Heels

[GB1]

Model with background stylized using Corel's local equalization effect (which I think looks similar to an HDR).

C&Cs appreciated.

[Frog]

I like the composition a lot but I think the focus is on the background instead of her.
Also wish I knew what she was holding in her hand.

[Greg McCary]

Looks like sunglasses to me, but I agree it seems out of focus ant there isn't enough detail in the black top.

[fx101]

Lighting to emphasize the model and focusing properly with a deeper DOF (you might as well get the background in focus) via a smaller apperature should help. Nothing you can do now though .

[GB1]

Interesting you fellows perceive the background to be sharper; I checked the original and it's not. But what you see in front of you may indeed appear sharper, since the local equalization effect does some pretty intense contrasting.

Or perhaps, Frog, you meant emphasis..? It could be that the background is too distracting.

Fx, I'd have to disagree with you about lighting here. To me the model seems perfectly exposed, though the lighting was somewhat harsh. It was a choice of either taking the shot or not.

Greg, maybe I bumped up the contrast too high .... Here's an adjusted version with more detail in the shadows.......

This is just the type feedback I was looking for (!)

GB

[Lori11]

I may be way off base here but now it looks to me like the focus is on the sweater and not the boots (which I LOVE)

[Addies Granddaddy]

GB1......personally, I am drawn to the angles here. Nice symetry in the way she's got her arms positioned, also with the right leg up, and the left on the ground. I think that should be pointed out. Good work.:thumbsup:

John

[cah027]

I like how the right foot is tilted back on the heel. It helps bring attention to the boots.

[GB1]

Lori - Thanks. I'm seeing now that I didn't go a good enough job on the post processing. I decided to go with a stylized background but leave her as is.. Had to mask it out before applying the filter. What happened was a transition zone around parts of her and the background. I edited most of it out OK but her right boot needs more work - perhaps that's what's causing an impression of softness. The editing something I can probably do in 5-10 min.

AG - I also noticed the angles. Only a few of them have such geometry (I also cropped a lot of the shot out to emphasize this). Glad others see it too.

Cah - I guess it was comfortable for her with those heels (if you can say comfortable and heels in the same sentence).

G

[Frog]

I'm not knowledable enough to know why but I do like the second one better.

[GB1]

Here's the last (?) edit. I sort of liked the darker background of the first post, so I selectively adjusted her shadows as in the second post.

-GB

[Frog]

Better still! Everything looks sharp.

[Lori11]

:thumbsup: Looks good

[Sebastian]

GB,

You lightening of the shadows has really washed them out. The contrast in the original was the best, in the following shots there is almost a posterization effect starting to happen, not unlike careless use of the curves tool (which is essentially what the shadow boosting tools are).

I really like the image and her expression. Her pose nicely breaks up the geometric background. I'm not the biggest fan of the HDR look, because it's mostly indicative of a poorly processed HDR image, but in this case I think it adds a subtle velvety texture that adds to the image. My only gripe is the hand behind her back, I wish it was visible, and I wish she wasn't holding the glasses in her hand.

Well done, executed and processed. Overall, I like it.

[Greg McCary]

I think the last one looks the best. I agree with Seb on the hand

[GB1]

Thks everyone, for taking a look!

Seb, now that you point it out the sunglasses do seem ad hoc. I'm not sure where else the left hand would be (seems on her hips would be blase). I've read that where models place the hands is one of the hardest parts of model photography.

Note that this isn't an HDR, though it might look like one. With HDRs you have to take three or more shots, and I think that might be hard to do with models since they would have to hold perfectly still between exposures. The model would be changed too - I masked her off on this one to keep the original look.

I've yet to get an HDR worth keeping ... !!

gb