Monk (input needed)

[jrh312]

My plan is to enter one of these 3 in an upcoming art show and I'd like some input on which one is better. I'm leaning towards the head shot myself.

All of them have been altered in some way - either desaturated, sharpened, levels changed, or some combination of the above.

Thanks!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jrh312/Statues%20and%20things/July1320060162resize.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jrh312/Statues%20and%20things/July132006007resize.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jrh312/Statues%20and%20things/July132006005resize.jpg

[Billginthekeys]

i think i like the compostion of the third the best (although it would be better if the hands were included). but is it just this old laptop im on right now or does it have a warmer color cast then the first two?

[Eoseni]

For me, the headshot has the strongest impact without question.

[beckybun]

I think I like the 2nd one better. I like the contrast between the statue and the bright flowers

[jrh312]

looks pretty even so far....but I'm glad I've got some input to work with. Bill, yeah the third one is warmer than the other two. The head shot is desaturated completely, and the second one was basically left alone (I think I may have used a stronger flash on it if I remember right). I changed the levels on the third one because it was a little dark when I first brought it off my camera.

Keep the replies coming, everyone. I'll take all the help I can get.

[Eoseni]

Does the show have a theme? That may decide it too.

I'm still for the first shot. It strikes me as simpler, more direct, meditative, with more presence...more oomph. I find the plants distracting.

[jrh312]

Does the show have a theme? That may decide it too.

I'm still for the first shot. It strikes me as simpler, more direct, meditative, with more presence...more oomph. I find the plants distracting.

No theme to the show, I've entered and sold prints of all kinds of subject matter at this show before, so anything seems to work.

One thing I never really thought of until a few minutes ago when someone replied to this thread on another forum. Does anyone think it's a problem that I'm technically taking a picture of someone else's art? This person said that the second or third ones worked better because I chose the lighting/angle, and I only shot a closeup of somebody else's work in the first one.

Thoughts?

[Athena]

This is actually the first thing I thought of. And for that reason, I prefer the second one. Although I find the green plants in the far background a wee bit distracting.

[iveco]

I really like the first one

As for photographing someone elses art, i think we all kinda do that in one way or another, of course unless its a natural object like trees and landscapes,

but bridges buildings statues etc are all someone elses work

and im sure they really wouldnt mind being the focus in this kinda way

:)

[Atomic79]

Not that it's really important. But for information only I believe your monk is a likeness of "Saint Francis of Assisi"

[Eoseni]

I'm positive it's St. Francis. He's always depicted with animals or birds.

[weka2000]

#1 does not tell me what it is. I would go for #2 and some how edit out the plants. #2 tells me its a monk.

[xiphoid]

I like #1 - but I'd say #2. I'd like to see #1 darkened a little bit, actually.

[xiphoid]

If you'd like to allow us to edit your images (go to edit profile) then I wouldn't mind playing around with them. I don't have PS here, but I can adjust a few things, and I'm curious to see how they'd look.

:)

[xiphoid]

Ok, I was bored. This is just with contrast and color, because that's all I have right now.

I just thought something a little more "harsh" would make it interesting.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c334/specimenq5/July1320060162resizedrk1.jpg


I liked a black background and a riskier crop on this one:

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c334/specimenq5/July132006007resizedrk.jpg


And this, just because it looked very sketchbook.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c334/specimenq5/July1320060162resizedrk.jpg