Posed with F-16

[sry407]

Hey all! Here's a shot for an upcoming awards ceremony for one of the nominees at our Air Base. I was looking for some C&C on the photo and PP. I was going for the "scratchy" feel on purpose since the awards are geared towards the mechanics themselves.

Thanks all!

[LostShootingStar]

nice shot, i like the vintage look. http://m08o1124znfu179.imageshacknow.info/img/2465/o09a0208gstn/POTNsmile.gif

[FlyingPhotog]

Love everything about it except the diagonal slash vignette.

I'd try a slight (really slight) darkened oval around the ground crewman. Almost as if there was a very low power spotlight on him letting the rest of the image be a hair darker. I'd also grab the upper right-hand corner and crop the right and top edges down toward the middle some more. That's a very large chunk of dead sky in the upper right and my eye keeps getting drawn there.

Great concept. I agree completely with the intent of the feel from processing.

SW = Shaw AFB? Thanks for your service!!

[jgrussell]

+1 on liking everything except the vignette. It just doesn't look like it belongs.

[banpreso]

it's got a very "russian" look to it, lol
maybe it's just me...

[mlerrigo]

really cool pp, but i think that i would take out the cones next to the guy and also maybe see if adding some dramatic looking clouds would give another edge to the picture.

[JeffreyG]

It never occurred to me that people would drive a plane up on a ramp like a car to change the oil.

[AginKajun]

[quote=FlyingPhotog;7361759]Love everything about it except the diagonal slash vignette.

Bet that vignette is the hood on the lens cockeyed. I had a couple of these on my wide angle when the hood wasn't in the right position.

[FlyingPhotog]

Bet that vignette is the hood on the lens cockeyed. I had a couple of these on my wide angle when the hood wasn't in the right position.

You know, you just may be right. I hadn't considered that fact. Good thinking...

[Bill Boehme]

Love everything about it except the diagonal slash vignette.

I'd try a slight (really slight) darkened oval around the ground crewman. Almost as if there was a very low power spotlight on him letting the rest of the image be a hair darker. I'd also grab the upper right-hand corner and crop the right and top edges down toward the middle some more. That's a very large chunk of dead sky in the upper right and my eye keeps getting drawn there.

Great concept. I agree completely with the intent of the feel from processing.

SW = Shaw AFB? Thanks for your service!!

I agree about the PP and if the "vignetting" is photoshopped, then I would remove it -- if it is from the hood, then try to crop most of it away and disguise any residual with some slight Photoshop vignetting to make it symmetrical.

Concerning the "cones" comment in another post, they are part of the GSE safety equipment -- and since this image is maintenance related, taking the cones out of the picture would be a faux pas.

It never occurred to me that people would drive a plane up on a ramp like a car to change the oil.

:lol: :lol: :lol: Good one! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[the phelp]

I think this is a great photo. I love the vignette (intentional or not) - for some reason that and the vertical graininess remind me of WWII gun camera footage. My only change would be to add just a bit of saturation to the crewman (and maybe the cones...+1 on keeping them in, btw) because my eyes keep shifting between the cockpit and the crewman - I think that adding a little emphasis on him by saturating his suit (or using the PP FlyingPhotog suggests) would balance the photo to the crewman a little more. Still, great photo in my mind.

I think maybe the "oil change ramp" (ha ha - the cockpit ladder) can go, but definitely keep the rest - these look like the tools of the trade!

[sry407]

Thanks for all of the input, greatly appreciated!

As for the vignette, it is Photoshopped, not the lens (never thought of that as a problem though. Good to know for future references).

I also think bringing a tad bit more saturation to the maintainer could help bring him into the shot more, thanks for the tip.

Again, thanks for all of the solid feedback. I'll give it a few tweaks and think it'll be a keeper from there.

FlyingPhotog,
Good catch. This is a Shaw jet, but I'm in Aviano, Italy. The jet was transfered to us, but the tail hasn't been updated yet.

[SwingBopper]

Nice feel to the shot; but I'd be tempted to clone out that curved structure in the BG from mid cockpit back to the tail. It almost looks like part of the plane.

[Bill Boehme]

Nice feel to the shot; but I'd be tempted to clone out that curved structure in the BG from mid cockpit back to the tail. It almost looks like part of the plane.

The "curved structure" appears to be a blast deflector (or possibly a hanger door). That would make it a visual cue to define the maintenance theme of the image.

[SwingBopper]

The "curved structure" appears to be a blast deflector (or possibly a hanger door). That would make it a visual cue to define the maintenance theme of the image.

OK; but I still think the image is too busy with it in. Here's an edit.

[pantherphotos]

I would agree with others above. I don't personally like the vignette (just my $0.02). I would also crop out the sky a bit or tone down the highlights. It seems to wash out the top part of the jet.

IF you're going for a maintenance feel, use a jet with the engine rolled out, drop down some the maintenance access doors, and hook up a -60. Just kidding :D

Its a great shot and I love the 'scratchy' feel it. As a former F-16 crew chief, I appreciate everything y'all do!

[reconstyle]

very cool!