The Big Reveal

[cerveza4lu]

I was attempting to reveal the subject being sketched through the artist's work, however, I don't feel that my picture accomplishes that. I've tried various crops to no avail.

I finally settled on this cropping with slight adjustments to levels and saturation in PS.

Any reccomendations or comments are more than welcome. TIA.

[Big John]

Although this does not give you any help this time, perhaps try a different angle? Taken from a lower angle and positioning the drawn face where the real face would normally be might have done the trick. As it is now, the hand-drawn eyes cut across the model's neck, and the whole face is obscured by the white paper. Maybe this is causing the problem?

[cerveza4lu]

Thanx John, Something was bothering me about this pic but I couldn't "see" the problem. I think next time I'll also try to fill the frame with more of the two subjects. When I shot it all I had was my 50/1.8 and I didn't want to physically get too close to the artist so as not to interrupt the drawing.

Any other critiques/comments? All are welcome, even the mean ones ;)

[miklav]

I think lighting conditions were quite bad - they were not only contrasty, but with many light/shadow spots -- filling flash would probably help. Also, shooting with wide open aperture from a closer distance would give it a better feeling of depth. From a composition stand point - I don't think it will work well with both human faces invisible. Indeed that is only IMHO.

[emurph2]

I don't want to make this a mean comment, but since you asked for cc I'm more than happy to give mine.....for what it's worth.

The background is very uninteresting to me. I really don't like the artist much either. He's got a distracting logo on his shirt, I don't like the purse (or whatever it is) and I don't like his white socks. The dappled light isn't the best but I think a closer view showing more of the art and the artists hand would be very interesting and I like your idea of showing a bit of the model and making this an "unmasking the art or model" photograph. I really like the idea you have going and think a few changes would make this a very good photo. The 50 mm lens would not have been my choice for this either, try a zoom lens.

[4nR]

try taking the shot from up close (if its possible). i agree, the background does seem bland. if you fill your shot with just your two subjects, it could help.

[cerveza4lu]

Thanx for all the critiques, even the "mean ones" ;) Sometimes all you really want to find out is what you did wrong. The next time I'm over in New Orleans I'm going to bring a better walkabout lens than the 50/1.8.

Miklav, you were definitely right about the lighting. It was getting pretty late in the afternoon when I stumbled on them and the idea of the old Norman Rockwell painting himself picture popped in my head.

Emurph, couldn't agree with you more about the distracting clothes on the artist. BTW, I didn't think your comments were mean at all.

This turned out to be more of a test shot for me. When I saw it on my pc I knew it wasn't good, but I also knew that this would be the place to find out what to do better next time. I still like the idea behind the shot, it's just a matter of making that idea in my head flow through my hands and into the camera.

[Streetshooter]

Quick comment about the position of the face and the head...it actually works the way it is...it creates visual tension. The eye pulls from the forehead to the face and the tension is not released. I'm not commenting on any other part of the image but I think the placement of the drawing is good....seems that everyone is having the feeling that something is wrong with it...that's the point of visual tension.

The eye travels from the forehead to the drawing, thru the arm of the artist up to his head and back....I like it...don

[jfrancho]

I like it too. As for trying somthing different, perhaps getting the artists hands and the sketchpad in focus, and using a wide aperture, have the models face beyond the DOF, but in the frame. That may be easier said than done, but would be my interpretation of your goal, as originally posted. You could even set this up pretty easy in a controlled situation (studio-like) where lighting and props are more simplistic.