Ian Chantler  

Bolivian dancer by Ian Chantler

December 2024 - Bolivian dancer

About the Image(s)

Firstly may I send my warmest best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all my friends in Group 31 and their families.

Firstly apologies for another Latin portrait but from mid November until Christmas eve work goes mad in fact I am working the next 3 Saturdays and my camera goes into hibernation.

This is one is of a member of a Bolivian dance troupe who performed on day 2 of La Feria held at the beautiful Palm House in Sefton Park Liverpool in September the opportunity to take portraits with a background of tropical plants and palms was fantastic this young man was about to go out and perform when he turned towards me and I got a grab shot.

How i did it

Canon EOS 5D Mk III lens Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM focal length 50mm, f4 1/500s ISO 200 . Just a touch of fill flash used.
Basic adjustments to RAW file made in CS6 sharpened using a high pass filter highlights dropped shadows opened slightly, cropped from the top and some localised burning. and 2px border added..

9 comments posted

Michael Ritzie   Michael Ritzie
Hi Ian! This guy's warm smile and direct gaze creates an inviting connection with the viewer and I think the tonal values effectively separates the subject from the background.

Great capture overall. I know you took the opportunity to quickly grab this shot but I find the foliage on the left slightly distracting. Might be something that could be removed with some careful editing if you chose.

And Happy Holidays to you and your family as well.   Posted: 12/09/2024 18:23:09
Ian Chantler   Ian Chantler
Hi Michael
Many thanks I did wonder if the foliage may detract but it was a grab shot so unfortunately had little control on that.   Posted: 12/10/2024 21:06:33
Peter Clark   Peter Clark
Ian - No apologies needed - always a pleasure to see your portraiture.
I'm generally on board with Ella's comments - not too bothered with the foliage on the left side, but I do feel that the image is a little flat and a slight boost in contrast could be beneficial.
Happy Holidays.   Posted: 12/10/2024 10:24:10
Ian Chantler   Ian Chantler
Many thanks Peter
I totally agree and it will be attended to.   Posted: 12/10/2024 21:07:15
Ella Schreiber   Ella Schreiber
Hi Ian: I like your Porträt with nice catch light in the gents' eyes and nice smile. I'd help his dentition out a bit and lighten the dark area on the left side of his smile. If this were my image, I might consider increasing the contrast just a bit and perhaps adding a slight vignette to help focus more on the man vs leaves, background, etc.   Posted: 12/10/2024 17:36:45
Ian Chantler   Ian Chantler
Hi Ella
As always your advice appreciated and it will be worked on many thanks.   Posted: 12/10/2024 21:07:57
John Gilkerson   John Gilkerson
Ian. once again you are the portrait person   Posted: 12/15/2024 08:50:09
Ian Chantler   Ian Chantler
Hi John so many thanks for your kind words.   Posted: 12/15/2024 18:47:36
Susan Quinn   Susan Quinn
Ian- Great capture showing the joy in the dancers face.I might remove the brach and leaves closest to his face. My other suggestin would be to mask the sharpening off his face. I would like to see more definition in his face. Perhaps some laugh lines.
Happy holidays to you. I am heading to norther Japan reight after the new year and hope to give my camera a workout. Susan   Posted: 12/20/2024 16:26:02

 

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