I prefer the grainy one. This one looks off and...artificial to me I like the sharpness of the bird, but I think there's something about the depth of field that doesn't look right. Also, the lack of grain makes it look plasticky to me, but I don't know if I'd feel the same way if I wasn't looking at them side by side.
I don't think Topaz is doing you any favors here. I use Topaz to denoise and oversharpen images that I print as digital negatives for making kallitypes. But for a final image on a computer screen, it is easy to go overboard. One of the issues with this image is how the sharpening overemphasizes the lines in focus -- the back of the bird, the foreground branch at lower right. There is also a texture issue, though I hesitate to say much more without seeing the original. XP2 is a chromogenic film, without a lot of grain to begin with. If you're looking to remove all hint of grain, then why bother shooting film at all?
I don't think Topaz is doing you any favors here. I use Topaz to denoise and oversharpen images that I print as digital negatives for making kallitypes. But for a final image on a computer screen, it is easy to go overboard. One of the issues with this image is how the sharpening overemphasizes the lines in focus -- the back of the bird, the foreground branch at lower right. There is also a texture issue, though I hesitate to say much more without seeing the original. XP2 is a chromogenic film, without a lot of grain to begin with. If you're looking to remove all hint of grain, then why bother shooting film at all?
Hi Sanders and thanks for your input. I understand and agree with your point but only a slight amount of noise reduction was applied and barely any detail enhancement. I too don't like overprocessed images either. I don't mind grain but its not the reason I shoot film nor do I like it in certain types of photographs. It invokes a look and feeling that's appropriate for many types of images but unwelcomed in others. We all have our preferences but I personally dislike grain in portraits, nature, wildlife or scenic shots.
I prefer the grainy one. This one looks off and...artificial to me I like the sharpness of the bird, but I think there's something about the depth of field that doesn't look right. Also, the lack of grain makes it look plasticky to me, but I don't know if I'd feel the same way if I wasn't looking at them side by side.