Had a second session senior yesterday. Decided to go urban and we drove around some not very nice parts of town. It was 40 degrees out so staying warm was an issue. Especially since he had just had alpha weigh-ins for wrestling he had been starving himself =) (not really). Anyhow I haven't had time to go over these yet, but this one jumped out at me while uploading. It's a quick photoshop job on my notebook, so it still my need some work, but I would love to hear your opinions.
Mel, that's an interesting location you found. It makes a good background for you. I also like the pose you chose.
That said, I have some comments on the positioning of the model. It looks like he has grown a few antlers!
The other comment I have is that the face is overexposed. (laces and shirt logo too, but those are not an issue)
Maybe you let the camera choose the exposure and it gave you the standard 18% grey, which left the bright spots overexposed. Just a guess.
In compositions like this where the subject is the brightest spot of a dark composition, careful exposure of the brights of the subject is needed.
Thank you for the comments, I did place him there intentionally and exposure was all manual. I don't subscribe to the over exposure ruins a picture theory. I used to, but as I shoot more, it's more about mood and feeling for me and I could really care less about a blown highlight. Don't get me wrong, I am very glad you gave your opinion, it helps me judge perception of my work. I just wanted you to know it was all very thought out and intentional =). Thank you for taking the time to comment though it is appreciated. Another quick note, the original is not that bright, I boosted it in photoshop (on notebook, note at the studio on color corrected machine) for a more dramatic feel, I may very well tone down the final image.
Jim Rickards wrote:
Mel, that's an interesting location you found. It makes a good background for you. I also like the pose you chose.
That said, I have some comments on the positioning of the model. It looks like he has grown a few antlers!
The other comment I have is that the face is overexposed. (laces and shirt logo too, but those are not an issue)
Maybe you let the camera choose the exposure and it gave you the standard 18% grey, which left the bright spots overexposed. Just a guess.
In compositions like this where the subject is the brightest spot of a dark composition, careful exposure of the brights of the subject is needed....Show more →
+1 Well observed and written observations.
The following comment is given in a truly friendly tone of voice and with some humor. Don't take it as criticism. It is just an expression of good humor.
I find it amusing that a senior wants an "urban look" and has to drive to another part of town (obviously not HIS natural or typical environment or "his hood") for an "environmental portrait."
Jim Rickards wrote:
Mel, that's an interesting location you found. It makes a good background for you. I also like the pose you chose.
That said, I have some comments on the positioning of the model. It looks like he has grown a few antlers!
The other comment I have is that the face is overexposed. (laces and shirt logo too, but those are not an issue)
Maybe you let the camera choose the exposure and it gave you the standard 18% grey, which left the bright spots overexposed. Just a guess.
In compositions like this where the subject is the brightest spot of a dark composition, careful exposure of the brights of the subject is needed....Show more →
Mel Boonstra wrote:
Thank you for the comments, I did place him there intentionally and exposure was all manual. I don't subscribe to the over exposure ruins a picture theory. I used to, but as I shoot more, it's more about mood and feeling for me and I could really care less about a blown highlight. Don't get me wrong, I am very glad you gave your opinion, it helps me judge perception of my work. I just wanted you to know it was all very thought out and intentional =). Thank you for taking the time to comment though it is appreciated. Another quick note, the original is not that bright, I boosted it in photoshop (on notebook, note at the studio on color corrected machine) for a more dramatic feel, I may very well tone down the final image....Show more →
I understand your feelings on this, Mel and appreciate your open-mindedness towards other views. To me the face is a very important part of the picture, so that area should not be blown out. Note how the face looks unnaturally white. May I suggest that you mask the face before boosting the levels of the other parts of the photo and see how you like that? If you'd rather keep it as it is, I understand.
Jim Rickards wrote:
I understand your feelings on this, Mel and appreciate your open-mindedness towards other views. To me the face is a very important part of the picture, so that area should not be blown out. Note how the face looks unnaturally white. May I suggest that you mask the face before boosting the levels of the other parts of the photo and see how you like that? If you'd rather keep it as it is, I understand.
OH, and the antlerless clone job worked well.
Hmmmmm...not sure what's happening here, maybe issues with web conversion? I am now at the studio on color corrected machine, working in prophoto color space and the face is really quite far from overexposed. In fact I have a real safe working margin to boost before overexposure occurs. Maybe the web conversion from 16bit prophoto to 8 bit web rgb is causing the issues? I can alt slide levels 1/3 of the way before blowout occurs in photoshop, weird.
My purely subjective, humble opinion: I'm a distracted by the shirt logo, and he looks tired. But there's not a lot that you could have done about either of those. It's the kid's opinion that really counts...
Mel Boonstra wrote:
Hmmmmm...not sure what's happening here, maybe issues with web conversion? I am now at the studio on color corrected machine, working in prophoto color space and the face is really quite far from overexposed. In fact I have a real safe working margin to boost before overexposure occurs. Maybe the web conversion from 16bit prophoto to 8 bit web rgb is causing the issues? I can alt slide levels 1/3 of the way before blowout occurs in photoshop, weird.
I can't see the version before you post, so all comments are on what I see in the web version. The white skin of the face and hands are indications the red channel is blown. Try opening up the web version you posted in PS and cross check the histogram. Or Image-Adjust-Levels - then move the left slider to full right side and see the red blown areas presented in red (and a smaller yellow area).
I doubt that the white skin I see, with no apparent detail, is what you want in your final version.
