Jennifer Marano  


Untitled by Jennifer Marano

April 2019 - Untitled

About the Image(s)

I shot this on March 23 on a ranch near Paso Robles, California. I used my Sony a6000 with my 4/18-105 lens at 105mm, ISO 400, 1/250 sec @ f9.5 in RAW. I loved how the sun lit up the horse's mane and ears. I used Lightroom for post-processing. I was going for dramatic morning light, but that left the eyes with less light than I usually try for. I am trying to get a different look than a straight horse portrait.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
4 comments posted




Lance Lewin   Lance Lewin
Hi Jennifer.

Off the bat really like that you worked outside the box, as it were - the unusual crop is refreshing and frankly, something I try to do as well.

The left eye is in perfect focus and as I tell students of photography, if you get the eyes of your subject in focus, you are likely to have a successful photograph in may cases.

Even at F/9.5 the area lite by the sun is still out of focus and I feel it needs to be in focus for a more successful image.

We discussed hyper-focusing (and I have still not presented this focusing dynamic)but this would have helped. In any case, the photograph is a keeper and I would love to see it in BW - as BW is my favorite among photographic renderings.

By Friday I will email a short piece on hyper-focusing to everyone.   Posted: 04/02/2019 05:56:41



 
Hi Neighbor,
I like the horse, but my first impression was where is the rest of it. It looks to me like you were going for a mask effect. I think if you cropped it with more of the face it would have more of an impact. The lighting is great. A perfect time of the day.   Posted: 04/02/2019 06:45:01
Lance Lewin   Lance Lewin
Yes, another version that shows more of the face - but just a little, in my opinion. Maybe 2 3 inches below the focused eye as an alternative composition.   Posted: 04/02/2019 06:49:30



 
Hi Jennifer. Nice job. I don't have much to add to this discourse, other than I agree with Lance. The eye is too anchored to the bottom of the frame and could use a little breathing space. In toning, you might try bringing down, just a touch, of highlight around the blown out part of the mane and bumping up the shadow areas around the eye, to increase interest in that area. A little lightroom trick, with the adjustment brush, increase the clarity slider to taste and brush on areas you want to appear glossy, i.e. eyes, water, pavement, etc. you will have to compensate with brightness, using the contrast slider. less will make it a bit brighter, more will make it darker and shinier.   Posted: 04/06/2019 09:30:51