Dandy

[draymorton]

Taken today under bizarre and ridiculous circumstances (first kid shoot, extremely restless four-year-old, 28 degrees, Times Square at rush hour...). Comp modeled after a fashion shot I saw, but not sure if I should crop lower.

[gahspidy]

Great work, Dray. Yep, I can vouch for you on the cold and also very windy day today. I had headed out to Jersey to shoot a dance company and was surprised at how winter finally come bashing through the door. . .
I think the wind helped a bit in this moment as the kid holding his hat and the paper blowing up adds a lot of mood and drama to the portrait.
I like the crop here, would not touch it. The paper with his hand over it add, not distract. Also, the boys face is lit well enough that we don't lose it as the subject even as were looking around through the frame.
I'm torn on whether I would like to have seen a bit of detail in his coat and some more in the hat. My first impression was positive and I enjoy the high contrast and so there it is, I guess its a moot point. It works real well for me as it is.
Again, you done good.

[draymorton]

Thanks, Gary. I can definitely add more detail to the coat. In fact, I was thinking that I should make the whole image a little lighter.

Yeah, very windy today. Forgot to mention that, but I guess the photo tells the tale. Hope the shoot went well. I've actually been meaning to mention/talk to you about your dance photography... I love it.

[w.slayman]

In a word GREAT. I would not change a thing, you can scence the cold and wind, makes me glad to be in Florida.

[Shebang]

Okay. I see one day I will have to venture into PP. This is fantastic!!

Would you mind posting it as it came out of the camera? I would love to see the difference if it's not too much trouble.

[BlueRob]

Dray you did it again...INSPIRING!

Each time I see one of your pics makes me want to grab my camera a shoot. Both the mood and the composition in your pictures fit in the style that I particularly like.

Regarding the picture.... The crop is spot on....the newspaper is a "most have" in this composition with the slight blur and wind playing you cant take it out with a tighter crop IMO. On the other hand, for me the crop on the right side is two much...I will like to see that elbow complete.

The face, eyes and tie are spot on also, the thing I would do to improve is somehow get some more definition and detail on the hat and jacket....they merge to much with the blacks on the background. Also I would like to get rid off what it seems to be a white tag (right armpit area).

Also the lower lip seems a bit to bright or with some sort of gloss that I personally would like to correct...but not that much...a bit of highlights always add points to the effect.

Again...great image! and would like to see more of your shots and more often :thumbsup:

[draymorton]

Thanks a lot, all. Feedback appreciated. as always.

Paula - sure. I'll try and grab the SOOC.

Bill - thanks! Florida seemed like a pretty good idea yesterday. Our subject nearly blew away.

Rob - always appreciate your critiques. What makes them hard to argue with is that you have a habit of being right! I'm gonna go back and see what I can do about the coat/hat, lips, and, of course, the NF logo (great catch there; someone suggested that it should be removed last night, as well. Big oversight on my part).

The crop I can't do much about, I'm afraid. I only cropped down a little; the elbow was like that OOC.

Thanks again.

[BlueRob]

Rob - always appreciate your critiques. What makes them hard to argue with is that you have a habit of being right!

Thanks again.

PMSL It´s a habit I just acquired since I belong to this forum ....my eye has grown sharper for detail since I mingle with top notch photographers around here

I understand you are in NYC right? I have been planing a trip there since...well long time...I bet there is plenty of interesting subjects in the street to click at.
I have to retake my plans to go there and let loose my finger over the shutter button some time soon.

[LeeIs]

Dray, your stuff is getting better all the time this one is no exception. amazing. love the contrasty feel to this. the black and white works awesome. i even love the slight tilt to the background, it ads an angular (if that's a word) tension to this that might not have been there had the buildings been straight. good stuff!

and talking about cold.. brrrrr. the last couple of days have been terrible here in Toronto also. This is like Feb tempretures in the begining of Dec...

[GB1]

Dray - Cool shot with a lot of personality. Not run of the mill for sure, and the black and white works quite well here.

I am torn on a number of things though. As others have mentioned, the little detail in the coat and hat is a consideration. I don't know about the blurriness of his hand, though I do love it on the newspaper. The lack of eye contact is another not-sure-about, though it does make you wonder who he's looking at (his mom?). There's also very little detail on his face -- could be natural as he's young and skin is smoother at that age, but was it smoothed out in post processing at all ...? Hmm.

-GB

[draymorton]

Thanks all.

Rob - yup, let me know if you plan on coming.

Liban - thanks. Yeah, it was another killer today. Yahoo weather said it was supposed to be in the thirties, but it felt more like 1. lol

GB - thanks for the feedback. The detail in the coat is something I might be able to bring back. Likewise, I can probably bring a little skin texture back into the face (yes, there was post-processing done, btw). The hand I can't do anything about. That idea was copped from a photographer far more prominent than I. The eye contact - again, on purpose (not saying it works, but it was deliberate. To me, straight into the camera could have been corny).

Greg - haha! I still need them myself!

I'll see what I can do with all the suggestions. Thanks again!

[BlueRob]

Rob - yup, let me know if you plan on coming.

Sure do Dray a meet-up would be cool if possible. Let me fill the piggy bank and I'll let you know.

[Greg McCary]

Nice work Dray. You need to give some PPing lessons to some of us.

[shootme]

Dray, I sigh each time I go to one of your shots, thinking to myself will I ever be able to produce a great shot like that. How about you post something really terrible just to make me feel better. S

[Shebang]

Dray, I sigh each time I go to one of your shots, thinking to myself will I ever be able to produce a great shot like that. How about you post something really terrible just to make me feel better. S

ROFLMBO! I so feel you, shootme!!