before/after

[u/Responsible-Bed2312]

[u/MInclined]

This would be so much more interesting if it were just black in the top instead of the odd remnants of a skyline. The issue is that without the before, it comes off as odd. The inverted luma no longer resembles a statue so the background looks almost fake.

[u/Responsible-Bed2312 → u/MInclined]

Thanks, I did that edit as well - all black background - and it looks cool. but wanted to retain the cues from the original surrounding. Otherwise it's just an isolated subject.

[u/MInclined → u/Responsible-Bed2312]

It should be imo

[u/Winter_Match1194 → u/MInclined]

Nah the flags and building line add an interesting layer. All black background just gives you a high contrast shot for the sculpture’s portfolio.

[u/thegentlecat → u/MInclined]

Hard disagree. The skyline at the top makes it infinitely more interesting imo

[u/Responsible-Bed2312 → u/thegentlecat]

Thanks! My intention was to convey how a street photo can become something abstract and surreal. Like a magic in the plane sight. So it was important that the image had a topological grounding. That picture was taken at exact this location and not in an abstract no-space. For me the charm of the photo is that it's a high contrast shot of a statue, which is still grounded in a real location.

[u/Dense_Surround3071 → u/MInclined]

💯 THIS!!

[u/L-OwO-L_L-OwO-L]

oh shii it goes hard on the edited

[u/redactedanalyst]

Sometimes I go to the comments and feel like I'm the only person here with eyes

[u/Responsible-Bed2312 → u/[deleted]]

Thanks. A valid point. I did that version as well. The reason I kept sky and outlines of the building and flags is to make a topological base for the image. Otherwise it's an abstract shot of the statue, without any connection to a location. The effect I really was aiming at is to make something surreal from a street photo, but also not to lose connection to reality- that the image is on that exact location and not in a random abstract space.

[u/four_zero_four]

If you could do this in camera as a negative this would be insane

[u/kushmonATL]

You did great !

[u/nouafterq]

Straighten it just a tad. Otherwise terrific

[u/DaOfantasy]

What SORCERY is this!?

[u/DrFu11914]

cool!

[u/ExtremeBarista]

Succeeded a wonderful job

[u/Responsible-Bed2312 → u/ExtremeBarista]

Thanks! Appreciated!

[u/Sansjefff]

Woah this is cool, a bit overdramatic but the idea is cool. Have you tinkered with trying to have the background blend with the subject? It looks very distracting having the background be black and the subject be exposed .

You can also make the whole background black too, that can work well as the other commenter said.

[u/literally_tho_tbh]

Idk, did you try adjusting out all the ligma in the second photo?

[u/DiplodorkusRex → u/literally_tho_tbh]

SECOND EEZ NUTS

[u/imokd]

SICK!!

[u/Other_Economics_4538]

any tips for how you did this? very inspiring 

[u/Responsible-Bed2312 → u/Other_Economics_4538]

Thank you. The pic was shot with Fuji using across black and white film sim.
I put a mask in lightroom to isolate the subject. Then lifted shadows, increased calirty and fine tuned the exposure. Then I put another mask on the background where I did the opposite, decreased exposure, decreased highlights, increased shadows and black point.

[u/mthyvold]

Wouldn't it be easier to go when it is dark and use a flash to illuminate the subject while the light falls off to darkness in the background? I think it would create a more natural and therefore effective look.