Book Project of Silohuettes

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eeneryma
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p.1 #1 · Book Project of Silohuettes

I'm working on making my first "Blurb" book. Last Spring I took a large number of nighttime silohuettes using an empty lighted store window as my backdrop. I set up my camera on the edge of the sidewalk a block from where I live and photographed people as they walked by. Most didn't even notice that I was taking their photo. I should explain that I live in Greenwich Village NYC and there's usually so much going on at street level that what I was doing barely registered.
Over the course of 3-4 weeks, I took a large number of silohuettes, and have narrowed them down initially to the best 200. I've started to process the photos in CS5. Being somewhat of a novice at photoshop, I wondered whether some of you might have suggetions as to the best steps to use to process silohuettes and get the most from them.
As an example, I'm posting one silohuette, with no processing, and a second version with my processing. Any suggestions are much appreciated, and feel free to edit my photo.
The shooting part of the project ended when the store filled the window with merchandise and I lost my "canvas."


	© eeneryma 2012

Lady Smoker unedited

Lady Smoker edited

Oct 26, 2012 at 01:00 AM

sbeme

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p.1 #2 · Book Project of Silohuettes

I really like the concept and I am sure you have some great street subjects.
I agree with the crop off the bottom but would prefer to see the top left as in the original. Sides seem OK as cropped.
Some dirt or smudges on the "canvas" should be cleaned out, especially noticeable lower left but throughout the image. Black spot in front of her lips. Pure BW interpretation would probably work well too.
Finally, spelling is "silhouette".

Scott

Oct 26, 2012 at 02:12 AM

AuntiPode
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p.1 #3 · Book Project of Silohuettes

Excellent concept! In PP, perhaps a curses change to increase contrast, a little retouching, a bit of noise reduction, and a wee crop?

2013 © AuntiPode

Oct 26, 2012 at 04:01 AM

eeneryma
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p.1 #4 · Book Project of Silohuettes

Thanks to sbeme and antipode for your suggestions. Antipode, can you take me through the processing steps that you used. I'm not sure what a "curses change" is to increase contrast. Did you use DeNoise to reduce noise? I prefer your crop, making the black border of even thickness on 3 sides.

Oct 26, 2012 at 12:44 PM

RustyBug

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p.1 #5 · Book Project of Silohuettes

"Curses"

... I hate it when typos get past spell check and they are real words with a very different meaning.

"curses" ... I think she meant "curves"

Oct 26, 2012 at 02:20 PM

eeneryma
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p.1 #6 · Book Project of Silohuettes

Thanks Rusty. Got a laugh out of this, as there are a lot of curses when using photoshop.

Oct 26, 2012 at 04:33 PM

AuntiPode
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p.1 #7 · Book Project of Silohuettes

I added a curves layer with a steeper slop to increase the contrast. (A "curses change" is what you get when you fat-finger type "curves change".)

- cropped the image
- used the patch tool to remove the rectangular objects from the top
- used the sharpen tool to sharpen the edge of the silhouette
- used Topaz DeNoise5 to reduce the grittiness in the bottom and edges
- added a curves layer to bump the contrast

2013 © AuntiPode

Oct 26, 2012 at 08:22 PM

AuntiPode
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p.1 #8 · Book Project of Silohuettes

Yes, Kent, fat-finger fumbled fubar'd. Curses, foiled again.

Oct 26, 2012 at 08:26 PM

eeneryma
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p.1 #9 · Book Project of Silohuettes

To Auntipode: Thanks so much for taking the time to list and explain your post production steps. Much appreciated.

Oct 27, 2012 at 04:04 AM

AuntiPode
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p.1 #10 · Book Project of Silohuettes

You are welcome!

Oct 27, 2012 at 06:39 AM

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