Addiction

[Patrick]

When you wake at 4am , flick the kettle on and light a cigarette and all you ( I ) can think about is Photography so i tried to create a moody a self portrait .. I understand i am no oil painting but decided to share a simple slice of ones life i have no experience with this type of photo so any tips would be very welcome.

ISO -400
SS 1/50
F 1.8
50MM

Thanks to the writing on the blog PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY For some inspiration
By Taissia Iv https://www.lightstalking.com/compelling-self-portraits/

 

[Dahlia Ambrose]

Love this idea, great composition and photo Patrick 🙂

The only thing that’s bothersome is the highlight areas that look too bright without much details.

[Patrick]

Hi Dahlia thank you for the advice and having a look , i have this colour version i think might be slightly better but not 100% sure .. when you say the highlight do you mean overall or on the face area .. just trying to learn 🙂

Thanks very much once again 🙂

[Dahlia Ambrose]

Thank you for this Patrick. I was mentioning the highlights on the face area and the flame too. The colour version also works, but I love the mysterious mood in the BW image 🙂

[Patrick]

Hi Dahlia thank you so much for the extra info much thanks for the reply as always , i had been using my Tv as a monitor when i edited this and the brightness and contrast was so different from my pc monitor which i normally use i think that played a part in the wonky edit i won’t do that again lol thanks again Dahlia 🙂

[Erik Fransman]

Patrick,

I like it and it works. I have no problem with the highlights without detail in this image.
I would add some contrast. An image like this may be a tad extreme.

I like the color version as well except on my screen I see a half curve texture that I do not like.
The color one can also be a tad more extreme.
I made a Black and white version and also but they both do not come across after posting here. After posting they are too dark. So you will have to do it with the comments.

 

[Patrick]

Ok mate , thank you for looking and sharing your thoughts i really do appreciate your feedback and your time it gives me stuff to work on 🙂

[Graham Hart]

Hi Patrick, great concept. I agree with the others about the light being a bit blown out. To me it is a bit distracting and even more so in colour. The image has a very strong mood because of the light and dark components and so definitely B&W for me. Toned down the blown out light a bit and cropped a little. Not sure if it will come across too dark after posting?

[Patrick]

Hi mate thanks very much , looks far better like this i think, much appreciate you having a look Graham and thank you for the kind words 🙂

[Dahlia Ambrose]

I like the work on the highlight areas Graham. I’d also add a bit more contrast + clarity 🙂

[Anonymous]

Like others, I like the mood. You have recovered enough detail in the flame to address the issues there, I think. Monitor calibration makes a big difference for editing and viewing- both have to be set correctly.

When you addressed the flame, on my monitor, you lost the suggestion of the frame (the door) that I liked.

As I said, I do like the mood; but you really ought to give up the addiction. I’m sure you needed another person to tell you that, though.

[Patrick]

Hi Steve

My desktop monitor is what i normally use for editing on .. On this occasion i had moved my pc to another room and was using my computer connected to my TV to binge watch some documentaries (much larger screen than my 27 inch monitor ) and i edited the image on that things looked ok after the edit but obviously i was wrong and it was way off.

Thanks very much for the advice on the smokes mate , i have tried many many times .. the addiction i was referring to is the constant thinking about photography not my bad habit 🙂

[Anonymous]

Ahhhh. Always easy for others to give advice. Also great fun to watch people misinterpret others, when it doesn’t involve yourself.

I keep swearing not to comment based n viewing an image on my ipad and then failing to restrain myself. The viewer’s monitor needs to be correctly calibrated. I often forget to add the “on my monitor” disclaimer.

[Patrick]

Thank you once again mate , monitor color i agree is so important to getting things looking correct 🙂

[JasenkaG]

@patrickw I love this portrait a lot, moody portraits are my kind of thing! This is my editing version, I would also keep it monotone, but perhaps introduce a bluish tint. The window looks very pretty because of these droplets, I would enhance them. P.s. I also enjoy smoking at 4am while looking through the window (from time to time), I came up with some fantastic ideas thanks to that toxic little ritual 🙂

[Patrick]

Firstly thank you so much for taking some of your time to fix it up and i love the bluish tint a whole lot Thank you so much.

On the creative side I would love to try more moody portraits but most times i get very self-conscious about the ideas and myself and i really dislike being held back with it , i have tons on ideas but rarely follow them through out of fear , fear of what I think others may of think of me if i can be open and honest about it.

