Dress Rehearsal with Limited Light

[bucweeet]

Just wondering what your thoughts are.

Exposure: 1/250 @f2.8

Focal Length: 160mm

ISO: 8,000

Lighting: Halogen work lights and projection on cement wall

[JasenkaG]

What an unusual portrait! The colors and lighting work well, but I think that this crop is a bit too extreme. I wouldn’t put the model at the very edge of the frame and crop off her shoulder.

[Dahlia Ambrose]

Hi Paul,

Lovely choice of colours and lighting. I think the background could be a bit more dark and I agree with Jasenka’s comment about cropping off the model 🙂

[bucweeet]

Thank you Jasenka and Dahlia!

Here’s the original image with ‘basic adjustments’ made (LR only with no crop).  I was experimenting with crops when I came across the one I posted.  The crop was a concious decision as I found, at least for my eyes, there was more tension between the performer and the projected image.  The combination of the lighting on half of her with her wearing the red dress made my eyes study the two more.

But with that said, I do like both versions… and I was just wondering what others thought about the first image which does not follow the conventional guidelines of subject placement.

[JasenkaG]

I’d say that the crop in the original version is really good. It creates palpable tension but it doesn’t throw the image completely out of balance.

[JasenkaG]

Here’s my suggestion on how to edit this:

[Dahlia Ambrose]

I like this edit too 🙂

[bucweeet]

That looks really good Jasenka. Thank you!

[JasenkaG]

You’re welcome 🙂

[Erik Fransman]

I would go for a closer crop and some lighting adjustments. Added a light texture in the face of the figure in the FG to have them match a bit more.

[bucweeet]

That definitely draws the viewers to the faces.  Thanx Erik!

[Dahlia Ambrose]

I like this square crop, but would like more space on the left 🙂

[Lenny Wollitz]

Hi Paul, my preference is the first one.  It tells a story in and unconventional way even though I’m not sure what the story is so I find myself looking again and again.  Following the same ol’ composition rules can become a bit tedious at times.  Nice job!

[bucweeet]

Thank you Lenny.

[Falxy]

Buccy i love your vision and like/litchen Jasenka’s rerouting!! 🙂

 

[JasenkaG]

Long time no see, Falxy! Hope you’re doing well.

[bucweeet]

Always great to ready your thoughts Duncan. Thank your!

[Graham Hart]

An interesting image Paul which I wasn’t sure about initially. Something about it appealed to me but at the same time something didn’t feel right. I felt a bit too…I dunno…loud? Erik’s edit nailed it for me though. I really like it because it pulls the focus onto the two faces without the distraction of body language and bright colour. The addition of texture to the woman ties it all together also. We are left contemplating the two expressions which now seem more more intimately linked. I think the composition is spot on in this edit too. I knew there was a reason I liked it 🙂

 

[bucweeet]

Thank you Graham.

[Mistyisle]

I like Jasenka’s crop best Paul. The juxtaposition between the two is just right,without the distraction of her legs. However I would tidy up the bar across the top, which is quite easy if you are used to using the clone tool. Also, you need to clone out, or at least dampen down the white shawl, or whatever it is, on our far left.

[JasenkaG]

Good points! I didn’t remove the shawl and bars because I kinda like imperfections, but if we would want to make it impeccable, I’d go for it.

[bucweeet]

Thank you Jim.

The bars are the top of the roof top where the performance was to be held.  The green is a projection on a cement wall.  But you’re right, it would be an easy clone.

The white, if memory serves me correctly, is a wedding veil as I believe the projected images shows friends at her staggette.  She is married in the 2nd half of the performance of Svadba and Blue Beard’s Castle when things don’t turn out quite as expected.

Probably the hardest part of removing that would be providing a believable hand so I think subduing the brilliance would be the way I would go.

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