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from swcoop/Steve (12,387) 
on April 26, 2008 7:24:03 PM CDT
(2)
Interesting photo, well done. Interesting point about what are they looking at... especially in light of the fact we're looking at dozens of you in the reflections! However, I do feel this would be better without the bubbles, I love the patterns of the colors of the fishes through the water. Or perhaps zooming/cropping in on a collection of bubbles would also make a great abstract type photo. But as is, I'm torn between the bubbles and the fish, not sure what to give my attention to.
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From kiaran/Ciaran (102)
on April 26, 2008 7:43:45 PM CDT
The irony of this is that I thought I would get a picture of fish. Instead, I got multiple relections of myself, and no fish. I tried a shot in a tank without the bubble machine running, but it was just a picture of a fish. What you see is a crop; the full frame is surreal beyond description.
Thanks for looking at it, Steve. It's a confusing image, to be sure, and I appreciate your comments on it.
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from harpersmamma/Amy (120)
on April 26, 2008 7:19:51 PM CDT
(2)
I love your idea here. The bubbles are great and very clear. The lack of boldness in the color bothers me. Maybe some photoshopping could help.
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From kiaran/Ciaran (102)
on April 26, 2008 7:55:24 PM CDT
I was tempted to do that, I have to admit, but what you see is straight out of the can. The fish are a bit "murky" compared to the bubbles. Saturating the fish would have brought them forward, but I was afraid that they would then detract from the crispness of the bubbles. A dilemma. What strikes one about fish like that is their intensity of color, so a balance must be struck. I might play around with it a bit, now that you have mentioned it. Thanks, Amy.
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From sjonmoore/Sjon (2,843)
on April 27, 2008 8:57:52 AM CDT
I would recommend against saturating the colors. These colors are vivid enough. It's very easy to push it too far and make it look garish. As Tom has pointed out, and even provided an example, playing with the curves to adjust the contrast will be much more affective.
And to answer your question, I found my attention bouncing between the bold colors and the bubbles without much central focus. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it is what it is. The last thing I noticed was your reflection in the bubbles.
-Sjon
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From kiaran/Ciaran (102)
on April 27, 2008 8:34:10 PM CDT
Yes, the colors are already well saturated. It's the murky ground that has to go, and if you look at the version I have linked in the "comments" below, the problem is resolved.
The dissonance between the sharpness of the bubbles and the distorted fish is the point of this image. The eye cannot settle, so the image gives rise to continuous tension. The reflections are a secondary joke; that which we photograph reflects more on ourselves than upon what we think we are seeing.
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From dogothunder/Tim (6,886) 
on April 26, 2008 11:36:56 PM CDT
Play with your curves to get the murkiness out of the image. It can be a decent abstract with some post processing. I'd be happy to show you my vision of it, if you would like.
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From kiaran/Ciaran (102)
on April 27, 2008 6:35:40 AM CDT
Thanks, that's a good idea. Yes, show me what you made of it, please, Tim.
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From dogothunder/Tim (6,886)
on April 27, 2008 7:58:41 AM CDT
See this link. I simply used Curves to adjust the tones and contrast to (for me) a more suitable liking. Feel free to agree or disagree with my interpretation. :)
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From kiaran/Ciaran (102)
on April 27, 2008 8:14:25 PM CDT
Not to my taste, Tim, but thanks for having taken the trouble. If you want to see how "curves" can improve the image, see Fishtank wih bubbles 2. Steve PM'ed me to suggest I give Amy a positive critique appreciation so that she would get points, even though she simply whinged about the coloration. I gave Steve an appreciation likewise, just because he had managed to see the reflections in the bubbles. I would like you to have the same amount of credit, in measure equal to your consideration of this image.
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From dogothunder/Tim (6,886)
on April 27, 2008 9:16:22 PM CDT
Yea, that appears to be halfway between your original and my version. The final judgement is always yours, of course. I like #2 better.
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