Let me have it!

[payn817]

Last time I was here, there was a discussion about "cooking" images. My stance has changed a little since then, owell.

Anyway, this is a quick and slightly dirty edit I attempted today and would like to get some thoughts on it.

[payn817]

FWIW, here's a crop from the original to match the edited version. Perhaps not the best photo for this technique, but...

[gahspidy]

This is quite a couple. Her smile immediately brought one on me.
First, I like the composition/framing, but think she is cut off slightly too much at the bottom. Not too big an issue, though.

I like alot of the high contrast, dirty, unflattering portrait edits that I have been noticing more frequently now, and this is no exception. There is something very alluring about these type of edits with portraiture.

I feel that had the subjects been brought out stronger from the background with better lighting and perhaps moving them in away from the bg some more the edit would be stronger as well. Her hair and both his and her dark sides of their faces (their right side) should be better lit and then this would really pop.

I still think it is effective and I like it, only my thoughts on what I think would have/could make this even better.

btw, glad to see you on here.

[payn817]

Thanks Gary, I'm glad to get back around.

Yeah, no doubt this photo is not a good example of anything. In fact, this one is pretty old and is from a time when I could care less about what I was turning out. Not an excuse or anything.

Your feedback is very helpful. I was wondering if this type of processing would be worth pursuing, but if one likes it someone else will too. Thank you for taking the time, I will continue to work on it, hopefully with better subjects and utilizing your suggestions for lighting.

I did try dodging the sides of the face some and desaturated even more. It doesn't solve the light/BG issues, but you were right. It does look a little better.

[Greg McCary]

I have never heard of the technique but find I do like it in part. What I see that I don't like are the bright areas on their faces. The tip of his nose and his right cheek. But other than that I like it. Glad to see you back as well Payne.
Greg

[gahspidy]

Much improved. I liked the slightly saturated version but I think I like it better looking almost b&w.
The couple really stands out nicely now with your edits. It looks good to me.
A crop on her side to more of a 5x7 aspect ratio would be good too.
I like this processing and hope to see more of it from you.

[Alison]

I actually find the colour version much more flattering. The warmth of it is beautiful.
The lighting is wonderful. It can always be brightened a little using curves if that's what you wanted to do.
I can see what Gary means by cutting the lady off a little too much, but then, it's hard to know what your situation was at the time. A quick snap, practise shot with a 50mm like most of mine are, then they end up keepers lol. Which I believe this one to be, a keeper.
A great portrait of a couple of GREAT characters IMO, bless 'em.

[payn817]

As for the crop, it was really just to take out some colors that didn't work and this technique is more about the faces. The full image is attached. This was headed for the trash bin, but I kept it just to "play" with one day.

I think very muted colors work best as well, but oddly enough when I dodged the dark areas they were red . Guess that is something in one of the layers, time to expirement some more.

Greg, it is based on the "dragan effect". I was trying to figure out how he does it and came up with this. Of course I can't get close to his amazing work. The point of the technique is somewhat to reveal the tonal gradients and blemishes in the skin.

Thanks for the feedback and your time Gary, Greg and
Alison.