DSLR Photography Forum

I wanted to show the empty space, monotone - I kept things soft, but sharpened the point and the sailboat a bit. Also darkened the foreground and background. Added texture as well. Does it work? Thanks Pavel

No Pavel, this one doesn't work for me. I think that Kasimir Malevich beat you to the punch 90 years ago in his painting, "White on White", which might be called a duotone painting - a large white square on a less white background. However, there is a lot more going on in your photo than there is in Malevich's painting. The problem here is that the objects and figures are detailed, but tiny. So, my attention is drawn to them (not to their surroundings), but the experience is not satisfying, because they are insignificant. But don't be discouraged from experimenting.

Gary

Thanks gary, I tend to agree. I think it looks better on a bigger photo, where the texture of the canvas filter shows better, but it still does not work that well. What about keeping the sailbouat and shore lighter and less sharp as on the original photo? What about increasing the prominence of the canvas texture? Thanks for very good comments again. Pavel

The changes you suggest may be good, but I just tried out a bunch of artistic filters in Photoshop (e.g. poster edge) and didn't find that the effects (most of which reduced the detail) helped much. For me, the issue is the composition, and these changes don't touch that.

OK Gary, I give up on this photo. Thanks. Pavel