4 B/W Portraits C&C

mobileblog · 22-10-2007 6:02pm #1

im...LOST · 22-10-2007 6:11pm

I like the fourth one a lot. Well done.

I like them all actually but for some reason the 1st one just isn't doing it for me.

Here's me critiquing it like I'm a pro......:rolleyes:

sineadw · 22-10-2007 7:01pm

The girl is a little soft in the first? To me she's the central subject so the DoF maybe looks a bit odd? I don't think the processing works too well on the first and third (they kinda just look massively blown out..) but I really like the effect on the 2nd and third. The plainer background and simpler composition make them quite striking. I'd maybe get rid of the pattern of wallpaper on the right of the 2nd, but thats me being picky :rolleyes:

mobileblog · 22-10-2007 7:39pm

The first one is cropped taking out about 1/2 of the original. I have done a print on the second one and your right, the design on the wall paper will have to go.
The third one has just been updated and toned down a bit.

AnCatDubh · 22-10-2007 8:30pm

in no 1 - i think the eyes would need to be photoshop'd for both mum and the litl lady.

2 is pretty cool - the black and white works well - kinda moody. the pattern on the background is out of focus enough to get away with it maybe but i still think a removal would be worth it.

3 - pity about the blanket/cloth at bottom right. i think it compromises the composition.

4 - for a creative shot / post processed, i think it works. yeah... i like it.

head shots can make great portraits - very effective.

ladgie353 · 22-10-2007 11:22pm

The third one, by a mile.
I think it is brilliant, sharp, highlights in the eyes and a natural pose.
Great stuff.

sineadw · 22-10-2007 11:57pm

sineadw wrote: »

I really like the effect on the 2nd and third.

Sorry - meant 2nd and 4th - its been a long weekend :rolleyes:

3rd one is looking much better now though. The towel isn't so distracting, but I wonder if there's a way to draw the eye more to her eyes than her mouth? Maybe a re-crop? That dark area in the towel is too strong - the bit just below her teeth. If it were my image I'd crop just that bottom bit off and I think it would look much better. Its drawing the eye to her mouth. Sometimes that works but I'm not sure in this image? She has such lovely big eyes I think the composition is a little confused.

Then again, I could just be talking sh!te

PoleStar · 24-10-2007 5:46pm

Hi

Noobie guys here

I have a picture (of my wife's pregnant bump!) and would love to achive an effect like in picture 4, i.e. isolate the subject like that on a blank background, I was planning on black but love the effect you got here, any help on how to achieve that?

Thanks!

mobileblog · 24-10-2007 11:22pm

I’m using lightroom for my images,

Convert it to b/w.
Increase the blacks
Boost the Exposure until a lot of the detail disappears (/until your happy)
Bring the amount of vignette up close to the max and drop the midpoint which helps lighten the corners of the photo.
Touch up the temperature

I’m sure someone here can explain it a lot better, but I would have to say it’s really all trial and error. Just increase the exposure and take it from there really.

4 B/W Portraits C&C

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