Looking at You

[JK_Photo]

Here's one from a series I did last weekend.
EOS 20D
70-200 2.8 @ f4.0 and 73mm
550EX -1/3stop
ISO800
Photoshop enhancements: levels, local contrast and gauss. blur overlay

[Hightree]

Good shot. Nice angle. I am interested in how it would look if you would crop the picture though. Or maybe a conversion to BW?

Cheers,
Frank

[JK_Photo]

Good shot. Nice angle. I am interested in how it would look if you would crop the picture though. Or maybe a conversion to BW?

Cheers,
Frank

Your wish is my command. I was curious as well so here it is. Just a quick desaturate and crop.
If you'd do it diferently be my guest.

[Chunk]

A beautiful photo of a beautiful face but that stretched, unatural finger grabs my eye. A more natural/comfortable pose for that hand would help a lot. I think the tilt adds interest to the composition.

[mjs1973]

A beautiful photo of a beautiful face but that stretched, unatural finger grabs my eye. A more natural/comfortable pose for that hand would help a lot. I think the tilt adds interest to the composition.

I agree with Chunk on the finger in this photo, it looks a little unatural. But to be honest with you, I didn't notice it until I read Chunks post, now my eyes go right to it. I really like the angles in the photo, and I think it helps set this photo apart from a typical portrait. Nice work!

[CB Photo]

I like the B&W myself.

The angle of the door-frame adds to my interest...as well as the subject.

[cjsoap]

Very nice shot. I also find the finger a little distracting, but I do like the B&W maybe without the crop, I like the angle.
CJ

[JK_Photo]

Thanks for the comments, everyone.
The finger...bugs me too, but might look a little odd if I removed it. Too much rebuilding so I think I'll leave it.
Although this shot crops well I am partial to the full frame colour shot; I just think it has good balance overall and the colours work well together.
I took a couple hundred shots that day so I might post another one or two.
As I sit here scrolling up and down I think I like the BW just as much!
anyway, thanks again for looking and commenting.

[Paul.S.]

I don't think the rebuild to remove the finger in this picture should be that hard. The second knuckle on the finger is clearly defined so you can use that to help you build the knuckle with a slight size increase and some tweaking with the free transform tool in photoshop if you have access. It would be a good exercise either way.

I do enjoy the photo, perfer the B&W and as mentioned you don't see the finger untill someone mentiones it and then you are drawn to it.

cheers.

P.

P.S. reminded me of my first GF

[CarbonTerry]

I think I like the color version also. Zone VI is a rule of thumb for placement of Cauc. skin tones in B/W. It look to be slightly darker in this one.
Heck, just completely eliminate the hand and it will work fine.
A litle less tilt back of the head so that we are not looking right at her nostrils may be more flattering.

[JK_Photo]

Wow, thanks for all the great suggestions.

I like what I'm seeing in your redo CarbonTerry. I like the tight crop on her face and I'll do one like that. Nice tone. What did you do to take it there?

I like my original composition as well so I'm going to attempt a fix on the finger. Move it, remove it or rebuild it. Just not right now. It's late and I'm tired. I'll post my results should I be successful.
Cheers for now.

[CarbonTerry]

I adjusted the Red Level and then lightened the midtones in RGB Levels.
Then I darkened the tone of the door on its own layer by selecting it and then painting it.
On another layer I darkened the corners and top portion
I also added a layer to increase the brightness of the reflections in her eyes by painting in some soft edged white highlights.
Of course I cloned out the hand.

[JK_Photo]

The finger is gone.
End of controversy
Thanks all.

[Lava Lamp]

Here's one from a series I did last weekend.
EOS 20D
70-200 2.8 @ f4.0 and 73mm
550EX -1/3stop
ISO800
Photoshop enhancements: levels, local contrast and gauss. blur overlay

Basically a good photo. I think her face could be lit better, though. The tilt can be effective, but here you have a little too much uninteresting wall for it to really work IMHO.

[JK_Photo]

Wow, thanks for all the great suggestions.

I like what I'm seeing in your redo CarbonTerry. I like the tight crop on her face and I'll do one like that. Nice tone. What did you do to take it there?

I like my original composition as well so I'm going to attempt a fix on the finger. Move it, remove it or rebuild it. Just not right now. It's late and I'm tired. I'll post my results should I be successful.
Cheers for now.

Ok , I basically went for the look Terry did in his redo.
I think I did OK.