Let's be honest, this image is not original (or that's how I see it) because I'm sure you've seen a lot of different/similar versions of it.
however, I'm sharing with you my version and ask for your comments to let me know what do you think of it? I should also mention that I've done a lot of color gradings on it, so there might be some lack of quality (mostly colors).
13th Day
I like it.. but my general feel is that the background should be darker.
Thank you Andy...
what would you do? make a selection around the subject or just a simple vignette would be fine?
I personally like it when background is darker that makes the subject pop and shine in the frame, but because she had relatively dark clothes and her face is barely covered I felt it might turn it into something very dark and low saturated image, which I wanted to go for colorful and imaginary looking shot.
I would apply a negative curve and mask the background with a soft brush and maybe add saturation mask to let her hair pop a bit more?
is this how you feel it should be?
I think saturation on her hair worked fine, but I'm not sure about the background
I do love the hair more now. But the background it gets to much attention now. It isn't the best bg to start with because she isnt centerd in the pathway and on the left side you have that darker part. So maybe it's best to stay with the original bg for this picture
yes, i agree...
background is too messy and when i darken it there will be too much contrast and distractions.
congratz for being selected by the editors ;)
Thank you so much, I'm really grateful for that. i really owe Ryan Mense, its my 3rd time as PotD.
i mostly like the comments and critiques part about being featured.
I love this image, I've seen it a few times on the front page. The color grading is beautiful and the complementing colors of the cyan and red make it absolutely pop! The pose comes off completely natural and unplanned. A+!
Thank you nick
yes, it was on the front page for days, it was crazy not to see any other PotD since April 7th !!!
I like complementary colors, but it's really hard to take an outdoor image with a potential of such color theme. but for this one, I was able to do a lot of color gradings thanks to colorvision "Cine Style" picture profile.
the pose was not planned, I took it on a family gathering day, she is my girlfriend and not really comfortable when she is in front of the camera. I have to tell her every single thing to pose correctly whenever we want to shoot anything, and I don't like still poses as much as I love the natural mood of a person. so I told her to shake her head and make her hair fly in the air. maybe I took about 50 shots, but only a few of them come out really interesting. these are the moments she is not thinking about her body and poses, just her hair and my camera.
My favorite photos I take are the frames after my subjects are finished 'posing'. During that split second after, you catch them being their most natural self since they aren't expecting a photo being taken.
I don't know if you've noticed this or not, but if not, keep an eye out for it! Again awesome shot
haha, the first shot is always the "false call" for the real shot coming right after it.
I did notice it, I also do something else... after a few shot I usually approach the model, show a good shot of her/him and say we've done it & its over but let's take a couple more just in case I can use a part of the image and stitch it to the other ones we already have. they think it is really over and don't take it too hard as they previously posed.
I see lots of photographers holding a camera like a gun to a model face and not saying anything but hold your chin up, tilt your head, blah blah blah, like a slave and master thing in a really serious tone. personally, I don't like having my model act like a puppet.
to me photography is like directing a movie, tell your model a story to play, a memory to think & a goal to achieve, the rest would be her/his job, and ours would be to capture the moment when it feels right.
Same here man. Always do that. After the first shot I'll do something like start packing my camera and they're lost. Kinda like an ice breaker and a laugh. Good tips dude!
haha, that would be fun, gonna try it next time...
i can imagine how crazy it would be if you take a model out in the desert after 3 hours of driving and start packing after 5 minutes and 2 shots !