Xiao Cai
About the Image(s)
I like to shoot with people (models). Before, all of my photos look like "commercial." Now I am trying to process my photos more naturally, trying to have more "artistic" tastes, but also combine "fashion" and "commercial" favors into my portraiture shots. Metadata: Camera: Nikon D800, Lens: 85mm f/1.4. Shoot: f/5.6, 1/250, ISO800
The reason that I chose this photo is that the model pose and location are straightforward, but it has more storytelling, more likely to have "artistic" effects.
I attached my original process (process 1). It used filter effect, and more has a "commercial" effect.
Now, I am trying to process it more naturally. I hope it has more "artistic" tastes, but I also don't want it to lose "fashion" and "commercial" favors.
Process:
First, I process my photo in Lightroom to adjust the whole picture effect, and later I handle it on Photoshop to edit in detail and do final turning.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
16 comments posted
(Group 46)
Note: On the right, there is a long-distance light source.   Posted: 12/01/2019 13:36:13
(Group 46)
Improvements:
1)Composition - there is too much window and it is equally in focus as the person - this competes with the main subject. Ideally you would have moved the subject a bit to the left to have less or no window in the image before taking the shot. With the image as is you could try to reduce sharpness and clarity of the window and grid to push it more into the background.
2)You need to remove the bright areas on the subject's face and if possible knees (not quite as important).
  Posted: 12/01/2019 17:16:04
(Group 46)
I like the window position: 1. The window and the person made a diagonal line in the picture to make the composition interesting. 2. The old style of the window and the old style of the wall indicates it is in an old city. It is just how I felt.   Posted: 12/01/2019 18:02:09
For portraiture it is important to separate the subject from the background. Moving the subject to the left would have separated him from the window. With a high aperture setting and focus on the subject's face you may have got the window slightly out of focus. This would still allow for the feel of the place, but would put more focus on the subject.   Posted: 12/01/2019 19:07:21
(Group 46)
You could try making the window a bit lighter (gives you more contrast against the person) and depending on the software you use, you could try reducing the clarity and sharpness so it blends more into the background. My advise is if you don't like the adjustments, stay with your original, it's a very nice photograph and the window itself is lovely.   Posted: 12/02/2019 17:35:14
(Group 46)
To me its a image that tells a story , also i liked the originals more than the edited one , but as you said you wanted an artistic feels , it does bring that to your image. Colors are nice and bold , flower is balancing the colors , however my eyes tend to keep moving from window grills , Eyes , flower , blue shirt , even his pants , and back . So for a portrait shot i find it distracting , ideally your elements of the image should bring viewers eyes to one thing in image. Light is good , if you subject is the model only then cut out the window , or somehow bring the focus onto the model , as right now window is taking away the attention.
This is purely in my opinion.
I have tried my hand , have soften the image a bit , did levels and curves adjustment , added vignette to hide the window . hope you like it and dont mind my editing.   Posted: 12/06/2019 23:11:19
To me its a image that tells a story , also i liked the originals more than the edited one , but as you said you wanted an artistic feels , it does bring that to your image. Colors are nice and bold , flower is balancing the colors , however my eyes tend to keep moving from window grills , Eyes , flower , blue shirt , even his pants , and back . So for a portrait shot i find it distracting , ideally your elements of the image should bring viewers eyes to one thing in image. Light is good , if you subject is the model only then cut out the window , or somehow bring the focus onto the model , as right now window is taking away the attention.
This is purely in my opinion.
I have tried my hand , have soften the image a bit , did levels and curves adjustment , added vignette to hide the window . hope you like it and dont mind my editing.   Posted: 12/06/2019 23:11:22