Which do you like better?

[Lefty Ray]

Here are 2 mockups for a "Live" CD project I shot last wek. I did not do the design/graphics just the photos. Please overlook the low res on the image and the chainsaw cutout, these are just mockups. Once the client decides on the direction, the high res versions are used. Once the final product gets finished, I will show you which one won.

[DwightMcCann]

Well, I love the bar across the bottom of the second image ... how'd you do that? Anyway, I prefer the first image overall.

In the last month or so I shot Los Temerarios and Los Tucanes de Tijuana and will shortly shoot Alejandra Guzman ... heck, I might just as well be out there shooting with you given all the accordions! And one of my two favorite Latins is coming in the Fall for the third time, Marcos Antonio Solis. Wish I spoke Spanish ... even ten words would help.

[LSUConnMan]

I'd choose the second one.

The first one seems to be the one that seemlessly merges into a single coherent presentation.

However, I like the color scheme and graphics of the second one much better...but dislike the disjointed nature. The white circle (especially since he's wearing a white shirt), the bar across the bottom, and the gaussian blur/ps art filter applied to the left side of the hand turns me off. I'm no graphic designer, so I'm assuming the high res version doesn't make it look like it's 3 pictures connected into one. If not, couple of simple gradient adjustments could blend the three together.

...But, as the previous poster proves, what stimulates one person's attention, repulses another's.

[Jim G]

The first one looks much better to me... in the second one he's looking out of frame rather than across it which bugs me.

[Lefty Ray]

I did not do the graphic design. These were all done with the new 5D MkII.

Iso 400, 5.6, 1/200, 190mm.

No pp but I did black out the voice microphone. What really helped were the black curtains lining the back of the stage. No cutout was needed even it looks like he was cutout. This was shot at the Conjunto Festival at Rosedale Park a few weekends ago. No barrier, no pit, so I was among the riff raff for a 45 minute set as you can see in the wide shot.

The wide shot was shot at 1600 ISO

[René Damkot]

First set of images looks like a *way* too small image was used: Loads of artefacts.
Pity. First would have been okay otherwise...

[Lefty Ray]

Like I said these are "MOCK UPS." These are not the final product.

In the process of constructing a CD cover. I will genereate a pile of LOW RES versions of the top shots. The graphic designer uses these to construct several concepts together. Once the client agrees on a prticular design, I supply the selected photos in the HIGH RES version which the graphic designed uses for the final product. Like I mentioned before that is why it looks like it was chainsawed from its background. You do not want to put too much effort in the mockups, only in the finished design. Plus you do not want to spend all night uploading HIGH RES versions. It is faster to upload the LOW RES versions for review.

[René Damkot]

Oops. Missed that bit ;)

In that case: First should come out nice :)