Canon 20D with Canon 17mm-55mm f2.8 lens @21mm, 1/80sec f2.8 ISO 400
Came across this trio with their mum at a market in Krui, South Sumatra, Indonesia and they were keen for me to snap their picture and mum was OK with it. The light inside the building was dim and there were plenty of background distractions which I have darkened down dramatically to provide the plain black background. Plenty of dodging and burning here and there. On a separate layer I applied a subtle gaussian blur filter to soften the effect which I felt provided smoother and more pleasing modelling on the faces. Finally converted to mono by creating a new fill adjustment layer and selecting SOLID COLOR (black) and COLOR blending mode on 100% opacity, then some curves and levels adjustments to give optimum contrast.
5 comments posted
Keisha Becerra
This is a wonderfully heartwarming portrait! The joy and closeness of the trio really shine through, and the black background you created works perfectly to draw attention to their expressions. Your use of dodging and burning has added a lovely dimension to their faces, enhancing the contrast without losing the softness in the details. The monochrome conversion adds a timeless quality, and I think the slight gaussian blur subtly complements the mood of the shot. Great job capturing such a candid, joyful moment-this is a beautiful, memorable image! Posted: 11/12/2024 17:40:38
Stuart Ord
Super, Chris. Have you placed it at an angle? It does look a little unnatural to me, but on the other hand the composition does make it jump out more than being in level. But their faces and the tones and the tight crop make this very appealing. Posted: 11/14/2024 08:12:01
Chris Prior
Not much in the change of angle. I have included the original unedited version to show you what I started with. Posted: 11/17/2024 09:39:28
John Roach
This is a beautiful image. Hands down, it is delightful and wonderful in story, composition, focus, tonality, and framing. Posted: 11/17/2024 17:19:32
Jerry Snyder
This is a beautiful, well composed, portrait that works very well in black and white. I can feel the enthusiasm of the three boys. Posted: 11/19/2024 13:49:43
