Chef photo. Help & C&C

steoc

Hi Folks,

I would really like some feed back on this image please.
A couple of things really.

The main problem i think is that all the focus is on the chef and not on the food. For me it was all about the chef but the more i look at it i look at the food. The Chef is looking at it and his hand is dressing the plate.
So is this not a keeper for my club competition?

Another problem is the after photo which is just a quick edit in Lightroom.
I pulled back the vibrance and pushed up the clarity. I kind of like the effect on this image.
But i notice artifacts on his hand and plate. Is there an easy way to fix this so as i can still keep the edit i done.

I just want to add that i did the shoot with my Canon 5dMk3 and 35 mm 1.4 lens.
I took most of the shots at 1.4 and i think i ruined a great opportunity for the access into the kitchen with a head chef in a well know restaurant.
I have 3 / 4 images from around the kitchen that i like but thinking now i should have closed down my aperture, ill post these later this evening.

Any other C&C welcome.

Thanks,

Steoc

"Before"




"After"

Kenny Logins

I'd brush the vibrancy and clarity (particularly) adjustments on where you want them.

steoc

Cheers Kenny,
I am hoping to sit down later this evening and have a good look at it.
Didnt have much time yesterday evening after the shoot.
So you like the style or should i keep it more natural?

Kenny Logins

I like the style yeah, but as you say I find the halo around the food/plate a little distracting. I'd probably leave the foreground dark to draw attention to his face.

Tiriel

First thing that struck me is the light over his head is very distracting.. I'd either clone it out or dull it down!

steoc

Morning.
I re worked on the chef image last night.
Removed the distracting lights from over head and tightened the image a bit to try focus on the chef a bit more also pulled back on the clarity to help reduce the fringing from his hand and plate that was in my first edit.