What I'm noticing is that the two people in the center of the image are wearing the same color and so are the two outer people. It kinda gives the photo a reflection look even though they're obviously not the same people. If you squint you notice that there's also a thick yellow line that cuts the photo down the center. With the edges being darkened the image feels like it wants to fold in on itself. To me it feels too center heavy.
If it were me I might try lightening the edges and maybe darkening the middle just a little. I didn't test that so don't think ill of me if it looks worse, heh.
I will mess with it a bit more using your suggestions and post it a bit later. I like the idea of trying to desat the subjects to get them to contrast for sure.
I think it's the eye's. There is no specific place that either the viewers eyes are pulled to or the models don't really seem to be focusing on any specific area. Either the viewer or models eyes should point to a specific spot so there is a central gathering point. Does that make any sense? ;)
I am not bothered by the "busy-ness" per se, I quite like the environment in which they are presented. I do not like at all how the kneeling figure overlaps the one behind him, but there's nothing I can do about that right now. I also agree with the expressed opinions that the tonality of some of the elements is distracting from the overall direction of the picture; I'm thinking the leaves, the bright part of the rock, the bright trunks, and the color of the BG shirt. So I have (very coarsely) changed all that with several selections and hue/sat layers for each. Plus I've brought up some of the darker BG tones to make it less harsh.
I think something in this general direction woudl be worth exploring, on a high-res original.
I am working on a new version using many of your ideas. It is going to take me a while because to be successful I need to mask each dude carefully, blur the trees in layers, and desaturate the background. Here is my less edited new version.
Here is my edit of the original... i dont think the eyes looking away are necessarily a problem, its up to personal tastes most of the time. I couldnt get the color how i wanted so i choose to desat and warm tone the image. The main changes are reducing the overall sharpness using lens and guassian blur then manually dodge/burning to bring the people forward and take the background back. Good luck with the shot!
I am working on a new version using many of your ideas. It is going to take me a while because to be successful I need to mask each dude carefully, blur the trees in layers, and desaturate the background. Here is my less edited new version.
Coming along good! Work on those bright tree trunks, though; notice how they actually are visually coming forward and confusing the depth illusion of the image. If you carefully mask them and adjust levels so they are both more contrasty and less bright, they should work better.
I am working on a new version using many of your ideas. It is going to take me a while because to be successful I need to mask each dude carefully, blur the trees in layers, and desaturate the background. Here is my less edited new version.
how did you change the orientation of one of dude's head? and how did you change the eyes?
I am working on a new version using many of your ideas. It is going to take me a while because to be successful I need to mask each dude carefully, blur the trees in layers, and desaturate the background. Here is my less edited new version.
how did you change the orientation of one of dude's head? and how did you change the eyes?
lol Actually I didn't notice at first that the dudes eyes were closed. I looked through all my photos and found this one that is actually better to start off with.
The shot doesn't work. The subjects appear to be manniquins. There is no warmth to it at all. Have these subjects been introduced to each other?
These "subjects" are a band and they are affecting an "attidude", I believe. I am taking as a given that the attitude is the one they want to project. If not, the photographer does, indeed, need to do something drastically different, you're right.
I think my favorite so far is the one with the radial blur.
I like the desat on it as well as the blur. Except for the fact it draws your attention to the guys foot. I can also see the eraser edge on the standing guy on the left.
But with those taken into account, what it is doing is several things that I like. It makes the dark shirts pop. The eyes are following the radial blur direction (for the most part) and the fellow in the front has short legs and long torso emphasised by the greenery hiding his feet. This image is camophlaging that fact and making him look more balanced.
Some other observations. The two standing with their hands in their pockets are identical in their clothing, stance, look on their face and angle. something tells me these two are related. (brothers?) I would break that by changing hand position and angle. This comes across as a music group. Who is the lead? The guy in the back with the purple shirt looks angry. His arms are in the defensive position which adds to that impression. The two with the dark shirts and squatted posture 'match' the guys with their hands in their pockets 'match' which leaves the guy in the purple out. If he were the lead, the fact he is different than the others would be good but he is in the wrong spot for it. He should be in a more dominate position if that is the case. I hope I'm making sence.
