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Taxi Noir
1st PlaceTaxi Noir
riot


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Abstract Street Photography (Standard Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Lens: Helios 44 58mm f/2.0 in M42
Location: Manchester
Date: Aug 14, 2016
Aperture: f/4
ISO: 3200
Shutter: 1/32
Galleries: Abstract, Urban
Date Uploaded: Aug 18, 2016

 A conceptual reshoot with the same lens at the same taxi rank as in


The lens is a Soviet Helios 58mm f/2 professionally modified to have a square four-bladed aperture. Live view is a must for this lens, as what you see in the viewfinder is completely different to what reaches the sensor.

I went for a somewhat more radical edit this time. Since I'm presenting what's essentially an entirely out of focus image, I wanted to bring out as much texture as possible. The bokeh itself already produces some artefacts which present as texture due to interference patterns on the sensor and imperfections in the glass. The high iso noise performance on the 1D is exceptional, and the noise ends up looking film-like. Dodging and burning and sharpening allowed me to bring out the filmlike luminance noise while suppressing the chroma noise, enhancing the texture of the road and buildings especially.

Editing steps: Healing of hot pixels from the live view heat, crop, curves, dodging and burning, selective colour desaturation of yellows and reds on part of the image, resize and sharpen.

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 35
Avg (all users): 6.9000
Avg (commenters): 8.3333
Avg (participants): 6.7500
Avg (non-participants): 6.9750
Views since voting: 1923
Views during voting: 123
Votes: 60
Comments: 16
Favorites: 2 (view)

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AuthorThread
 08/27/2016 08:45:08 PM
lovely. well done. the Helios 44 58mm f/2.0 in M42 was my only lens in my youth hehe
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2016 09:49:05 AM
Congratulations on the Blue, Eugene. The square aperture makes some visually interesting 'subjects' & the blur created a lovely painterly abstract. Taxi Noir looks great on your Profile page, next to the raptors--shows there's more than one way to get a great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/26/2016 06:26:02 AM
Congrats on the blue. Wonderful effect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/26/2016 06:15:47 AM

Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that meets the challenge fully.

I recognised whose work this was as soon as I saw it! Well done in winning this challenge with this superb abstract its in a class of its own. You’ve made a lovely job with this unusual bokeh, even better than last time, though I do miss the lovely model. Everything about it is exquisite, the colours, the patterns and shapes, the composition, even the blown highlights are pure white shapes that add to the overall result. Certainly, in terms of the challenge brief, it doesn’t get any more abstract than this! Well done Eugene, thanks for your truly creative entry
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/26/2016 02:38:57 AM
Congratulations on the blue. This was one of my two favorite images, so I am not surprised to see this do well. I also appreciate your explanation as I was curious how you were getting the rectangular lights.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/26/2016 01:24:49 AM
Goodness gracious. You know what to get out of that lens. Beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/26/2016 12:27:33 AM
Fascinating effect!!! Thanks for sharing your equipment and processing info. So much to still learn.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/25/2016 11:00:01 PM
great title and colorful "noir"
bump
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/25/2016 09:44:24 PM
excellent!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/25/2016 09:08:12 PM
Well planned. Good colors and composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/25/2016 10:05:00 AM
oh nice effect
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/24/2016 10:27:53 PM
Love all the squares. My favorite of the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2016 07:46:04 AM
Oh I love this - the bright squares and the warm colours - and it's abstract!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/19/2016 03:00:13 PM
Yup, abstract and interesting 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/19/2016 11:41:06 AM
Outstanding shot. Love the flair.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/19/2016 12:27:58 AM
lovely. emerald cut lollypops.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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