Marilyn Monroe...almost

[Philco]

I was aboard a large yacht recently for a swanky corporate event and there was a woman there who just looked fantastic as Marilyn Monroe. She posed for one shot, but I snapped a few more when she wasn't paying attention to me. I think they look quite nice in BW, so I just wanted to share. CC Welcome.

#1 Posed
http://www.defalcophoto.com/griffiths/HB121206%20(47).jpg

#2 Candid
http://www.defalcophoto.com/griffiths/HB121206%20(50).jpg

#3 Candid
http://www.defalcophoto.com/griffiths/HB121206%20(54).jpg

[NickSimcheck]

#2 has a certain quality about it...

[coreypolis]

number 1, number 1. I would clone out or burn in the lights in the background.

[Philco]

This is the RAW conversion for #1. I left the lights thinking a completely black abyss might be too much. Are you suggesting a total burn in or just partial?

http://www.defalcophoto.com/griffiths/HB121206%20(46).jpg

[ABrownPhoto]

Wow #2 is a nice capture, if only the make-up ting wasn't covering her face.... but nicely done!!

all shots are SWEET! and i like the RAW edit above my post :)

[hijinks]

They are all good shots and I kinda like the color ones.

[henry_b]

great shots, #2 is my favorite, great conversions also

[stiksandstones]

#1, clone lights as someone said, leave BW....awesome

[PEACHMAN]

No cloning out the lights for me! Gives it the location of the shoot..on a boat and out to sea...it is not bright enough to distract me...well done in #1, and the candids are good as well.. B&W sure helps with the period look as well..

[jtmorales]

Nice shots. What did you use for lighting, was it a single flash? I like the BW but it's kind of a shame to have that beautiful red not be shown.

[Scott_Quier]

Love all three of the shots. The B&W conversion is very good. My comments:

I agree about keeping the lights.
On #1, I would crop/remove that think on the left edge, find it very distracting.
On #2 and #3, straighten the horizon, your shots are listing a bit to port.

[hawk911]

Could you colorize the dress and lips? I don't know how to do that yet, otherwise I'd post my version.

[Philco]

Thanks for all the comments.
-For this I was using a 30D w/ a 16-35L and a 580ex. This boat is about 300ft long, so I was going wide angle a lot since my job was to show the whole party and the set up. All of the ceilings on this boat are gold mirror (ick!) except right around the perimeter where there is some white overhang - which the only place where I could really bounce like I did here.
-The lights curve along the edge of San Diego bay,so they're not straight across in reality like a coastline might be. I'm thinking Canon needs to create an internal level that can give you exif data on what angle your camera is for each frame.
-The BW coversion is basically a gradient map layer with a levels layer underneath, pluse some added vignetting on the edges - super easy, but contrasty like some BW films.
-Selective color kinda drives my bonkers so I tend to avoid it. It reminds me of 1980's poster art, though some customers do really like it.

Cheers

[hawk911]

Could you layer then, and leave the dress and lips alone, and B&W the rest of the picture? I love the red of her dress and lips, and it's a share to lose it.

Of course, the B&W does fit the Monroe Era, doesn't it?

[carbonXevo8]

#3 is my favorite.....Its as if shes on the ship waiting for her love to join her. great work!

[Halliday]

It's too bad the background is not more interesting. I think I'd crop them a bit, but otherwise they are great.

[steveathome]

What a gorgeous Lady

[Benji]

WOW, she REALLY does look like Marilyn and you have done an excellent job of matching the lighting to what she would have had available to her in 1960 on location. I'm impressed!

Benji

[Philco]

Yeah, she looks great and she was a pleasure to meet. My job was to show the boat in context, since the charter company hired me, but had I been thinking beyond that, I would've gotten in closer as I agree with the need to crop a bit. These are just grip-n-grin shots, but what made them stand out to me is the model herself.

Oh, and the thing about a level in-camera was a joke. heh. : )