Thank you so much for the kind and reassuring feedback , now and always appreciated Jasenka 🙂

[Anonymous]

Years ago, I was a member of a photography forum where there was a woman whose only work was self portraits. They were all recognizable but each unique and therefore creative. Let it flow.

[Dahlia Ambrose]

I like this edit as well 🙂

[JasenkaG]

I agree with Steve, self-portraits can be as valuable as regular portraiture. On top of that, people usually don’t care and don’t judge unless you’re doing something that triggers their own insecurities.

[Patrick]

Thanks to you both these are certainly things i will keep in mind 🙂

[Rob Wood (Admin)]

I’d be looking to take this one all the way through to a print mate. It would probably be a toss up between your first one and the colour one (I would test both on small paper). But this has such a cool look. Well done.

[Patrick]

Hi Rob thank you so much for your time and feedback mate  , i must admit all the nice feedback from ST has give me a big boost in confidence regarding my own fear of taking & showing such an image and i can’t thank you all enough for that.

I have read many times about the importance of printing our own work and having something tangible which can make a big difference in how we see and go about this craft of shooting , I don’t currently own a printer myself but i guess there would be no harm even having some printed locally would be better than nothing for now.

Thanks very much again to each and all that supplied comment and feedback it is greatly appreciated 🙂

[bucweeet]

Like the rest, I think the images (both the B&W and Colour) are very interesting and like them both.

I only have a minor comment and am some what surprised they don’t both others…  I would clone out the two (2) lines of high lights ‘on the frame’ in front of the face as I find they draw my eyes away from the main image.

[Patrick]

Thank you Paul , i never noticed them to be honest but now you mention it i see what you mean i will be more careful in future with these things mate cheers 🙂

[Lenny Wollitz]

Hi Patrick, this is and interesting idea.  I really like what Jasenka has done with it but think it has lost the appealing mysteriousness of your original post… maybe a little less exposure so one would need to take a closer look?  I agree with Rob, print it.

[Patrick]

Hi Lenny thanks so much for the feedback much appreciated mate , i will try get a print of it , on Jasenka’s Edit i actually love that blue tint i just wish i had thought of it lol it gives a nice vibe on this monitor mate , i have been messing with a single Speedlight this last couple of nights in a softbox and outside it and want to try some colour gels i have .. still learning what angles and distance works best for the lighting plus white balance for the gels using it lots of trail and error , if i get anything ok i will post it up.

[Rob Eyers]

I won’t rehash what others have said Patrick. I would add that the b&w version could use some more contrast but only in the deep blacks. I also think some added grit by use of some noise would work well. I like the image.

[Patrick]

Hi Rob thank you so much for your feedback mate i much appreciate your thoughts on the editing Tips to help me out , hopefully i can do some more practicing this evening on all the suggestions i have received because this has been a really good and valuable thread for me.

Cheers again Folks 🙂

[Falxy]

Hey why bother commenting on an already commented image……………………………………………………………..your original b&w is the best…..just love it man…………….still can’t understand other peeps interference…..good work 🙂

[Patrick]

Hi Duncan good to see you posting and hope your keeping well , thanks very much for the feedback mate glad you like it , In all fairness this is ST  .. I was glad for the advice that was passed on above i did ask for some help when posting because shooting photos like this is new for me 🙂

[Lenny Wollitz]

Duncan, if people want a pat on the back they don’t usually post here.  I have posted photos here that I thought were spot on only to have someone point out something useful out that I didn’t even think of.  Many of us are not complete all knowing and perfect photographers and hope to improve with new ideas.  No one forces anyone to comment on photos here.  If you don’t think a photo needs to be commented on then don’t.  It’s interesting how this group has changed over the years.  More timid now and very polite.  In the past if a photo sucked it was OK to say it’s only a snap and it sucks.

[JasenkaG]

Good points, Lenny. I like constructive criticism a lot, and it’s equally fun to give it and receive it. In the case of this self-portrait, I somewhat agree with Duncan that the original image has the most value because self-portraits are very personal and that’s how Patrick wanted to portray himself. The way I edited it is my portrayal of @patrickw, and it’s something totally different. I would actually like to see more edits of this particular image.

[Patrick]

This is Fun haha 🙂

[Author]

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