Lit by the setting sun

[gwpriester]

Derek has inspired me to take moodier photos.

This is an antique Art Nouveau vase that sits in front of a west facing window on an very old oak table. The sun was just setting.

[spondoolix]

The mood is certainly there and the picture is mysterious with interesting colour hues. But I felt that the subject matter was too dark. I could not make out that it was a vase on a table.

[masque]

I agree, just boosting the highlights on the vase to accentuate the shape whist getting rid or fading the table edge diagonal line.
Derek

[jon404]

I like it! But had to brighten my Acer netbook screen all the way, then angle it, to see the picture.

Which brings up something important. Particularly for photos like this, that use subtle lighting to great effect. I wish there was some way to set my PC screen so that what I see is the same as what you see and the same as what Gary saw when he edited his image. Some kind of simple software-driven standard for artists that doesn't involve a lot of weird or expensive calibration. And it gets worse -- aren't Macs just 'lighter'? normally brighter gamma? And, being really out of it these days, I have no idea how iPads and other tablets display in comparison to PCs.

Even worse, worse. Hooked up my netbook the other day to a Samsung flat-screen TV, with an HDM1 cable. My God! The light! Really bright! A LOT brighter than the standard setting for TV shows. Made my pictures look like Kodachrome slides plugged into a 240V outlet. Of course, like Gary's image, easy to correct for. But I wish there was a cross-platform standard.

[wizard509]

I dunno, it looks great on my monitor. Very nice moody photo Gary.

[gwpriester]

I have a 24" Dell Ultra Sharp monitor with a lot of colors. I am not sure how many but it is way more than 24 bit. Close to a billion I think. So I may be seeing a lot more of the subtlety. I did some work in Xara as well.

I recropped the image to a 4 x 5 aspect ratio. Removed the diagonal line (per Derek's comment) that you see in the first photo over the mouth of the vase. There is a Native American pot in the lower left corner which is white. I made that area a lot darker so the shape becomes a second or third read.

And it cried out for type to be a poster or an ad so I added some type taking the colors from the photo.

[spondoolix]

Obviously my monitor is not up to dealing with this picture. It is still too dark for me to see clearly. I am intrigued to see it, for I know your work is famed for excellence.

[Big Frank]

elegant and professional poster, both the photo and the typography

looks good on my phone

[wizard509]

elegant and professional poster, both the photo and the typography

I agree with Frank. I love it. Looks good on my monitor.

[AndFarr]

I disagree about removing the diagonal inner edge of the board.
The upper edge tends to lead your eye out of the picture while the second edge brings you back directly to the vase.

I hope you don't mind: I've tweaked your image somewhat. Increased the lighting, contrast, and sharpness.
Better visibility and texture.

- Andy