Driving in Venice, a photo from Venice, Veneto

Photographer's Note

This little boat was customized to look like an old vintage car.

I saw it once actually on the canals in Venice, and although you could see smoke coming from the pipes at the back, from the front and side it really did look like it was being driven along. The wheels were turned my the water and threw up spray, as if on a 'wet road' !

The man and women that I saw in the car were dressed in period costume (it was Carnival time) and looked as if they were out for a Sunday drive in the English countryside - in the 1950's. When they passed our canal boat, everyone cheered at them and the man raised his cap. It was quite a sight.

This photo was taken in February 1989 with my old instamatic camera, in a very foggy Venice. To try and give it that painted look I have:-
1. Added 20% noise uniformly in PaintShop.
2. Contrast +12.
3. Cloned out some white spots.
4. Resized for TE.

I have posted the original photo as a workshop, because I have a lot of old Venice photos of this quality and I'd love to know the best method of displaying them. Please feel free to do a WS - if you have time - I'd like to learn! Thanking anyone in advance.

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Critiques | Translate

dob_31 (0) 2004-01-25 23:42

I'm not too crazy about the "painted look", but I'll admit that the subject is captivating. I really thought there was a car afloat there. I like the color palette in this shot... Good luck with incoming WS, I might try one myself...

dsidwell (9765) 2004-01-26 0:50

I actually like the painted look. Try applying just a touch of gaussian blur or slight horizontal motion blur, and your painterly technique might look just a bit tidier.

You could also try just adding some gaussian blur, and then fade it, which might enhance the foggy feel. See Thien's newest shot as an example.

avigur_11 (21735) 2004-01-26 3:50

You did a good PS joc, and I like the painted look. The noise is well applied, giving a feeling of rain, fog and age to this "painting". Very nice job, Andrew, well done.

jrj (34839) 2004-01-26 4:30

Extremely vintage impression on this picture with all the grain. On the other hand it goes well to the car/boat. Great Instamatic art!

nwoehnl (122) 2004-01-26 4:42

I think the painted look works fine, Andrew - an interesting idea of turning "bad" picture quality into an asset. I think it wouldn't work for any random kind of shot, but it sure does in a "foggy Venice" setting. The yellow car disguise is a genuinely offbeat sight. Well done.

pamastro (7216) 2004-01-26 17:41

That's a fun thing those people did. I like the feeling what you have done to the photo adds. It's something antique looking but yet shows the artist had some fun adding a car in Venice. It serves Venice well. I thin Venice is most beautiful when it is foggy and the graininess emphasizes that here. Good job.

henrye (3500) 2004-01-27 4:15

A great photo of long ago. Good PS work too. I like it!

Jeppe (18654) 2004-01-27 6:17

Thanks for the story and the challenge (I will try later) - I think the motive and store most importent in this case - thanks for sharing Andrew.

joseelias (369) 2004-01-28 9:21

I think you've made a good work on this one considering the original. I like a lot the noise, colors and the overall atmosphere.

Besides that the image is almost surreal by the looks of it and the "car" in the water.

steeve (1497) 2004-01-28 22:14

I see it like an interesting challenge. So, I made a W/S from the original.

[workshop] [compare]

clodreno (0) 2004-01-29 8:40

In this, and it's strange, but I have to admit that i like the noise/grain. Strange feeling like sometime it is in Venice.

Georges (11185) 2004-01-29 15:05

L'ajout de bruit volontaire donne ce style particulier qui fait de votre image une belle composition.
C'est bien vu Andrew

PLD_images (7147) 2004-02-01 11:56

I also like this version better Andrew. There is a feeling of impressionism in this photograph. The colors are well done and si the framing. I really like the results. Great post-processing work.

Gix (3565) 2004-09-10 16:51

Hi Andrew,
i know the man of the wooden car-boat! Is an 'artist' (sculptor, especially on wood) and hi have a wood-house in Tambre (Alpago mountain, in the Pre-Alps of north-east Italy) al 'sculptured' with books: everything is a book or part of book... If i will have the possibility i will send to TE a shot of this house!
Sometimes the sculptor go to Venice with this absolutely nonconventional car.
Good seen, not so easy to see!!!
;-)) ciao, Giorgio