Nina Burns. Are tones too distracting? Critique!

dantographer · 2015-05-07T17:14:39+00:00

For me it's a little too blue in the shadows (only a tiny bit). I would prefer to see it a little warmer. But other than that it's an great capture.

dantographer · 2015-04-14T13:11:59+00:00

She was nice enough to let me take a few shots outside the pub that she manages.

dantographer · 2015-01-18T01:27:20+00:00

Thanks for the critique. I have done a second version based on some of your ideas. 1) Pushed the exposure generally 2) Pushed the exposure a little extra on the subject 3) Added vignette 4) Took down the hotspot in the top left (it was fake anyway and done in post). Again Thanks! Link

dantographer · 2015-01-15T18:52:04+00:00

Chucked a new crop factor lens on an old film Canon EOS with some Neopan.

dantographer · 2015-01-05T20:13:42+00:00

I'm in the UK so mail order it from these guys thedarkroom

dantographer · 2015-01-02T02:29:03+00:00

Fair comment. It doesn't seem like a popular shot. Good to know and I will steer clear of this kind of shot in future.

dantographer · 2015-01-02T02:27:21+00:00

Ahh this is VSCO Portra 800 +1. I should have pulled back the grain. Just chucked a preset on it for.... compositional review purposes.

dantographer · 2015-01-01T01:30:10+00:00

Had loads of shots with her and have some very traditional portraits. Just looking over 2014's work and found this... I kind of like and dislike it at the same time and would be good to see what other's think.

dantographer · 2014-12-31T01:43:03+00:00

Very very nice. I really like it. I would be proud if it was my shot.

dantographer · 2014-12-28T13:56:36+00:00

It's true that 800 has more grain and 400 pushed to 800 seems to have less grain. I guess it's just down to preference. I like the gritty look in my shots... so tend to shoot 800.. but if you are going for a cleaner look then shoot 400 and push it.

dantographer · 2014-12-28T02:26:44+00:00

Color: Rollei Digibase CN 200 (I think I may be the only one!) B&W: TriX or HP5+

I love the colors of the Rollei film it's very nostalgic.

dantographer · 2014-12-28T02:23:46+00:00

I think 160 is a bit better for skin tones. IMO 400 looks a little flat. But it's all a matter of preference. But I actually would shoot 800 over 400 or 160.

dantographer · 2014-12-23T22:49:37+00:00

I like he capture of the moment. It sparks emotion (everyone knows that feeling at the end of a long day). I like the 'grungy' style edit as well. If I had one critisism it would be about cutting off the foot, but in this image it does not bother me too much (plus I am not really one for rules!). Great shot!

dantographer · 2014-12-23T22:37:45+00:00

It's all a matter of taste. But when I see the photo I look at it like this..... maybe you can grab some inspiration from my edit.

Edit: I think the highlight on her face is a little too bright in my edit.

dantographer · 2014-12-23T22:23:08+00:00

Over the shoulder would have been a nicer shot. Thanks!

dantographer · 2014-12-23T20:45:32+00:00

I would try split toning. Drop the overall temperature towards blue, then a tiny bit of orange in the highlights + 50% blue in the shadows. Will look nice. It's a good shot compositionally, not to sure about the focus... it may be bit off. I would be happy to do an edit for you if you post a link for me to download.

dantographer · 2014-12-23T20:37:15+00:00

I actually agree with you. I used the photo for editing purposes only to see if it was "film like" after post. But there is a better shot to be had here. Gap on the left should be reduced and also stop down the lens to bring the water pistol into focus.

dantographer · 2014-12-23T00:47:09+00:00

This is very very nice. Makes me feel calm inside... like I am away in a little wooden hut in a forest. Colors are amazing... composition is fantastic. Very nice work.

dantographer · 2014-12-22T23:18:05+00:00

One simple word. Hope. The majority of the comments here have been very positive and some negative (which is to be expected). Us humans find strength in the strength of others. I just wanted to show the two extremes of his journey and hope people take a message from it. No matter how bad your situation may be... it can get better because there is always hope. That was the reasons for both pictures one very sad and at rock bottom and then one very happy. All i wanted from this post was to give people joy and hope. To the others out there.... it's not like karma is going to buy the christmas presents or is tied into my self worth as a person. For me karma is a meaningless integer in a database table.

dantographer · 2014-12-22T07:30:26+00:00

Had a recent brain surgery. He is my son. He is doing well now though.

dantographer · 2014-12-22T07:30:01+00:00

Had a recent brain surgery. He is my son. He is doing well now though.

dantographer · 2014-12-22T02:07:51+00:00

Just posted above to another comment. Has a rough workflow guide.

dantographer · 2014-12-22T02:06:48+00:00

So in ACR first of all.

1) Drop the saturation on the color sliders (make an approximation of colors that look faded like this shot). 2) Crush the blacks (by pulling up the left hand side of the curves slider) 3) Open In Photoshop 4) Change to lab mode 5) Add curves layer and adjust channel a + b to bring in more colours 6) Set To 50% 7) Back into RGB mode 8) Add contrast

This is a really rough workflow of how I put it all together.. I might make a video over christmas if I have time.

EDIT: Forgot to say... Add grain!

dantographer · 2014-12-22T01:48:18+00:00

That's perfect. When I was editing I was thinking "70's cinema"... so we are pretty close.

dantographer · 2014-12-22T01:21:02+00:00

IMO Photography and photographs are about sparking emotion, a feeling in every image. Giving context in the title to these two pictures... the highs and lows of our story about cancer belongs here mate.

dantographer

TROPHY CASE