Posted by drphoto (Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom) on 7 March 2008 in People & Portraits and Portfolio.
I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that I'd been working on a portfolio shoot for another model. she has given her permission for me to post some of the shots up here so I thought I'd do another 'before & after'.
For this last one I've created a new layer and then converted the image to black and white using the channel mixer. I then carefully masked out the lollipop so that the vibrant rainbow colours come through. This provides a little conflict for the onlooker - are you drawn to the eyes first as is usual with people pictures, or is it the colours that draw you in?
This is also a much more egotistical picture; the presence of the photographer behind the lens is announced by the editing and thus I think it loses some of its intimacy - but it was fun to do anyway!
Oh, and today is this model's birthday so Happy Birthday!!
I welcome all constructive comments, compliments and criticisms. I am here to learn. the fastest way for me to learn is for you to be really unforgiving and articulate in your criticism =D)
If you don't have time to comment don't forget to give a star rating as you pass through!
Dan
P.S. You can find my fashion and portrait work here: http://www.modelmayhem.com/drphotographer
I am definitely drawn to the color first and only notice her eyes later. However you are right in that a conflict as to the main focus of the image is created.
7 Mar 2008 1:32am
@Michael Skorulski: I always look at her eyes! She has the most beautiful eyes and I'm impressed that they still maintain their vitality in a black and white conversion. The conflict was deliberate but I don't know whether it worked for me because I always look at her eyes.. But you are not the only w=one who is drawn to the colours first.
Ah, this is more interesting. Very nice contrasts to the color. So outstanding! Again though, this could do without the effect border. Quite distracting, at least to me. But good work no doubt, keep it up!
7 Mar 2008 1:35am
@Josh: Hey, thanks for your comment. Looks like everyone hates the border then!
Same photo but looks different. Me, too drawn to the colour first...
7 Mar 2008 3:04am
@pLusOne: Yeah, I know what you mean, somehow it looks different. Thats why I like playing with conversions =D)
Great gift for her birthday!Beautiful work!
7 Mar 2008 5:04am
@shahab: Thanks for commenting Shahab!
I think the colors do form a distraction; it becomes almost an "eyes behind a big candy wall" kind of an impression.
7 Mar 2008 6:30am
I clicked on send too soon. Sorry. What I also intended to say is that despite the distraction, this too is a very effective photo and does have a lot of charm -- it finishes well, even if the candy is the first thing you notice. The model's fresh beauty and wonderful eye expression, and your excellent processing make that happen.
I would still lose that white border.
7 Mar 2008 6:32am
@Viewfinder: Okay, I'll let you into a secret. The border is there for a reason. the reason is that she intends to use these pictures to apply to a local model agency. This agency have taken on some of my other fresh faced finds and, rather than saying thanks for the business, they have a habit of cropping my images to lose the border (which is usually outside the shot if I use one) and my logos and not crediting me for my work.
While this doesn't harm me it doesn't help either! So I put the border inside this picture so that they will have to do a much more severe crop - or better yet give me a call and ask permission to use my shots!
The conflict was deliberate but I'm not sure it had the effect I was going for, 'eyes behind a candy cane wall' was not it lol!
Count me as another one drawn to the color first. I still love the expression of her eyes and the composition. Great job!
7 Mar 2008 7:36am
@Melissa: Thanks Melissa! Yes, her eyes are my favourite part - I was trying to create a competition for attention between the two but it seems the lollipop wins hands down loL!
Oh, no I don't hate it (the border).. it just maybe doesn't go so well with this portrait?
7 Mar 2008 11:35am
@Josh: Ha ha! Yes, I knew what you meant. And no, it doesn't exactly work with the portrait but I had my (selfish) reasons for putting it there - if you're interested, check my reply to View Finder above).
Haha.. I Love The Colours =)
7 Mar 2008 12:04pm
@JustShenn: Thanks! I aim to please =D)
The black and white tones are excellent and while I am not a huge fan of selective coloring I do think it was used very effectively for this one. Well done!
Happy birthday to the model she is quite beautiful.
I am not a fan of the border for this photo (but I'm not that fond of borders in general other than the most simple ones). It's just a matter of preference and I usually don't take much notice of them but there is already heavy competition for attention in the photo going on without adding the border to the mix with a busy border.
7 Mar 2008 1:10pm
@Laurie: Thanks for you considered comment. I too am not a huge fan of selective colouring but I couldn't resisit on this shot. I'm glad you like it.
You are, of course, right about the border crowding the composition. This was a deliberate attempt to thwart a local model company's attemts at using my images without my permission (see my reply to View Finder above if your interested).
a great switch .. i love this kind of work with the pops of colour in the B&W
7 Mar 2008 9:00pm
@Raye Michele: Thanks Raye, I had fun creating this, glad you like it =D)
selective color works well for this.
7 Mar 2008 9:59pm
@Daniel: Thanks Daniel!
An interesting look...I like the b&w part a lot.
8 Mar 2008 12:17am
@Dylan: Thanks, I often have difficulty getting b&w conversions the way I want them but this one turned out well =D)
sweet indeed!
12 Mar 2008 8:14am
I'm impressed by the detail the SIGMA SD10 captures. Nice shot.
What lens mount does the Sigma have?
14 Mar 2008 5:36pm
@Paul: Annoyingly, its a Sigma mount. Although, apparently it is not too difficult to convert a Canon lens to fit as the mounts are very similar. The Sigma is the best camera for capturing detail in my opinion - no Bayer interpolation, I love it =D)
PREVIEW ONLY
Add your comment ...
SIGMA SD101/60 secondF/4.5ISO 10085 mm
portraitphotohighgirlphotoshopkeylollipopb&w
light work
#gallery 9ab9b945ff81b4b4de9f34636c1ada36
#gallery ff14b9a7960d028402ffd8b3a73b30fc
#gallery 7d879052c08b7956ef73fdad212b3f49
light work