Savannah Sky
by CalliopeKel

Comment by alfresco:
Whoa oahh Kelly - this is ... exceptional, to say the least. Beyond exceptional - you must print this out and hang it on your wall. Now.

Really. Way so really.

graphicfunk
by CalliopeKel

Comment by Tammer:
I like the colors and composition. For me, the black border is a bit too thick and detracts a bit from the image, but overall, nicely done. 8

Dark & Luminous
by CalliopeKel

Comment by mattvardy:
Hey Kelly

This really is a fine image. First like most other people here I really enjoy the colours.. the golds mix well with the sepia-like toning. The colour combination itself has a certain elegance to it, which of course enhances the image's overall appeal and effectiveness. Second I really enjoy the composition. Not even so much the placement of the girl within frame, but more so in the play with the layering of perspectives.. the sharp bright foreground and the blurry dark background.. divided and offset nicely with the girl and tree. It is superb.. the viewer's eye is essentially forced to stare into her eyes and face.

There have been a lot of points made by other people regarding the highlights and sharpness.

Yes. The highlights are intense, but I think the image works because of this. Imo it wouldn't be nearly as interesting to look at without them. The girl would appear too ordinary and the scene would loose its ethereal feeling. Blown highlights are a natural consequence/result of the high key look/effect. Don't forget, too, that monitor calibration has great influence on an image's appearance. Obviously calibration will vary from monitor to monitor... and of course so will the intensity of the highlights.

Someone suggested less USM. I disagree. While the sharpening does make the blown highlights more obvious, you can't have an image like this without tack sharp edges.

Overall well done, and it fit nicely into the challenge. My 2 cents.

Message edited by author 2006-01-01 17:30:37.

graphicfunk
by CalliopeKel

Comment by Aperture:
Nicely done, very nostalgic

Lady Justice
by CalliopeKel

Comment by SJCarter:
Just noticed that this was yours. I thought this was such an unusually creative division for a triptych - it really stood out (in a good way). I think it probably would have done better if the lighting wasn't quite as harsh toward the base of her neck, but then again, it does add a shiny quality to the highlights overall... I like it and scored it a 7.

Princess
by CalliopeKel

Comment by bucket:
beautiful work...

Princess
by CalliopeKel

Comment by mandyturner:
AWESOME!!! I lOVE THIS

Princess
by CalliopeKel

Comment by SJCarter:
I like this much better than the color version - this one isn't creepy (LOL)! Beautiful work!!!

graphicfunk
by CalliopeKel

Comment by arsenal:
great colors

Princess
by CalliopeKel

Comment by CalliopeKel:
My secret is that I have no secret! I use bounced flash off walls in my house. This girl was sitting on my stairs inside. I had on an overhead weak bulb to focus, then bounced flash off the wall behind me. Just think what I might produce if I actually had a studio, or some real lighting..LOL

OH, post editing is where the magic is. I heavily dodge eyes, hair other areas of light till it all looks fake and horrible, then I ran virtual photographer (classic I think) with custom settings.

In case anyone is interested. Here was the original pic. All I did here was resize,sharpen.

Message edited by author 2005-12-31 14:02:14.