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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2013 2:03:26 GMT
like Latti suggested, this time the portrait was darkened a bit... seems to give it more gravitas what do you think? this was edited with Adobe Elements 11 still learning how to use the program's layers and filters and what not. the basic stuff like the 'easy help' mode I got down pretty good. what would be nice is, if someone could show me how to get that gritty rough weathered skin look.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2013 3:55:39 GMT
Good stuff, Charlie. The closest eye is dead on focus (which is should be at least according to everything I've read about portraits). I like the catch light in the eye but wish the left eye had one too. I really like the black and white treatment although I'd like to see a color rendition if you have it. The slight "squinch" (haha.. gotta make use of that new word) gives the subject a thoughtful, pondering kind of look (I like it). Not crazy about the "missing mouth" but the downward curving line adds, as you say, to the seriousness of the portrait. Overall, it's a very good shot.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2013 6:21:52 GMT
Good stuff, Charlie. The closest eye is dead on focus (which is should be at least according to everything I've read about portraits). I like the catch light in the eye but wish the left eye had one too. I really like the black and white treatment although I'd like to see a color rendition if you have it. The slight "squinch" (haha.. gotta make use of that new word) gives the subject a thoughtful, pondering kind of look (I like it). Not crazy about the "missing mouth" but the downward curving line adds, as you say, to the seriousness of the portrait. Overall, it's a very good shot. and like you say the focus is on the 'closest' eye for sure the portrait would have been better if I had stopped down a wee little bit more to get a greater depth of field. f/4 would have been just fine. Here is the colour version:
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2013 15:36:48 GMT
This is one of those rare occasions that I would go with color over b&w. The color of his sweater and t-shirt are muted and do not distract. The bokeh is good so the color there doesn't distract. I think the b&w is too harsh whereas the color warms things up and bit and makes him a bit more human. He's still pondering but the viewer can warm to him a bit more.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2013 20:29:22 GMT
This is one of those rare occasions that I would go with color over b&w. The color of his sweater and t-shirt are muted and do not distract. The bokeh is good so the color there doesn't distract. I think the b&w is too harsh whereas the color warms things up and bit and makes him a bit more human. He's still pondering but the viewer can warm to him a bit more. "but the viewer can warm to him a bit more" now that is a very interesting observation... this may be a bit off-the-wall but it made me think about, "they worshiped the image of the Beast" maybe we can personify, humanize and relate to an image of a person as if it were a surrogate for the real.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2013 21:38:19 GMT
This is one of those rare occasions that I would go with color over b&w. The color of his sweater and t-shirt are muted and do not distract. The bokeh is good so the color there doesn't distract. I think the b&w is too harsh whereas the color warms things up and bit and makes him a bit more human. He's still pondering but the viewer can warm to him a bit more. maybe we can personify, humanize and relate to an image of a person as if it were a surrogate for the real. Indeed we can (and we [Orthodox] do with icons... long story). BTW: on a completely unrelated side tack: my step daughter-in-law gifted me with her Nikon D90 a week ago when she and her husband came for Thanksgiving. It came with a Domke bag and an 18-200mm f3.5 Nikon lens. My wife and I will have fun messing with it BUT I still prefer my Nikon D3100 and she prefers her Sony RX100 (and if truth be told... but don't let Lin hear it), I should NEVER have sold my Sony RX100 for the Nikon. That was a mistake with which I shall have to live. Oh well...
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2013 23:08:13 GMT
maybe we can personify, humanize and relate to an image of a person as if it were a surrogate for the real. Indeed we can (and we [Orthodox] do with icons... long story). BTW: on a completely unrelated side tack: my step daughter-in-law gifted me with her Nikon D90 a week ago when she and her husband came for Thanksgiving. It came with a Domke bag and an 18-200mm f3.5 Nikon lens. My wife and I will have fun messing with it BUT I still prefer my Nikon D3100 and she prefers her Sony RX100 (and if truth be told... but don't let Lin hear it), I should NEVER have sold my Sony RX100 for the Nikon. That was a mistake with which I shall have to live. Oh well... So then portrait photography might be more appreciated by someone with an Eastern mindset? Rather than from the Western mindset's perspective, where a portrait is only a portrait. A chum of mine has the 18-200VR. Great for walk about shooting. A wide elastic band (like from packaged broccoli) around the barrel might work for you if you don't like the lens creep as you walk around with the camera/lens. about the Sony: I can tell you still haven't put a wrist strap on the 3200 yet... or you wouldn't be sorry for upgrading to the Nikon.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2013 1:33:53 GMT
You're right about the wrist strap. But here's the thing: I want my hands free and tying one down with a camera isn't my idea of the way to go. The Sony could simply fit into my pocket but not the Nikon. I'm stuck with it around my neck.
