Living Doll

[Stephen Lutz]

I oversaturated the colors, and applied a art filter to it in Photoshop, and cropped it to print the size I wanted. I would have left the finger tips in the photo, but they didn't seem essential to the composition.

Thoughts, opinions and ideas, particularly about composition and color, are welcome.

[Nina]

Stephen, I'm not sure what to make of this. I don't find the oversaturation effective here and find the lighting to be quite harsh. I also want to point out that I had lots of dolls growing up as a little girl and never had any that looked like this. I believe that taking a more realistic approach to the "living doll" would be more effective.
Perhaps you should check out some websites or stores with doll collectibles or even visit a relative who may have a little girl dwelling within the home and carefully observe the presentation of the dolls.
On the other hand I have to commend you because this is quite a creative undertaking and I feel that you should continue to cultivate this idea as a theme. Good Luck !

[villenadecorte]

What do you do with dolls? Dress them up and make them your own creation. I dont think the idea here was to make the woman look like a little girls doll, but more of a grown man's (or womans) provocative obsession/fantasy.
Kudos to you for going after something outside the box.

PS- I never had dolls that looked like that either ;) haha.

[2kids2shoot]

How interesting! I've been looking at this for five full minutes trying to figure out what I think. I think the oversaturation works and clipping the fingers was perfect. My girls (who are 4) throw their dolls in piles so the composition in that sense seems fine to me. Two things that I think may be improved are 1) the multiple backgrounds (the flower wall paper, checkered bedspread, and the the pink and black) seem to add to much noise/distraction from the subject. I think one or two is ok but four competing patterns on top of the dolls and 'doll' seem a bit busy. 2) I was going to say that maybe some more dead space on the left may help, but that may be related to the fact that I think there's a bit too much going on and I'm looking for a little quiet space to rest my eyes.

Real neat and create photo in any case!

[Overbeyond]

Whether it was your intention or not you have definitely managed to make the adult look just as artificial as the dolls. Perhaps the adult is a doll. Villenadecorte has articulated very well.
It definitely sets us thinking as to what you had in mind and the conflict between innocence/provocation/fantasy is interesting and makes this a sucessful photograph in some way.
Tom

[Nina]

I'm all for doing things out of the box and do agree that the positioning of the model is portrayed like a true doll but this particular image isn't working for me.

[schrackman]

I'd have to agree with Nina that this image doesn't work for me. The oversaturating of the image does not add to the quality of the picture at all. In fact, the first thing I thought was that the effect was meant to cover over whatever mistakes were made in shooting the photo in the first place (i.e. a blurred photo, harsh flash shadow, etc.). In other words, trying to make a bad picture look good. Also, the midrift area and below is quite unappealing, as is the pose, and the dark area on the bottom right is distracting to me. I'm not really sure what I could recommend to make this any better. The whole idea just doesn't appeal to me.

[almo]

I oversaturated the colors, and applied a art filter to it in Photoshop, and cropped it to print the size I wanted. I would have left the finger tips in the photo, but they didn't seem essential to the composition.

Thoughts, opinions and ideas, particularly about composition and color, are welcome.

According to my Gf this image has the look of a crime scene. Frankly I would have to agree. I find this somehow very distastful. I am sorry to be so harsh, but I am just telling the truth. Next time I would aim to be a bit kinder to my subject if I were you.

[Stephen Lutz]

According to my Gf this image has the look of a crime scene. Frankly I would have to agree. I find this somehow very distastful. I am sorry to be so harsh, but I am just telling the truth. Next time I would aim to be a bit kinder to my subject if I were you.

I see I succeeded in what I was trying to accomplish with this shot. It was done as part of a series for the "Baxter Morgue" haunted house in Louisville, KY. I did promo shots for them, and this was one of the ones used. The setting is a little girl's room, one who was (fictionally) murdered and "haunted the morgue." The model's makeup was done to emphasize the deathly quality of the overall scene.

This was my favorite shot of that series.

[Old Timer]

I see I succeeded in what I was trying to accomplish with this shot. It was done as part of a series for the "Baxter Morgue" haunted house in Louisville, KY. I did promo shots for them, and this was one of the ones used. The setting is a little girl's room, one who was (fictionally) murdered and "haunted the morgue." The model's makeup was done to emphasize the deathly quality of the overall scene.

This was my favorite shot of that series.

In light of your last post I would have to say Kudos to you. I had not commented on this photo because to me it was disturbing. Now knowing the intended audience I have to say that yes you did full fill you intention with this image.