Bruce Harley
November 2024 - Tea Break Jive.
Original
Original 2
About the Image(s)
Description : Two Diner waitresses bored with their jobs. Put some Bill Haley music on the Jukebox and begin to Jive during their Tea Break to brighten up their day.
Composite made from just two images, the subjects and a Diner background.
The subjects shot was at the Edinburgh Fringe on the High Street, they just suddenly started dancing, to attract the crowds.
The background shot was taken in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Basic edit to both images.
Desaturated and cut back the contrast, and blurred the background image.
Increased the contrast and clarity on the subjects image to make them stand out in the composite.
Cut out the subjects using the quick selection tool.
Created a new blank layer.
Pasted the background and subject layers onto this and blended them as I went.
Worked on the composite using, curves, blurs, and tools in Adobe Raw, to achieve the finished article.
That's it.
7 comments posted
Hi Bruce, I feel like standing in the doorway of the diner, hearing the beat of the music and smiling at the pure carefree joy and energy the young women radiate. The swirl of the hems and hair, and the feet in midstep make such a vivid sense of movement. This is like a still image of a movie: it is easy to imagine how the story rolls on. - Of course it is their dresses, but also the muted color palette that seems to anchor them to the 1950s. Thank you for describing the recipe of the magic!
Posted: 11/09/2024 06:34:34
Posted: 11/09/2024 06:34:34
I love the energy and fun of this image, Bruce! You really captured the joy of their dance in a way that feels very delightful to me.
I like the way the colors of their dresses is echoed in the diner scene behind them. Their shadows feel very real and make them fit into the scene.
I thought at first that maybe simplifying the diner by removing the table and chairs in the background would be useful, but it turns out that your version feels much more realistic.
My only suggestion is that the difference in contrast between the background and the dancers feels a tiny bit distracting. I do feel that the dancers "pop", but perhaps a tad too much. I personally might consider the technique you described a while back, using the "average blur" layer at low opacity. Posted: 11/10/2024 23:07:34
I like the way the colors of their dresses is echoed in the diner scene behind them. Their shadows feel very real and make them fit into the scene.
I thought at first that maybe simplifying the diner by removing the table and chairs in the background would be useful, but it turns out that your version feels much more realistic.
My only suggestion is that the difference in contrast between the background and the dancers feels a tiny bit distracting. I do feel that the dancers "pop", but perhaps a tad too much. I personally might consider the technique you described a while back, using the "average blur" layer at low opacity. Posted: 11/10/2024 23:07:34
Hi Peggy,
Smack on - I agree - too much pop.
Going to reduce the texture and add average blur to tone the dancers down.
Its great to have a second pair of eyes look at your image - cant see the wood for the trees happens as you get too involved in the creation of the image, thank you.
Will let you know how it goes in competition.
Cheers, Bruce Posted: 11/11/2024 15:59:43
Smack on - I agree - too much pop.
Going to reduce the texture and add average blur to tone the dancers down.
Its great to have a second pair of eyes look at your image - cant see the wood for the trees happens as you get too involved in the creation of the image, thank you.
Will let you know how it goes in competition.
Cheers, Bruce Posted: 11/11/2024 15:59:43
Bruce, It is terrific how you made an American 50's era image out of two international photos, especially the one from Cambodia. You blended them so well and the color palette works great.
You nailed the perspective and foot placement with the shadows. At first, I was a bit confused why the shadows are in front when the light is on the front of their dresses, but with indoor images, you can get away with that as lights could be anywhere.
I can see what Peggy mentioned about the contrast, but I wouldn't tone the dancers down too much. The pop kind of goes with the story.
I know cropping suggestions are not always helpful, but you do have a fair amount of headroom with some edge items on top.
I really love it. I bet it does very well in competition. Posted: 11/13/2024 16:47:31
You nailed the perspective and foot placement with the shadows. At first, I was a bit confused why the shadows are in front when the light is on the front of their dresses, but with indoor images, you can get away with that as lights could be anywhere.
I can see what Peggy mentioned about the contrast, but I wouldn't tone the dancers down too much. The pop kind of goes with the story.
I know cropping suggestions are not always helpful, but you do have a fair amount of headroom with some edge items on top.
I really love it. I bet it does very well in competition. Posted: 11/13/2024 16:47:31
You certainly chose the right venue in which to place such energetic dancers. I've added my 2 cents worth to the background discussion by muting the colors and putting a spotlight on the waitresses. This creates a bit of magic as the women's shadows come from a light that emanates behind them. Maybe their energy will disguise this bit of illogic. Nice image. Posted: 11/14/2024 03:02:51
Bruce, Another compelling image. I like your image as presented. There is something a little too real in a good way that brings one's attention to the joyful dance. I would keep it as is and encourage more. This has a hugely nostalgic feel with flavors of Norman Rockwell. Posted: 11/18/2024 02:26:43
Dear group colleaques, thank you for all your help with this dodgy composite.
I have had this composite for years and never entered it into a competition, because of its issues making it unrealistic.
I have found over the years that sometimes when a composite doesnt work its best binning it, rather than keep reworking and wasting time. I think this image will suffer this fate.
Again many thanks for your help and assistance.
Cheers Bruce. Posted: 11/18/2024 14:33:09
I have had this composite for years and never entered it into a competition, because of its issues making it unrealistic.
I have found over the years that sometimes when a composite doesnt work its best binning it, rather than keep reworking and wasting time. I think this image will suffer this fate.
Again many thanks for your help and assistance.
Cheers Bruce. Posted: 11/18/2024 14:33:09