Mark Grech
July 2025 - The Young Violinist
Original
About the Image(s)
I am always drawn by highly talented artists I find photography a means of interacting with such people. This photograph aims to showcase the talent of our national orchestra. I would have liked to find a better angle so that the arm positioned at left hand side is less protruding. But it was a very challenging when moving around the orchestra primarily due to the tight space.
Editting entailed colour correction and removal of unwanted artefacts.
Metadata. Iso 4000, f2.8, 1/250
9 comments posted
Hi Mark
Nice capture and depending on the circumstances of this performance and your being allowed to photograph it (not sure if it was a dress rehearsal or something), I bet you were super limited in your ability to move around and get just the right angle, so nicely done.
For what it's worth, I don't mind the extra hand on the left, it lends an intimacy to the image and reminds us that these folks are working hard, shoulder-to-shoulder. Based on your before/after images, it looks like you did next to nothing in post, which is a testament to the quality of image you were able to capture to begin with.
One minorly distracting element you might consider addressing is reducing the highlights, whites, and exposure of what I think may be a French Horn in the background, center top. My eye does jump to that a bit and just reducing the brighter parts of it helps.
Thanks for sharing!
Josh Posted: 07/15/2025 01:12:07
Nice capture and depending on the circumstances of this performance and your being allowed to photograph it (not sure if it was a dress rehearsal or something), I bet you were super limited in your ability to move around and get just the right angle, so nicely done.
For what it's worth, I don't mind the extra hand on the left, it lends an intimacy to the image and reminds us that these folks are working hard, shoulder-to-shoulder. Based on your before/after images, it looks like you did next to nothing in post, which is a testament to the quality of image you were able to capture to begin with.
One minorly distracting element you might consider addressing is reducing the highlights, whites, and exposure of what I think may be a French Horn in the background, center top. My eye does jump to that a bit and just reducing the brighter parts of it helps.
Thanks for sharing!
Josh Posted: 07/15/2025 01:12:07
Mark Grech
Thank you Josh. Posted: 07/23/2025 20:38:49
Mark,
I agree with most of what Josh said. I like thetight focus on this young violinist. You've got her entire head and all of her violin. Well done. I love the expression on her that you have captured. Shooting at f2.8 did a great job of blurring out all but your subject. To improve the image, I'd recommend that you cool down the many hot spots in the background. For example the lower right takes me away from the subject, as do the hot spots above the subject. Posted: 07/18/2025 21:10:26
I agree with most of what Josh said. I like thetight focus on this young violinist. You've got her entire head and all of her violin. Well done. I love the expression on her that you have captured. Shooting at f2.8 did a great job of blurring out all but your subject. To improve the image, I'd recommend that you cool down the many hot spots in the background. For example the lower right takes me away from the subject, as do the hot spots above the subject. Posted: 07/18/2025 21:10:26
Mark Grech
Thank you David. Posted: 07/23/2025 20:38:31
Mark,
If you are using Ligtroom, you can do some rudimentary retouchng. Here, I cropped the image a little more tightly. I then used the Remove tool to delete the hand and violin of the woman on the left. I them selected the background and darkened that area, I then used the brush tool to select the french horn and darkened it slightly and reduced the highlights. If you'd like to see this demonstrated, e-mail me off-line and I will arrange a mutually satisfactory time to set up a Zoom call (it's free) so you can share my screen. Posted: 07/23/2025 00:52:04
If you are using Ligtroom, you can do some rudimentary retouchng. Here, I cropped the image a little more tightly. I then used the Remove tool to delete the hand and violin of the woman on the left. I them selected the background and darkened that area, I then used the brush tool to select the french horn and darkened it slightly and reduced the highlights. If you'd like to see this demonstrated, e-mail me off-line and I will arrange a mutually satisfactory time to set up a Zoom call (it's free) so you can share my screen. Posted: 07/23/2025 00:52:04
Mark Grech
Craig, thank for taking the time to look into this photo in further depth. Very much appreciated as much as the comments posted by David and Josh.
I believe that the proposed image looks better having the highlights removed as also pointed out by David and Josh. I believe that this version of the image looks more personal. Would have liked to have a less tight crop but it was not possible during capture. The story behind this photo is a narrative of artistry and talent of musicians.
Posted: 07/23/2025 20:37:41
I believe that the proposed image looks better having the highlights removed as also pointed out by David and Josh. I believe that this version of the image looks more personal. Would have liked to have a less tight crop but it was not possible during capture. The story behind this photo is a narrative of artistry and talent of musicians.
Posted: 07/23/2025 20:37:41
Morrie Carter
When I saw this image it jumped out at me. I love the intensity and focus the girl has. I really like how the proposed image looks with the distractions of the hand removed and the highlights toned down. Posted: 07/27/2025 04:31:20
I love the intimacy that you have captured with the violinist. It makes me feel like I am right there beside her. The changes that Craig suggests add to the intimacy that you have captured. Well done! Posted: 07/27/2025 18:27:40
Hi Mark. I really like this photo. I'm drawn into the young lady and her focus and concentration. Posted: 07/29/2025 00:50:26