Hey all. Is this one any good?

[chomish]

Just a picture i took of some guy which i liked. what do u guys think?

[Bobinpeterboro]

The answer is "If you like it it's a good picture" Photography is all about what YOU like because you sure can't please everbody. For my personal taste I think it would benefit from a little fill flash to lighten the shadows and give him catchlights. I also feel that it is far too contrasty for my taste and maybe I would have moved him into some shade.

[Undispu7ed]

You forgot to mention you used a lot of PP :-p

Not "just a picture"

[pickupman92]

very nicely done.

[JimMcrae]

I like it. The detail, his expression and a lot of character in that face. I'd prefer to see the shadowed part of his face a bit brighter, but still a good shot in my opinion.

[beeng]

I think that with this much contrast it would look best in BnW. The point about fill light on the face is also valid... I did both below :P
http://imgur.com/xS0cI.jpg

[Speedie]

Great capture, very striking. I agree with beeng it's better in B&W because the surrounding colours distract from the face. I would maybe clone out the bright spot to the left as well.

[gonzogolf]

Too much sharpening. There is plenty of detail in the shot without making it so hard. Its overdone to the point where you see the technique before you appreciate the image.

[beeng]

Too much sharpening. There is plenty of detail in the shot without making it so hard. Its overdone to the point where you see the technique before you appreciate the image.
Only photographers will notice 'technique' ;)
(but yes, there is too much sharpening for a colour photo... it seems to work in B&W though)

I would maybe clone out the bright spot to the left as well.
I'm a firm believer in doing as little PP as possible to keep the original image intact. It's a slippery slope as soon as you start cloning, moving, and removing things from the photo :confused:

[OdiN1701]

Yeah way oversharpened.

[gonzogolf]

Only photographers will notice 'technique' ;)
(but yes, there is too much sharpening for a colour photo... it seems to work in B&W though)

Non photographers will still know something was done to the image and that its harsh.

[beeng]

Non photographers will still know something was done to the image and that its harsh.
not necessarily... even from a technical standpoint one may think it was taken with a medium format or something that can render out that much resolution/sharpness. I think the sharpness is accentuated by the high contrast. Very white whiskers against very dark skin makes it seem sharper than it is.
Besides, who are we to say this harsh post processing was an effort by the photographer to make a representation of the subject's harsh life/situation? When I first looked at it I figured he was some bloke living on the streets. :p

[e02937]

+1 to oversharpened IMHO and +1 to fill flash. Nice bokeh though and certainly a good subject.

[KholdStare]

Yeah way oversharpened.

Looks like his face is made of stone or something :lol: I'd tone it down a little

[Speedie]

I'm a firm believer in doing as little PP as possible to keep the original image intact. It's a slippery slope as soon as you start cloning, moving, and removing things from the photo :confused:
Agree in principle but I think there are exceptions where an artifact interferes too much with the subject of the shot. I think this qualifies, my eyes just keep moving over to that dot! Maybe it's just me.

[gonzogolf]

not necessarily... even from a technical standpoint one may think it was taken with a medium format or something that can render out that much resolution/sharpness. I think the sharpness is accentuated by the high contrast. Very white whiskers against very dark skin makes it seem sharper than it is.
Besides, who are we to say this harsh post processing was an effort by the photographer to make a representation of the subject's harsh life/situation? When I first looked at it I figured he was some bloke living on the streets. :p

I'm not saying that wasnt his statement. Perhaps it was. But he asked for critique and mine is that the sharpening is detracting from the image. I think that the attempt to harden the photo ends up reaching the point of obvious manipulation. Fine if you are going for photo illustration but doesnt work here.

[Flo]

Love the closeness, but I feel it is this side of razor sharp, which doesn't do his features any favors. Great capture though.

[beeng]

the sharpening is detracting from the image.
Indeed... but non-photographers will not like the photo because it is too harsh, not because "it was manipulated" or some-such.

[gonzogolf]

Indeed... but non-photographers will not like the photo because it is too harsh, not because "it was manipulated" or some-such.


A distinction without a difference perhaps.

[beeng]

A distinction without a difference perhaps.
Heh, yes, the outcome is still the same I suppose. Cause & effect... the sharpness was edited to an extreme making the viewer not like it :P

Potayto, poetahtoe...

[chomish]

Thank u all for all your help and opinions.

This is the original, which in my opinion was shot in harsh ligh, and hard to work with.

Ill give another try in the future with a better shot image.

Thanx again, Al.

[gonzogolf]

Chomish, perhaps you could go counter intuitive on this and try to lower the contrast a little. I know your first instinct was hard-light hard-process. But I'm thinking if you cut the contrast a little and bring the shadowed eye up a little you can still do something with this, perhaps lowering the saturation a little to give it a bleached look.

[Annie Social]

Am I the only one bothered by the fact that you can only refer to the subject as "some guy"? Did you even find out his name?

[beeng]

Am I the only one bothered by the fact that you can only refer to the subject as "some guy"?
Yes. :p I don't go around asking everyone's name that I shoot... unless I want more than one snap haha

[Speedie]

Am I the only one bothered by the fact that you can only refer to the subject as "some guy"? Did you even find out his name?
I don't think anyone is being disrespectful - none of us know who the man is, so how should we refer to him?

[chomish]

Am I the only one bothered by the fact that you can only refer to the subject as "some guy"? Did you even find out his name?
LOL.. Most of the photography i like to shoot is candid, and of people. Im not really sure where your from, but over here in NYC, I like to Shoot and keep it moving. I also find that some people get bothered by seeing me shoot them so most of my shots are from the sidelines, and as discreet as possible.

Im sorry, but i think your incorrect in your thinking.

[Undispu7ed]

Am I the only one bothered by the fact that you can only refer to the subject as "some guy"? Did you even find out his name?

Uh yes, you are the only one. Must have never shot a candid before huh?

[JimMcrae]

Well, maybe my taste sucks but I still like it, over-sharpened or not. :) I think it's an interesting face - I suppose we all read different things into a 'stranger's' face - and can understand where Annie's coming from.

[robertn]

Let me say it like this, if photos came rolling out of my camera like this one, i'd send it back for repair..

[chomish]

Well, maybe my taste sucks but I still like it, over-sharpened or not. :) I think it's an interesting face - I suppose we all read different things into a 'stranger's' face - and can understand where Annie's coming from.


Well, thanks alot Jim.

Thank u all ffor taking the time to point out what u liked and disliked in the image.

[Mike R]

++1 on the over sharpening. You might also want to adjust the luminance to lessen the shine on the face

[Deeners]

This might be a stupid question, but what is an artifact?