Icons are "windows" into the spiritual realm. They're purposely not made to represent reality in order to avoid the "worship" aspect you mentioned earlier. A high forehead on St Paul is indicative of his scholarly nature and so forth. I've never really given much thought to someone with an Eastern mindset having a leg up on the rest but my gut feeling tells me it ain't so. :-)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2013 2:32:12 GMT
You're right about the wrist strap. But here's the thing: I want my hands free and tying one down with a camera isn't my idea of the way to go. The Sony could simply fit into my pocket but not the Nikon. I'm stuck with it around my neck. Icons are "windows" into the spiritual realm. They're purposely not made to represent reality in order to avoid the "worship" aspect you mentioned earlier. A high forehead on St Paul is indicative of his scholarly nature and so forth. I've never really given much thought to someone with an Eastern mindset having a leg up on the rest but my gut feeling tells me it ain't so. :-) "I've never really given much thought to someone with an Eastern mindset having a leg up on the rest but my gut feeling tells me it ain't so." It tiz so. Just about everyone I know wouldn't give a portrait a 2nd look unless it was of someone they knew (preferably a close relative) Let alone try to delve into the psyche of the subject.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2013 5:59:36 GMT
Another great portrait. I like the slightly softer focus here. It compliments the smile and adds to the approachable feeling one gets about this man. I like the slight angle of the head which seems to give control back to the subject rather than keep it with the photographer. The rim lightning on the hair is reminiscent of the type of Hollywood lighting of a bygone era. I wish the shirt did not have a pattern but the b & w treatment mute that distraction.
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Post by skutterbug on Dec 10, 2013 9:28:23 GMT
like Latti suggested, this time the portrait was darkened a bit... seems to give it more gravitas what do you think? this was edited with Adobe Elements 11 still learning how to use the program's layers and filters and what not. the basic stuff like the 'easy help' mode I got down pretty good. what would be nice is, if someone could show me how to get that gritty rough weathered skin look.I feel it's darkened a bit too much...Using Shadows/Highlights under Adjustments I lightened a bit more...Of course thiscould different as each monitor views it. Maybe mine is reading darker.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2013 13:47:38 GMT
Another great portrait. I like the slightly softer focus here. It compliments the smile and adds to the approachable feeling one gets about this man. I like the slight angle of the head which seems to give control back to the subject rather than keep it with the photographer. The rim lightning on the hair is reminiscent of the type of Hollywood lighting of a bygone era. I wish the shirt did not have a pattern but the b & w treatment mute that distraction. "It compliments the smile and adds to the approachable feeling one gets about this man." your observations on Charles Templeton's portrait were interesting and somewhat probing.. like we were saying about the 'Eastern' mindset. But also the tech notations were highlights of your comment too.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2013 13:50:31 GMT
like Latti suggested, this time the portrait was darkened a bit... seems to give it more gravitas what do you think? this was edited with Adobe Elements 11 still learning how to use the program's layers and filters and what not. the basic stuff like the 'easy help' mode I got down pretty good. what would be nice is, if someone could show me how to get that gritty rough weathered skin look.I feel it's darkened a bit too much...Using Shadows/Highlights under Adjustments I lightened a bit more...Of course thiscould different as each monitor views it. Maybe mine is reading darker. hey Joan, where you been? this forum needs some Joan. your lightening up the face lightens up the whole mood ... that's not a bad thing.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2013 15:45:12 GMT
Charles Templeton? OMG... now there is a man for whom I feel nothing but pity. What a wasted life.... wages of and all that (if you get my drift).
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2013 0:00:03 GMT
Charles Templeton? OMG... now there is a man for whom I feel nothing but pity. What a wasted life.... wages of and all that (if you get my drift). So the bearded Templeton slipped by you eh? I looked into that face and tried to read it....but knowing who it was made me read into it instead of from it. Reading faces is quite the game.....if you tell me that this person was a bank robber I could well see the coveting eyes, if you had told me instead that he was a bank manager I might have seen the soberness there instead.
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