Photo of the Day, Boston Style: Part VI (2013)

[czsz]

At ground level, the Motor Mart is a row of restaurants (and maybe some retail, I don't recall right now). What's above the ground level doesn't matter much when you're walking there.

Actually, it does. More apartments or offices instead of cars = more pedestrian streetlife, less deadly traffic, more tax revenue to make improvements to the streetscape, etc. etc.

 

[Boston02124]

 

[Downburst]

Gorgeous sunset! Nice job getting all three Prudential Center buildings in like that as well. The three together present an interesting contrast of styles.

 

[atlantaden]

WOW!! Beautiful pics from different perspectives/angles...so different from your 'in the car, one hand on the wheel, one on the camera' perspective (which I also enjoy)! Thanks!!

 

[GMACK24]

Spirit of Boston @ Night

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gmack24/8430837909/in/photostream

 

[Boston02124]

WOW!! Beautiful pics from different perspectives/angles...so different from your 'in the car, one hand on the wheel, one on the camera' perspective (which I also enjoy)! Thanks!!

thanks 3 of those were taking from the car though

 

[BeeLine]

Note the Berklee dorm in the lower right corner.


Pru at sunset 2/1

 

[Downburst]

From January 18th

 

[Boston02124]

last week during the cold spell

thought Id make it thru then the wind changed again

 

[DZH22]

These represent my first real attempts at post-processing my photos. Definitely a work in progress... 2nd one is an old pic from NH.

 

[DZH22]

Eventually tried to make this look "vintage" after struggling with it for a while

 

[DZH22]

The grand experiment continues.....

 

[Tombstoner]

Nice shots, all.
The first in the series, with all the Financial District buildings looking very two-dimensional, was especially cool.

 

[DZH22]

I am addicted to this. I have over 40,000 pictures from the last few years just begging to reach their full potential.

 

[vanshnookenraggen]

So you're going the instagram route of pretending to be a good photographer by slapping on a filter? You take great shots as it is, why ruin them?

 

[DZH22]

So you're going the instagram route of pretending to be a good photographer by slapping on a filter? You take great shots as it is, why ruin them?

No, not instagram. I'm not just slapping on a filter either. I'm actually making a bunch of adjustments, mostly trying to bring out the colors and remove the washed-out feels. It's a very delicate process, and has been taking me about 10-20 minutes per picture.

I think this pic from Atlanta best illustrates how I'm trying to improve the pictures without making them look fake. I don't think my pics looked bad before either, but it's really stunning the difference this can make.

 

[czsz]

Just a tip - if you're not going for the "Instagram look" then you should tone down the contrast of your postprocessed shots just a little to get a more realistic feel. Those popping colors can be so tempting, but it's easy to take it too far.

 

[DZH22]

I actually lowered the saturation/vibrancy on some and raised it in others. Haven't gone all that overboard on the contrast given the possibilities. It's mostly just a lot of trial and error right now. That Atlanta one was literally the first I ever attempted. Reason I started is the glass ceiling I encountered when I put the pics out too be rated. Always calls for "more contrast" or some other problem. Highest rated pics always always always have some sort of assist, whether from HDR or filters. What I saw in person certainly seemed more vibrant than the washed out pictures that tended to be produced.

I did these today of NH (Boston this weekend?) and Somerville

 

[DZH22]

As an aside, have any of you ever printed your pictures? I made quite a few big prints a few years back, sold off about $1000 worth including frames (haven't broken even yet) and I always thought they looked kind of dark and dull compared to what I was hoping for. If I ever do it again, I definitely thing I would make these kinds of adjustments first.

I realize it is "controversial", and I will refrain from posting them here if people are that bothered by it, but I'm pretty sure I'm not exactly the first person who has ever edited their pictures before putting them on this site.

 

[BostonUrbEx]

I almost always "enhance" my photos through Flickr's editing tool before posting them. I don't do very much, but I like to make them 'pop' a little more. Just do make things a little clearer, and a little less drab.