Continuing with my theme of NYC buildings and flyscrapers (sic), here is how one idea progressed. I’m not sure if one of the bottom example images is final, but it gave me pause for thought and it might give you some ideas for experimenting with your own work as well.
First, the uncropped image as it came out of the camera with generally neutral jpeg in-camera settings. What grabbed my attention was how the crease in the pattern (meaning the building edge), if you stare at it long enough, can appear to push inward or, alternatively, push outward. Sort of an Escher-esque optical contusion as it were…
Building, #92 (JPEG). NYC, 2015
Treating the image a bit, but keeping it in color, we come up with this. Mostly the changes involved enhancing sharpness, contrast, and clarity, and throwing in a tad bit of saturation. I also corrected for lens distortion, cropped slightly, and lined up the right side to be more vertical.
I did like the subtle color going on here, added by the rising sun reflecting across part of the one side of the structure…
Building, #92 (Corrected, in color). NYC, 2015
Then we have the monochrome version of the previous. In this case, I liked the effect given by the Silver Efex Pro plug-in, specifically, starting with a filter called “Silhouette” and adding some additional minor tweaks.
The optical illusion effect, without the distraction of color, seems to me to be stronger. Looking closely, I can watch the building corner flip in and out repeatedly…
Building, #92 (Monochrome). NYC, 2015
The very geometric monochrome version above (which makes your eyeballs rebel if you stare too long) got me thinking how things would match up in a diptych or even a quad format. Flipping things around this way and that, I came up with this.
See the strange beast in there?…
Building, #92 (Quadriptych). NYC, 2015
Finally, here is a color version of the same “tetraptych” or “quadriptych” (“polyptych“?). Another interesting effect, and the geometric “monster” seems even more obvious, robotic, and threatening…
Building, #92 (Color quadriptych). NYC, 2015
After playing around with this, it occurred to me that I might go back through all of my NYC building files and see if there is enough material there to put together 8 to 12 similar geometric quadriptychs, both in color and in monochrome. Imagine a room full of those prints at 40″ x 30″ each, color versions paired with the B&W ones for comparison and effect! The optical challenge on the ole eyeballs just might make a person go batpoop mad! (Rubbing my hands together with glee.)
Yet another portfolio project for the list…
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