stephen_asprey2 Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p>Are you serious? On content alone that photo would not get past the first discards. No amount of PS'ing will change the sour looks on the bridesmaids faces....the word "hostility" comes to mind. They could be saying "look at her...he'll never turn up", or the bride is sort of saying "why the hell am I here?"</p> <p> </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sd_woods Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p>That little girl looks bored senseless, and that ruins it for me</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Michael Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p >I took a simplistic approach in an attempt to enhance the scene / moment as captured.</p> <p > </p> <p >I just emphasised the side lighting by elimination the light illuminating the background.</p> <p > </p> <p >I removed the red power lead. It annoyed me.</p> <p > </p> <p >CC: I cut the blue a tad.</p> <p > </p> <p >Contrast: increased marginally.</p> <p > </p> <p >It is cropped to 5x7 </p> <p > </p> <p >***</p> <p > </p> <p >On the other discussion: I re-read the original request and doing so confirmed my understanding of the exercise - it was to post an unprocessed image to illicit various interpretations from other Photographers solely through Post Production Techniques.</p> <p > </p> <p >In that regard I think that the artistic merit (or not) of the sample chosen on which we might work is of very little relevance.</p> <p > </p> <p >In fact, one could mount a very convincing case that an image where the consensus is that the artistic merit is mediocre (or even low) would be more of a challenge and harvest a wider breadth and depth of Post Production Opinions. </p> <p > </p> <p >We - (a pronoun; first person, plural - but NOT implying I speak for all Forum Members but rather what I believe is in the Memberships best interest) - would not want a spectacular image harvesting comments such as: “Crikey that’s fantastic I would just leave it as is”.</p> <p > </p> <p >We - (again please see usage of this pronoun above) – would like to read comments like David’s “This image was certainly a challenge.”</p> <p > </p> <p >As a personal opinion, if I had had the choice, of all the images posted, I would have chosen this one and for three reasons: it presented Post Production difficulties; it would harvest a range of interpretations; it was raw (meaning it conformed to minimal / no processing). </p> <p > </p> <p > </p> <p >*** </p> <p > </p> <p >I liked the image – the young girl at the end made it “cute” – juxtaposed to the more formal Bride’s pose.</p> <p > </p> <p >On critique: The Pose of the Bride is incorrect, DS has described, I agree.</p> <p > </p> <p >I would show this image to the Client – if they glossed over it fine – it is likely that the Girl is a relation and that might make a difference – if she were my niece, for example I would want to buy that image.</p> <p > </p> <p >WW</p> <div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverdae Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p>I can see that this thread has merit- take an image that needs <em>something</em> and do <em>something</em> to it... but I agree that no matter how much post-processing you do, you have to start with an image that is solid to begin with, or you've only taken something and tried to make it into something it isn't. I'm not saying that this image lacks merit, but I don't think it would be in the keep pile either. I almost like it, but deep down, I don't. There is just too many conflicting elements- not completely flattering to the bride, bridesmaid don't have the most beautiful smiles, bored child, off kilter vertical lines, arms in places they shouldn't be... if it was only one of these things, I could live with it, but the sum of it all kills the image for me.</p> <p>I've made myself follow this motto with my own work- "don't try to make an image into something it is not" and "no matter how much you want an image to be good, if its not good, its not good." If it just isn't there, there is no amount of post processing that would take the image back up to where it should be. I think this image falls into into the "almost" catagory- good try, remember it for another shoot, but this one itself didn't make the cut. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oofoto Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p>Rodney nails it for me. Most other attempts leave the bride in a most unflattering environment.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hal_b Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p>I'm new to this thread, and I just realized there was a <a href="../wedding-photography-forum/00UfKr">previous thread</a> where Nadine called for submissions specifically for this exercise. So this photo was chosen from a handful of volunteered submissions, presumably from people who were looking for help.<p> <p>Moderator Note: An explanation about the Photo of the Week exercise has been added to the opening text.<p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Michael Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p> . . . and reading from your user profile, reasonable new to Photo.net also - So welcome, colleague.<br> It is nice to meet people who take the time to read, and / or perhaps take up hints left by others so to do.<br> It is nicer still to meet people who have manners, and moreover those who the intestinal fortitude to state publically: “Oops I stuffed up, sorry for that.”<br> <br> Bravo,<br> <br> WW </p> <p > </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manuel barrera houston, Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p>Here is my 2 centavos worth</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Michael Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p><strong><em>"Rodney nails it for me. Most other attempts leave the bride in a most unflattering environment."</em></strong><br /><br />I really like Rodney's interpretation also. IMO, thus far, it is the most creative interpretation using Post Production Techniques.<br /><br />However I would argue that leaving the Bride in what is termed "<em><strong>a most unflattering environment."</strong></em> is not necessarily a mistake or something which should be avoided.<br /><br />I would firstly argue that whilst the Bride's "environment" might be unusual, (for a Wedding Capture), I do not see it as unflattering (to her). Maybe the scene is unappealing to some viewers’ eyes, but I do not see it as unflattering to the Bride, maybe the pose is a little uncomforable, as I mentioned – perhaps I see the Bride’s whole body and the light upon it rather than just the facial expressions of her and the Bridesmaids?