Apocalyptic Priest

[Metalstrm]

The grain is intentional. Harsh c&c please! I need to improve. Thanks.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/3114283629_6a6c9294e6_o.jpg

[Croasdail]

I love how his face matches the stone. Not sure there is enough though in this picture to tell a story though... it would need a caption. Not a bad thing... just a thing.

[Metalstrm]

Actually, I had done one with "A windy premonition" typed inside the frame, but I thought it was too pretentious to post it here! :o

[magnum808]

Nice shot. I agree that including a little more of the priest/building might improve the shot.

[Metalstrm]

In this case I had to crop a lot of the original photo out because there were people all around the priest. Even a boy with a small donkey (this was a village in Sicily). In fact, in the original photo there's a man walking behind the priest with a piece of luggage, who I had to clone out. If you look for the retouching it's quite visible cause it was the first time I used the healing tools!

Anyone else?

[chauncey]

I like the concept, but the exposure of the robe leaves a lot to be desired.
You're using CS4, see if you can bring back some more of the robe details as it appears as if you've already make a selection of the priest.

[BrandonSi]

I'd like to see a high contrast b/w of this.. I think it might convey the mood you're going for better. Just a thought :)

[Metalstrm]

Brandon, I tried b&w but I was not satisfied with the results... I'd like to see how you would do it.

Here I tried some burning on the robes. I think I like the result better too. Thanks Chauncey.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/3115226307_913ebaee05_o.jpg

[Benji]

The lighting is not good at all. Look at the dark shadows in his eye sockets and under his nose/around his mouth. Skylight will give you this lighting and it is never pleasing. A flash can be used to remove those shadows.

A couple of other things that are somewhat beyond your control: His robe is being blown by the wind. I have noticed that the wind will blow for a few moments, then die down for a short amount of time, then pick back up again. When I must shoot in windy conditions I always time my captures at the instant when the wind is blowing the least. This last one was totally beyond your control, but it is there. He is "giving us the finger" with his left hand.

Benji

[chauncey]

Much better now.

It's not very popular but I'm a fan of spot or center weighted metering to zero in on what I want properly exposed and let the rest go until PP.
It won't work all the time, especially when you have a wide dynamic range, but I like the technique.

[MattMoore]

The flyer with purple picture kinda kills all hope for "apocalyptic" anything...that and the priest looks too nice (and is that a picture of wheat on his chestpatch?)

It would have been better for some eye contact as well (not your fault).

When I see purple, I think of Prince on a motorcycle (PURPLE RAIN! PURPLE RAIN!). But all the other moody colors are nice though.

Its one of those colors that kinda kills most serious moods (like playing rap music when your in a haunted house....kinda takes the scary out of it).

[BrandonSi]

Yeah, I think I see what you're saying, not sure I'm happy with it either. It looked better in my head :)

[Metalstrm]

Matthew, I see what you mean perfectly! And yes, it is a picture of wheat apparently.

Brandon, yes, I thought it looked flat in b&w too.