He has a interesting face, though It looks a little over processed to me, however my biggest problem with it is the pole behind him. You could clone it out quite easily, and maybe crop some off the top too. Just a thought.
Nice work Alan. I really think the tent pole has a place in this photo. I would imagine this is just his ruddy complexion. A US Civil War re-enactment perhaps?
Douglas
My comments or suggestions below are not a criticism of you, your model, your talent or skill. I offer them in a friendly tone of voice and with the sole intent to help you with a second POV and set of eyes. If you read sincere questions and simple suggestions as "criticism" of you, then you will miss how I am trying to help you.
Of course this may be your own "style" or your own "vision" and I suppose we can assume that the images look just like they do because that is exactly how you like them. That is OK too. It just shows that there are differences of "opinion" on what looks good. IF these are exactly what you want and like, then by all means continue making your images look like that and have fun doing it. As I always say: "Follow your own muse."
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I like the subject.
Costume and face/beard add to potential.
I think the color and bw photos both appear over sharpened or over processed looking to me. I suggest using a different method of BW conversion.
I realize that my comments are a matter of personal taste.
I agree this looks like it's received "special" processing, but I think it's excellent -- and I far prefer the color version. I see beautiful skin tone gradation in the color version that I don't see in many portraits. Even if it's exaggerated, it has a natural quality (does that make sense?). The B&W is interesting, but I think it loses too many of the best qualities of the color version. They're both very sharp but, if I'm seeing the processing correctly, I'd say you've stopped short of oversharpening.
liamh wrote:
He has a interesting face, though It looks a little over processed to me, however my biggest problem with it is the pole behind him. You could clone it out quite easily, and maybe crop some off the top too. Just a thought.
I was thinking the same thing...the pole in the background is a distraction to me.....maybe not a distraction, but something if removed might improve the overall portrait. I like both versions even though they're a little over-processed BUT it works here.
To me - the pole is fine. Otherwise he would look like he is against a cheesy studio backdrop. Not liking that b/w conversion at all though. Maybe his beard is just too white in contract with his skin tones to make that work. It would be nice to see more from this reenactment.
