Does This Work

[drisley]

I'm normally not a big fan of mimicking old film looks with digital manipulation, but I tried a cross-process action on this image, and I think I like it better than the original. What do you think of it?

http://images2.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/032005irish/IMG_5191_2.jpg

[Mills]

Yes, I think it does. I like the enhanced color look.

[Citizensmith]

I'd have to go with a no. I like the content, but it looks like the tweaking ended up with something where it looks like the white balance was off.

[drisley]

Thanks guys. I think what I liked about the conversion was the great contrast in the hair and eyes.

I guess for best comparison sake, here is the original...

http://images2.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/032005irish/IMG_5191.jpg

I decided to try getting the same contrast as the first, but without the whacky colours... how is this?

http://images2.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/032005irish/IMG_5191_3.jpg

[Citizensmith]

I like the original best. To me uping the saturation has made her face look a bit odd, but I do like the increased saturation everywhere else.

What was she up to with that outfit on?

[drisley]

Thanks CS.
I was photographing a group of Irish Dancers, of which she was one.
I think you are right about the face. It kind of looks like it is glowing :)

[Andy_T]

DRisley,

I like the wacky one best :wink:
Reminds me of a seventies-neon lamp look.

Best regards,
Andy

[stoneylonesome]

Well you just gave me to many darn choices. :lol: there all very good, but I most say I think I prefer the second one. This was worse than trying to decide what flavor Ice cream I wanted on my cone. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[EoSD30fReAk]

defenitly like the original best;)

[tupe]

The original is my choice, but the first one would be good for St. Patty's Day!

[drisley]

Thanks guys! I guess I wan't the only one having a hard time.
In the end I'm glad you mainly liked the original best. That way I don't have to worry much about changing my workflow.
Andytayler, I agree, it does have that seventies look. Although, I was think more of a 70's kodak film camera look :)
And Tupe, I will keep that in mind for St. Patty's day. :)

[schmoelzel]

The original is my choice, but the first one would be good for St. Patty's Day!

I agree!!! Green for St. Patrick's Day works well.........nice shot by the way!!

[drisley]

Thanks schmoelzel :)

[ChristopherMartin]

I like the original because the altered one looks like she has green hair. If you used photshop you could try a diffuse glow, would make her look softer. What ever you do, great shot!

[drisley]

Thanks CM. Very nice of you.
Btw, would you classify this picture as "sharp".
I showed it to somebody who has no real camera knowledge, (he barely knows how to use his a80), and he was less than impressed with the shot. He said he didn't think the image was sharp at all.
Kind of disheartening to hear that from John Q Public. I wonder if it has something to do with people liking overly sharpened pics that come out of point and shoot cameras?

[sparker1]

I like the original best, and I think it is sharp. It's always dangerous asking John Q for an opinion (unless he is the customer...then he knows everything). I've had people say "it's blurred" when they mean the background is blurred. They don't understand I was trying for that.

[drisley]

Thanks sparker.
I think you may be right :)

[ChristopherMartin]

Thanks CM. Very nice of you.
Btw, would you classify this picture as "sharp".
I showed it to somebody who has no real camera knowledge, (he barely knows how to use his a80), and he was less than impressed with the shot. He said he didn't think the image was sharp at all.
Kind of disheartening to hear that from John Q Public. I wonder if it has something to do with people liking overly sharpened pics that come out of point and shoot cameras?

I like the picture, the girl looks very Irish. She's not the prettiest girl I have ever seen but does have a lot of inner beauty which makes her glow more then some of the pretty girls who are empty inside. She looks like she is having fun and reminds me alot of my own niece. As an Irish bloak it makes me proud to be Irish as it's great to see some Irish culture that isn't about drinking. I like those pictures but I can see how someone on the street wouldn't like it, they expect everyone to look perfect and look like they should be on the cover of a 7-11 Magazine.

The imperfection makes this picture perfect, real and likeable. But that's just my opinion.

[drisley]

Thanks for the info CM. I think she is cute as a button :)

Here is one more version of the same picture. This time I used Capture One for the Raw conversion instead of Adobe Camera Raw. I think I might like the skin tone slightly better. Talk about nitpicking eh?
I think all this has taught me to stick to the K.I.S.S. principle, and just to keep it simple.

http://images2.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/miscellaneous/IMG_5191_1.jpg

[schmoelzel]

Drisley.....the conversion done with C1 definitely has more contrast. Seems to have a green cast to it (at least on my monitor) I have jsut started using my 1D and the first thing I noticed was the 'green' cast on skin-tone definitely not nice to look at.......

I agree with you.....I think she's cute!!

[charlesu]

I like the original best. I never cared for x-processing and in fact always thought it a bit silly. I mean, film makers were busting a nut to give us the best color possible so we can go and purposely hose it?

[drisley]

Now that I've taken the time to look at them again, yes, the original is best.
Schmoelzel, I do notice a slight green tint now that you mention it. Hmmm.
I will chalk that up to me learning C1 again. I wonder if that can be corrected with a slight wb adjustment?

[PhotosGuy]

I think I like the original - nice skin tones. The green eyes in the first are a bit much. ;-)