you have the third one uncroped?
The third.
I also made crop from it (attached).
Alan,
I prefer the middle picture (the first B&W in square format).
It fits more with the theme - a "very old fashioned" train station.
Steve Thomas
And it does feel like an old 6x6 analog photo.
I would like the third as "street" inspired picture but you have all the people out of focus so I read that as your interest is in the leading line to the oncoming train ... and so here I would prefer the middle picture..... You probably need a wider angle lens, the 24mm maybe, and a bit more ISO to get the DOF right for that last picture ... not sure you could do more with that 35mm ....
Yes, I had it on F1.4 and was focussing half way down the platform. I really didn't have that much time to think about it. If I ever go to that station again, I will take more time - and some other lenses.
Alan
I'm fine with the square frame, so my choice is the second one. It's a simple but effective B&W composition.
It conveys to me the sense of anxiety we feel when we're leaving by train or waiting for someone to arrive.
Alan, the original color one is the best, by a country mile.
I played around with it in Photoshop and Lightroom. I hope that you don’t mind.
Large, no frame.
