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06/03/2004 02:18:06 AM · #1 |
I was taking pictures at a softball game and caught my father looking on, any feedback is appreciated.
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06/03/2004 02:37:13 AM · #2 |
Nice portrait, if I could criticise anything it is just a little too dark for my taste, great shot.
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06/03/2004 02:37:38 AM · #3 |
I'd probably have to say lack of lighting. It would have worked wonderfully, had you been around the other side of him.
But otherwise, well composed.
Has this been cropped at all?
Message edited by author 2004-06-03 02:37:53. |
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06/03/2004 02:45:37 AM · #4 |
yes it has been cropped, the orignal as you can see is quite a bit darker
original
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06/03/2004 03:36:03 AM · #5 |
If you have access to PhotoShop CS, the Highlights and Shadows adjustment works wonders on images such as this. The shirt comes out quite strange and there is a good deal of noise in the face, but that is on a compressed original. Working with your original would produce better results. The tutorial 'Improving Shadow and Highlight Detail does the same thing, but with less control. The same can be done with curves, but that takes a lot more skill.
David
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06/03/2004 06:27:18 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by Britannica:
If you have access to PhotoShop CS, the Highlights and Shadows adjustment works wonders on images such as this. The shirt comes out quite strange and there is a good deal of noise in the face, but that is on a compressed original. Working with your original would produce better results. The tutorial 'Improving Shadow and Highlight Detail does the same thing, but with less control. The same can be done with curves, but that takes a lot more skill.
David |
The process described in that tutorial actually works great on this photo. The only changes I would make are not to add a highlights layer in multiply mode, and instead add 2 different shadow layers, both in screen mode at 100% opacity. You might want to erase the clouds and sky from one of those layers to keep them from getting too bright.
Here's the end result, which I'll leave up for a couple of days. Nice shot, BTW!
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06/03/2004 08:55:02 AM · #7 |
| I like the darker one- brightening it up loses the glint in his eye and the late in the day mood. |
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06/03/2004 09:33:22 AM · #8 |
What this picture really shows is that you are getting "the eye". You spotted this image and captured it.
The composition is nice, and the background is uncluttered. This image can be tinkered with to produce a nice portrait, but that would not be possible if you hadn't pointed the camera in the right place to start with.
Good work. |
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06/03/2004 09:59:29 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by emorgan49:
I like the darker one- brightening it up loses the glint in his eye and the late in the day mood. |
No doubt about it - the darker version has a really nice character and tone. But if you do want to brighten it up, following that tutorial is a good way to do it.
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06/03/2004 10:17:05 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by weaverc:
I was taking pictures at a softball game and caught my father looking on, any feedback is appreciated.
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I think you are on the right track with the current lighting, you just have some background issues. I would suggest brushing out the trees & mountains, leaving only your father and the sky. I'd keep the dramatic lighting, maybe just touching the brightness.
It's a great picture of "him," now you just need to bring that to the front without distraction.
Good shot. |
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06/03/2004 04:29:36 PM · #11 |
| thanks to all who replied for the comments and suggestions! |
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06/03/2004 04:40:27 PM · #12 |
Chad,
I think its important to remember that in personal portraits (as opposed to glamour, casual, fashion, sport, etc) you are trying to make a personal connection with people who have some history or interaction with the subject. You want them to notice and remember something personal about the subject. You aren't necessarily trying to take the best technical photograph and that can lead to some latitude in "the rules" that people may try to apply.
In this type of shot the details can make the photo. If lightening up the image contributed to seeing more details or making some physical feature of your father's more prominent then I'd say go for it. As it is the shadow trailing past his nose doesn't detract; the viewers can see the texture and character of his face and I'm sure as both you and he have aged his eyes, eyebrows, nose, chin and ears have all become something that you unconciously notice and file away under "Dad" (at least those features seem to look more personalized to me when I view the original uncropped version). Regardless, I don't think that the lightened version destroys anything that you might use to recognize your father; I just don't think that in this example it necessarily adds anything. I think you got one of those shots that can be printed, hung on the wall and be a family shot that shows personal time of your father when he appears to be focused on something (the game perhaps or maybe just the beer salesman making his rounds and getting ever closer to your location).
Kev
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06/03/2004 04:45:28 PM · #13 |
Missed this the first time around, so my 10 penneth. I suffer from a dark monitor problem but am learning to 'see' more in a pic, I guess if others see it as dark then maybe it does need a little more lift?
I guess you mentioned softball as that was where the pic was taken, I expected to see a game in the background. I like it as a portrait and your Dad is certainly focussed on something. The last version looks great on my monitor but if I were to suggest one thing it would be to crop tighter on the back of the head so there is more attention to where your Dad is looking?
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