Crap Through A Goose

[draymorton]

Test shot from last week.

Thinking about cropping more cinematically, down halfway into the helmet and up to just below the bottom of the canteen.

Thanks for any thoughts, comp-related or general.

[wfooshee]

Except for the chain, there's no reason for it to be as wide as it is. Cropping the top or the side would put the chain into something that's hangin in midair. Still, I'm not sure anything on the left side actually presents anything. I wouldn't cut anything off the top or bottom myself,

[Ctn]

Nice shot!

What did you do to this shot? Looks HDR ish, or did you put somesort of filter on it?

One thing that i keep noticing: Did you lighten up one eye? I'm curious why it is lighter than the other cause the lighter should have quite evenly lit his face.

[draymorton]

Thanks both.

wfooshee - I see what you're saying, but I really wanted a sense of place... and depth. Which is why I also shot wide-open. But maybe I'll try closing in around him more. Never thought of that.

However: for the crop I was considering, the chain would be completely out-of-frame.

ctn - thanks! Good "eye." Yes I did lighten. Should I darken it... or lighten the other one?

And no filters, etc. Just a lot of dodging and burning. The jacket looks the way it does because of the d/b and the type of sharpening I used.

[Ctn]

I think i would remove it, the other eye does not need lightning in my opinion.
Also adjust the bit running down over his cheek down to his chin.

I would have to see it to be sure tho

[draymorton]

Okay, cool.

Cheek/chin... do you mean reduce the highlights?

Also: is the slightly blurred right hand an issue?

[Ctn]

Ye, lighten it all a bit more, or reduce it all together. Seems a bit unnatural to me now

[armando_m]

It was long wait from the last image you shared an image, but , wow! it was worth the wait!

The comments already made are beyond my critique filter , in other words , I love it ....


well, one comment:
my mind kind of converts this image instantly to B&W, in that context the color of the cigarrete and flame look out place, but I'm really stretching in order to critique something

test shot ?!?!?

[draymorton]

ctn - okay. Good to know for the reshoot, too (assuming it actually happens).

armando - thanks! Sorry, do you mean that you'd like it better in b/w... or that it *seems* like a b/w because it's so desaturated? I was actually wondering whether or not I should increase the saturation all the way around.

Haha.. yup, test shot. Had I been a little more careful, we could have had a final product already.

[Greg McCary]

You need to throw some dirt on him, the grenade too.

[draymorton]

Good point, Greg. Maybe some of that can be done in photoshop. I'm not sure how he'd feel about scuffing up his stuff. So that's a tricky one. Maybe I can try some kind of texture or something. But yeah, I definitely agree.

[gahspidy]

Good to see some new work, Seth. I think there are some good suggestions already such as Gregs mud slinging party but instead if"dirtying" him up i would suggest and try bringing some of that atmosphere you created in the background down around him a bit more like you did with the helmet and face. Love the crop, Crop Master Flex. Environment is good.
The only other "issue" for me on this fine image is the cigarette. I'm not convinced of the glow at the cigs end. Perhaps it needs smoke?(easily added) Maybe gray ash and smoke so its not so clean and fresh looking. This works for me, just a bit of tweaking to some details to bring it on a next level.

Fine work

[draymorton]

Glad you brought up the cigarette, Gary. It's too bright - one of the things that was really bothering me. The glow at the tip is real, so it shouldn't look fake. I think it's the brightness. Adding smoke is a good idea, too, but I might as well just have him puff some on the next shoot.

Bringing in the grunge around him would be a more practical solution, even though Greg's idea would lend more realism. I'm going to have him put some dirt on hands and face next time, though.

EDIT: I'll see what I can do with these suggestions and repost.

[terry1444]

Bringing in the grunge around him would be a more practical solution, even though Greg's idea would lend more realism. I'm going to have him put some dirt on hands and face next time, though

good idea !:thumbsup:

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