<br /><br />WW</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimlassche Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p>Example image.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manuel barrera houston, Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p>superb photoshop work, Señor Lassche!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danielhundley Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p>Hello, I didn't participate in part one of the forum but thought I might have a go. First I added a new channels layer and with the gradient and brush tool to set focus point. Then used the alpha channel layer to use the lens blur to blur the foreground and background. Then I changed to black and white, increased highlights in curves for more contrast, then added a vignette. Hope you like. My favorite so far was Rodney's. -Dan</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kate callahan Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p>I like her pose ... I think it has a high-fashion feel. So, I decided to really play that up and take away the other elements that I didn't care for too much. And on a side note ... thanks, I think this is a great post. </p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digimage Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p>dear to all hobbie photographer PHOTOSHOP is power & fun some how useful & abuse . base at this topic for fun I would like to joy with my skill how ever good or bad please let me know , thank you for your opinion .<br />this picture I adjust them with perspective moved the subjecto closer screenplay then I terminated blue carpet not complement to flower& subject after that I apply blur filter to limit back groung leading viewer to the birdal . other thing like little contrast sharpen . the last important thing this file not RAW if they are maybe better adjust for fun , thank you</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hal_b Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p>One curves layer to bring up brightness/contrast. One selective curves just for the bride/flowers. Color balance for the whole image to get it back to warm instead of blue. Desaturate the dress to get it white/shades of white.</p> <p>Selective edits: stray arm, fourth BM, and the little girl all had to go. I left the remaining 3 BM's who are looking at the bride, tightening up the composition. That cord and windows had to get cloned out, too. I pushed in the bride's hips magazine-cover style and pulled up the corner of her mouth a little bit.</p> <p>I also straightened the image a little bit, so the bride is standing more erect. Notice how much more flattering this is now, with the wrinkles on her dress blown out to highlight, the bride erect, and the wrumpled hips smoothed down. She even looks like she wanted to smile instead of kill someone.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francie_baltazar Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p>Hal - I like it when people spice things up around here... and I appreciate your retraction, however I agree with your initial accessment. I stated I was not keen on the image that why I really did something dramatic with it - I think it's intersting to see what people with do with an image which many might have tossed. So welcome to Photo.net - it's a cool place where stong opinions are encouraged - just remember to use "I" statments instead of "you" statements no matter the context and you will fit in well around here...</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkiffmeyer Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 <p>I truly did not believe anyone could make this a keeper. It looked to me like a guest snapshot which would remain that way despite any attempts to make it "professional" or worth keeping. Kate, your treatment of the photo is wonderful. Thanks for putting that out there, and "black" is a perfect caption.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aappelphotography Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 <p>Hi!<br> Attached you can find my try.<br> 1) removed some jpg artefacts<br> 2) made a selection on the red channel, used this selection on the colored picture, layer copy, used it to neg multiply the layers<br> 3) inversed this selection, new layer copy of the colored version with this selection, used to multiply the layers<br> 4) used a b/w gradient map on the whole, then removed it for the bride<br> 5) sharpened the bride a little, to make her stand out (a little)<br> 5) added a vignette<br> <img src="http://nforcer.de/Bride.jpg" alt="" /><br> Regards,<br> André</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e._hughes Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 <p>I really liked the lines of the bride's body, and also didn't like the distracting bridesmaids in the background... I agree that it needs to be black and white. In my rendition, I wanted to emphasize the bride's silhouette, and I kinda like it!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e._hughes Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 <p>Let's try a smaller version...</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Here Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 <p>A 10-minute fix, but I hope you see the intent. Just a tad of cloning to clean up some loose stuff, then burning, dodging and a crop. I find the flower girl the most interesting background figure, but kept them all to get her....<br> Thanks for offering this exercise. It's always questionable if posters appreciate "messing" with photos, but to offer alternate views seems to be in our genes :-).... Mike</p> <p> </p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancoxleigh Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 <p>I tried to keep the original framing, and the original suggestions (remove red cord, deal with windows). I also tried to keep this looking natural — like it <em>could </em> have come out of the camera this way.</p> <p>My results:</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancoxleigh Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 <p>The image (sorry):</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauren_macintosh Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 <p>I like [<a href="/photodb/user?user_id=3889006">Kate Callahan</a>] & [E.Hughs] take on the bride being alone , as if its her last moment as a single person, and she now looking to what may come to her from here on:</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_shane Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 <p>Interesting takes on the original.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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