But first I should say that I am, and long have been, a champion of screen calibration. However, a few weeks ago I finally bit the bullet and bought a top quality monitor, with built-in auto self-calibrating hardware included. There is simply no better way to calibrate and few monitors that can claim better performance or functionality. So why do I mention it? Because the new monitor has brought to my attention, very forcibly, weaknesses in my own editing. Yes, I frequently calibrated my old Apple Cinema 23" display and it produced very much better results than without calibration. However, I can set my current screen to all the many different colour spaces, Adobe RGB, sRGB, REC709, EBU, SMPTE-C, DCI and CAL2. Now we are supposed to edit in sRGB, for the web, as I understand it. My previous work looks very pale and wishy washy on my new monitor when it is set to sRGB, because the edits were done on my old monitor, which had no way I know of to switch between the diffent colour spaces. So with that confession out of the way and with the fact that I am looking at your work on my new professional quality screen, set to sRGB, disclosed, here goes.
Because of the cropping, I can only assume the tighter framed version is the after shot. Obvious really, as one can't crop out. Except in pretty much every other way, I prefer the wider shot, which has such beautiful colours and tones and the subtle darker toned areas create a feeing of intemacy, mood, which I like. Yes, the almost melancholy mood the shade creates is at odds with her smile, and that bugs me. In the brighter version the smile does sit better with the brighter feel, but it looks over exposed and is boring, frankly. What might have worked better? Perhaps having her look into your lens, or to the light or to the camera left, the shade side, and having her more on the diagonal, which you almost have but not quite.
So, I am confused by the whole before and after thing. Crop to include a diagonal and somewhat tighter framing and already it is a much better shot. Little else needed, beyond removing the pressure mark on her tummy.
One day I'll get around to fixing my own portfolio.
This is going to read a bit odd, to you, I guess.
But first I should say that I am, and long have been, a champion of screen calibration. However, a few weeks ago I finally bit the bullet and bought a top quality monitor, with built-in auto self-calibrating hardware included. There is simply no better way to calibrate and few monitors that can claim better performance or functionality. So why do I mention it? Because the new monitor has brought to my attention, very forcibly, weaknesses in my own editing. Yes, I frequently calibrated my old Apple Cinema 23" display and it produced very much better results than without calibration. However, I can set my current screen to all the many different colour spaces, Adobe RGB, sRGB, REC709, EBU, SMPTE-C, DCI and CAL2. Now we are supposed to edit in sRGB, for the web, as I understand it. My previous work looks very pale and wishy washy on my new monitor when it is set to sRGB, because the edits were done on my old monitor, which had no way I know of to switch between the diffent colour spaces. So with that confession out of the way and with the fact that I am looking at your work on my new professional quality screen, set to sRGB, disclosed, here goes.
Because of the cropping, I can only assume the tighter framed version is the after shot. Obvious really, as one can't crop out. Except in pretty much every other way, I prefer the wider shot, which has such beautiful colours and tones and the subtle darker toned areas create a feeing of intemacy, mood, which I like. Yes, the almost melancholy mood the shade creates is at odds with her smile, and that bugs me. In the brighter version the smile does sit better with the brighter feel, but it looks over exposed and is boring, frankly. What might have worked better? Perhaps having her look into your lens, or to the light or to the camera left, the shade side, and having her more on the diagonal, which you almost have but not quite.
So, I am confused by the whole before and after thing. Crop to include a diagonal and somewhat tighter framing and already it is a much better shot. Little else needed, beyond removing the pressure mark on her tummy.
One day I'll get around to fixing my own portfolio.
thanks Ian. It's always great to hear how people see your images.