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sweet as candy 3

Posted by drphoto (Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom) on 7 March 2008 in People & Portrait 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

My full website is now live, please check it out: http://www.dr-photographer.co.uk

Comments (15)

Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia

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 6:32am

@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.

Josh from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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 6:35am

@Josh: Hey, thanks for your comment. Looks like everyone hates the border then!

pLusOne from Cheonan, South Korea

Same photo but looks different.
Me, too drawn to the colour first...

7 Mar 2008 8:04am

@pLusOne: Yeah, I know what you mean, somehow it looks different. Thats why I like playing with conversions =D)

shahab from Qazvin, Iran

Great gift for her birthday!Beautiful work!

7 Mar 2008 10:04am

@shahab: Thanks for commenting Shahab!

Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States

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 11:30am

Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States

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 11:32am

@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!

Melissa from Warsaw, Indiana, United States

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 12:36pm

@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!

Josh from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Oh, no I don't hate it (the border).. it just maybe doesn't go so well with this portrait?

7 Mar 2008 4:35pm

@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).

JustShenn from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Haha.. I Love The Colours =)

7 Mar 2008 5:04pm

@JustShenn: Thanks! I aim to please =D)

Laurie from New Jersey, United States

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 6:10pm

@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).

Raye Michele from Halifax, Canada

a great switch .. i love this kind of work with the pops of colour in the B&W

8 Mar 2008 2:00am

@Raye Michele: Thanks Raye, I had fun creating this, glad you like it =D)

Daniel from Stranded in Kenmare, United States

selective color works well for this.

8 Mar 2008 2:59am

@Daniel: Thanks Daniel!

Dylan from Delhi, United States

An interesting look...I like the b&w part a lot.

8 Mar 2008 5:17am

@Dylan: Thanks, I often have difficulty getting b&w conversions the way I want them but this one turned out well =D)

alla from Toronto, Canada

sweet indeed!

12 Mar 2008 1:14pm

Paul from Wiltshire, United Kingdom

I'm impressed by the detail the SIGMA SD10 captures. Nice shot.

What lens mount does the Sigma have?

14 Mar 2008 10:36pm

@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)

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Sigma SD10
1/60 second
F/4.5
ISO 100
85 mm (35mm equiv.)