Daily commute, Riga, Latvia

[Nigel Allan]

I was in Riga recently for a day and took this of people in a tram on their way to work. I have tried two different treatments to convey the cramped, bleak conditions and the fact that it could have been taken 50 years ago and looked no different from today. Which treatment works best do you think?

The tight crop is designed to convey a sense of confinement and to cut out modern cars surrounding the tram

Nigel Allan: Daily commute, Riga, Latvia – a

Nigel Allan: Daily commute, Riga, Latvia – b​

 

[nicolas claris]

Hi Nigel

I was in Riga recently for a day and took this of people in a tram on their way to work

So this was shot recently.
This picture is interesting, because it does bring the reality of some peopl day going to work in an old looking tram. This is nowadays! why should you try to mimic it was shot decades ago!

The inetresting thing is that stil DOES exist TODAY! Then why not choose a contemporary style, with natural colors…
Jus my 2 cents (of Euro)

 

[Nigel Allan]

Because for a split second I felt like I was thrown back in time as it seems almost out of place int he modern world.

Here is the original in all its colourful glory. Maybe someone else could make a better image out of it. This is untouched from the raw file apart from a little sharpening

Nigel Allan. Daily commute, Riga, Latvia - c​

 

[nicolas claris]

Thanks for posting the colour version, but in order to compare, could you post the same image but cropped as the former?
Thanks!

 

[Nigel Allan]

 

[nicolas claris]

Thank you Nigel!

what do you think of this version?

 

[Asher Kelman]

The tight crop is designed to convey a sense of confinement and to cut out modern cars surrounding the tram[/B]

Nigel Allan: Daily commute, Riga, Latvia – a

Nigel Allan: Daily commute, Riga, Latvia – b​

Thank you Nigel!

What do you think of this version?

The question, Nicolas, is what do you think?

For me this clearly shows that the color here is distracting and degrades the experience one has with the monotone images first shown. I know you don't go for B&W, but here, let's face it, the blue serves no cosmetic or esthetic purpose whatsoever! The key subjects are the people. The blue is like a series of invasive frames. B&W, tames that distraction and the carving up the community seen in the B&W versions.

Asher

 

[Nigel Allan]

I agree with Asher, which is part of the reason for the original 'ageing' I attempted by the desaturated one in the middle. Notice it is not completely monochrome but the blue channel is completely desaturated while I left in their skin tones and brown clothing which I found suitably dull