I Rock, Plate 1

[draymorton]

Another one from awhile back.

Crop is tight because I am thinking of pairing it with a longer shot. As it is, cnsidering cropping in from the left.

[ScapeGrace]

Another fantastic shot! How do you manage to capture a picture that looks so raw and powerful, and yet has a fun, childlike aspect to it as well? And the detail!! I can see the texture of his shirt, the grain of the instrument, even his thumbprint stands out with perfect clarity. Only negative I have is the bg is, in my opinion, not very suiting but if anything maybe take out those three cloud puffs, they look like a thought bubble is trying to form hehe. Amazing emotion, I love it!

[ksbryan0]

I think the facial grunge is overdone, considering a relatively clean left hand. The bg doesn't seem to fit the image...overall might be better as B/W.

[draymorton]

Thanks a bunch for the feedback, fellers.

The facial grunge is largely sweat and lighting. I didn't do a whole lot else. But very good point. I wish I could add sweat to the hands.

As for the bg... I probably should have posted this shot together with the wider shot as a diptych. Would (hopefully) have made a little more sense that way...

How do you manage to capture a picture that looks so raw and powerful, and yet has a fun, childlike aspect to it as well?

Thanks again, scape. The fun/childlike aspect comes from asking the subject to do something that gets them into that state of mind. A lot of photography, I'm finding, has more to do with being an acting coach than anything else. Getting your subject into a state - or allowing them to getting into a state - is so important. I'm not very good at that yet, but I'm working on it.

[ScapeGrace]

I'd have to disagree, it shows very well that they have fun being your muse. The fact you can capture the human spirit so well...these photos inspire me. I'm very interested in taking portraits and if you have any tips and tricks to pass on hehe I'm all ears, or rather, eyes.

[draymorton]

I'll pass along what I know... as soon as I learn it myself. I'm really working on getting people to open up and be comfortable enough to show their truest (or most entertaining) selves. You wouldn't believe what a travail it was to get the subject above to do that. Way out of his comfort zone.

An alternate method is waiting until your subject relaxes and allows a genuine side of him/herself to emerge.

[gahspidy]

Love the crop and the subject. the energy is there and the character is interesting.
I'm not feeling the post processing on this one. The grungy look in the face is fine but the white shirt being gray and then white in certain spots like around the buttons on his cuff...

I dunno, its still a fantastic image though.

Many more positive aspects to this than neg ones.

[jetrim]

I'm with Gary. This looks to me like a high pass filter pushed too far (it may not be, but it looks like it) There seems to be an enormous amount of neutral gray in this shot, even in the blue part of the sky. The rim light on the back of his upper hand and face suggest it was bright and sunny, but the background contradicts that.

[LeeIs]

I'm not feeling the face in this one. too botchy for me. everything else is fine though

[draymorton]

Cool... so even out the shirt, tone down the face/skin (however I would do that)... But "neutral grey"... completely over my head. I'm afraid I don't know what that means. Could you elaborate as to what the problem is there and what I can do to fix it?

Thanks!

[gahspidy]

Cool... so even out the shirt, tone down the face/skin (however I would do that)... But "neutral grey"... completely over my head. I'm afraid I don't know what that means. Could you elaborate as to what the problem is there and what I can do to fix it?

Thanks!

I was thinkin along the lines of what Jet stated bout the sky.

I would describe it as looking muted. Its not quite stormy looking and its not a clear bright luminous day either, although the various highlights on face and shirt and hand would suggest there is some brightness out there. The sky has a muted look as if a mulitply layer were used. Whatever is happening with the sky seems to be happening in the shirt as well. there is that grayish/blue blend coming into the shirt especially at the top and left side, but then his shirt cuff has a much more grungy warm tone, with some white "halos"? around the buttons.
The meat and heart of this image is great, and as said it has many more pos than neg aspects here.

[Greg McCary]

I am no expert with this kinda stuff, but the fingers cut being off bothers me the most. I agree wit Gary though. This has a bunch going for it. Were just a tough crowd to hang with.