Urgent C&C (2 for 1) - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/23/2006 12:46:34 PM · #1

EDIT: Thanks for all your help everyone, I won the contest!

Tomorrow's the deadline for an international challenge my university participates in. The topic is 'Prison', in all senses.
I need your suggestions for this image. I'm mainly interested in the post processing you would do (feel free to upload your version) or what changes you'd make in the setup (reshoot possible).
Below is the image converted from RAW. I adjusted the white balance (is it okay like that?) and resized.

Remember that I can't do anything too fancy, the jury's rules sound rather traditional.
I'll return comments 2 for 1 - in given time, next week will be a busy one :)
[thumb]324706[/thumb]

Message edited by author 2006-11-15 08:25:48.

Tej

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

04/23/2006 01:16:44 PM · #2

Detailed Comment left.

Very creative concept and nice setup.

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

04/23/2006 01:21:04 PM · #3

I like the idea and looks good to me. The subject is kind of caught up in here surroundings so I was wondering if this would help. Hope you didn't mind but did a little edit to make the subject distant herself from the background.

Rikki

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

04/23/2006 01:21:36 PM · #4

Left a critical comment as requested.

livitup

Nikon D70

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

04/23/2006 01:46:43 PM · #5

No offense intended but the raidal blur makes it look like a waterdrop shot and she's at the bottom of the pool.

To the OP: I don't know if you have time to reshoot, but I don't care for the blur of her shaking her head. If your model has any acting skills at all she can put on a horrified, "trapped in my own mind" kind of thing and that would make the photo 1000% more powerful, in my opinion. Do her hair up fancy, perfect makeup, etc. and she's even more of a prisoner in her own beauty.

I'll see if I can edit it a little bit here... Back in a few.

magnus

Canon EOS-30D

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon

04/23/2006 02:19:58 PM · #6

I agree with tejinder and shanelighter's comments, so I took a whack at some of those edits myself:

* burned the walls to localize the lighting, trying to draw the eye to the model (left diagonal from upper right bright, and area around her right hand)
* flattened the posters that were sticking out, so they don't draw attention
* increased contrast on model (dodged her face, breast, and arms; burned shadows)
* burned her mouth to make it look open, as in a scream

I didn't change saturation because there's so little color on your model to begin with. That would actually be my one suggestion if you get a chance to reshoot: have her wear something with more color that contrasts with the walls (maybe bright blue).

Your concept is excellent, good luck!

04/23/2006 02:22:47 PM · #7

Thanks for the comments so far. I tried to isolate the subject a bit from the background. I'm not too fond of desaturating it too much though.
Gentleman, I like your approach, but I'm afraid I'll get into trouble with it in the challenge.
Livitup, your idea is sound, I tried it before and was dissatisfied with the results. The model is my sister Carmen, you may judge on her acting skills here

Below is my second version. What do you think of it?

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon

04/23/2006 02:31:21 PM · #8

I'm about to reshoot. Any suggestions for the pose? I'll try to get some more expression on her face.

magnus

Canon EOS-30D

04/23/2006 02:47:11 PM · #9

The 2nd version has too much contrast for my taste. Maybe not too far off on her, but way too much on the walls.

I like the pose, the only thing I'd experiment with would be coming in closer and maybe from an even lower angle. That and the color of her clothes, as I already mentioned.

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon

04/23/2006 03:09:55 PM · #10

Here's the reshoot. Better?

pidge

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

04/23/2006 03:13:58 PM · #11

So cool that you can see an exppresion on her face now. Much better. Can you fiddle with a bump in contrast or something to make it a bit starker? Just a suggestion.

Good luck

magnus

Canon EOS-30D

04/23/2006 03:37:32 PM · #12

Your reshoot is much better, I think her scream came out very well. For post-processing, I'd darken the ceiling and wall across from her (and maybe also the bottom right corner) to make the room even more claustrophobic. Then I'd lighten her face and chest to focus attention towards her. And a touch more sharpening.

This really is an excellent concept, I hope you do well!

shanelighter

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

04/23/2006 03:38:44 PM · #13

I think it looks much better with the mouth open. However, it still doesn't seem as painful as the pose. I can see smiling in the eyes. I know it's hard getting someone to look truly upset or whatever, I use lots of insults and spitting.

I also agree with the others about the clothes. They don't seem to reflect her surroundings, ie. they look too normal. More colour would help, but might I suggest some clothing a bit more superficial. Is that the word? No. Slutty. If the model is comfortable, I'd suggest some kind of crazy Britney Spears get-up or brightly coloured bra and panties. I think that would push this photo to where you want it to go.

Shane.

livitup

Nikon D70

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

04/23/2006 03:45:02 PM · #14

The reshoot is much better, but I think I was hoping for a more glamour look... the earth tone skirt is very...earthy.

I toyed around with these a smidge in Photoshop...

First I was amazed at how much a little guassian blur to the background helped...

Then I tried lots of blur. I think this is also cool, but not really what you're going for in a competition... (PS You can see my crappy selection skills at work here. I really need to practice using the Pen tool...)

Probably the best of the bunch though, is just two simple curves adjustments. One with a layer mask of everything but her (darkens everything and increasing contrast) and one just on her (lightens a little bit, except for in the tones around her shirt).

Hope you don't mind me playing with your shots. :)

Edit: PS, I agree I can see the start of a smile at the point where she's looking straight ahead. The expression towards the camera is perfect.

Message edited by author 2006-04-23 15:46:54.

04/23/2006 03:46:15 PM · #15

Originally posted by shanelighter:

I think that would push this photo to where you want it to go.

That's not where I want it to go :)

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

04/23/2006 03:48:48 PM · #16

Originally posted by livitup:

I think this is also cool, but not really what you're going for in a competition...

No, but I can apply some in lighten mode. That's more subtle. You're most welcome to play around with the images.

shanelighter

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

04/23/2006 04:04:18 PM · #17

What I meant by "where you want to go" was simply the message of your image, not necessarily trying to get your model naked.

Anyways, I really liked the 3rd edit from livitup. I don't like the background blur at all though, makes it look too Photoshopped.

Again, I think a wardrobe change would be your best bet at this point. Otherwise, looking great.

Shane.

04/23/2006 04:16:37 PM · #18

Don't worry shanelighter, I got your point :) She's my sister, anyway. I did discard the idea of blurring the background. I really don't want to go too far, I think they're not too fond of participantd doing things you couldn't reasonably achieve in a darkroom.

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

04/23/2006 04:33:20 PM · #19

Thanks guys for all the comments. I'll return them as promised ASAP.
You helped me go from this

to this:

shanelighter

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

04/23/2006 04:36:13 PM · #20

Progress is not all bad.

Shane.

livitup

Nikon D70

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

04/24/2006 10:35:28 PM · #21

Golda,

I like the finished product quite a bit. Good luck in your competition!

sir_bazz

Pentax K-5

Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 AF

04/24/2006 10:55:25 PM · #22

hahahaha.

I didn't realise how old this thread was and left a comment on the original :\

cheers,
bazz.