This is the fourth of the Savannah friends. As I endeavor to show people as they are, I have difficulty deciding whether I should make adjustments under the eyes here. These dilemmas never go away.
Bob http://www.deinfaces.com/
Dein- I love this.
Another woman to become friends with.
I can understand your frustration, and for you there may not be a good answer.
For me, though, if the woman had been smiling and had a small but noticeable piece of spinach between her teeth, I definitely WOULD make it disappear.
Then why not help out under her eyes?
How "unreal" would it make the image?
In fact, I copied your shot, converted to B&W (which helped some), and tried to make those folds go away. It was not a skilled effort, but I'd have done it anyway if it were my shot.
Charlie
PS Ultimately, the final decision is yours. Good luck with it .
As you say, this is how she is naturally, so why edit nature? Well, unless you are attempting an art style photo, or have other purposes than a candid pose for the photo. A touch of more brightly color lipstick on her lips would have been nice. But, you seemed to have been trying to capture the subject in her natural state, so it was perfect for that.
For me the beauty in your work is the authentic, yet artistic capture of subjects. I think I would have a different appreciation for them if I knew they were "altered". Not better or worse, just different. For me, I have an affinity for the subjects more so when I know it's a true representation of "them". But hey, that's just me. Thanks for what you do!
Another vote for leaving it as is in favor of reality. Too much of digital "photography" is fakery IMHO. Just because we ~can~ doesn't mean we ~should~!
Charlie Shugart wrote:
Dein- I love this.
Another woman to become friends with.
I can understand your frustration, and for you there may not be a good answer.
For me, though, if the woman had been smiling and had a small but noticeable piece of spinach between her teeth, I definitely WOULD make it disappear.
Then why not help out under her eyes?
How "unreal" would it make the image?
In fact, I copied your shot, converted to B&W (which helped some), and tried to make those folds go away. It was not a skilled effort, but I'd have done it anyway if it were my shot.
Charlie
PS Ultimately, the final decision is yours. Good luck with it ....Show more →
I should have added a big IF to what I said- I was thinking that, but I forgot to write it.
The IF is whether the woman will see the image or not.
Charlie
Charlie, this depends on whether we chat for a while, or the subject is in a hurry and moves on. If we establish more of a relationship, I give her/him a card with my e-mail, website, and flickr photostream. I tell them that the image will at least be on flickr. And if they like it, e-mail me and I'll attach the image file to a return message. They NEVER ask for the image. Maybe 3 or 4 times out of several hundred.
Jan 04, 2013 at 07:57 PM
Charlie Shugart Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
deinfaces wrote:
Charlie, this depends on whether we chat for a while, or the subject is in a hurry and moves on. If we establish more of a relationship, I give her/him a card with my e-mail, website, and flickr photostream. I tell them that the image will at least be on flickr. And if they like it, e-mail me and I'll attach the image file to a return message. They NEVER ask for the image. Maybe 3 or 4 times out of several hundred.
That is a shocker!
If they willingly let you take their portraits, I simply cannot imagine why so few would want to see them.
Charlie
Charlie, there are three possible explanations, 1. They never bother to enter the (long) flickr URL, 2. They see the pics and don't like them, or 3. They think that I'm a scam artist, and looking for a way to make money from it. Probably all 3 come into play at some time.
hmm when it comes to portrait shots and its a beautiful woman and lets say she needs some help with the lines or help with the up all night studying or working then why not help and flatter the subject bet she would appreciate it..couldn’t hurt …vanity brother
Great stuff Bob. I really enjoy the images and like Jim Rickards I can't wait for the next one. I went to some of your links to see how this Stranger project works. Yes intriguing. I like the unretouched images. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing - Mike
You're so right - the dilemmas are always there. Trying to simplify those decisions for myself, in a case like this shot I would tone down the shadows by 30 to 50%... sort of: retaining nature and truth, just adjusting the shadow's harshness as if I had repositioned a light.
I know that's tampering with reality, so to speak, but unless I'm trying to document facial "character" (which so many of your portraits do) or the passage of time, I'm comfortable with a slight assist to nature. Just my opinion.
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