So Bad Maybe It's Good Again?

This shot has blown highlights, WB a little on the cool side and a tree branch growing out of Rocio's head, but I like her profile and the light. Damien Lovegrove, a great portrait photographer, has a saying that sometimes shots are so bad, they become good again. C&C welcome.

skidzam wrote in post #18601831
This shot has blown highlights, WB a little on the cool side and a tree branch growing out of Rocio's head, but I like her profile and the light. Damien Lovegrove, a great portrait photographer, has a saying that sometimes shots are so bad, they become good again. C&C welcome.

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Personally the tree branch doesn't come across as growing out of her head. If it were shot with a smaller aperture and had more depth of field, then it would be an issue. As for the white balance, yes, it is cool, but it fits the overall image and sets the mood of the image. The entire image works, even with the blown out highlights, it might be worse without them. I like the image. Nice work, on your part, and the model.

Overall I like the shot, though the neck area from the chin to shoulder looks odds. Perhaps it's the lighting with the shadow playing tricks but it stands out to me anyway.

PHughes wrote in post #18601948
Personally the tree branch doesn't come across as growing out of her head. If it were shot with a smaller aperture and had more depth of field, then it would be an issue. As for the white balance, yes, it is cool, but it fits the overall image and sets the mood of the image. The entire image works, even with the blown out highlights, it might be worse without them. I like the image. Nice work, on your part, and the model.

Thanks PHughs. I was able to tame the highlights a bit in LR and I shot this wide open, the BG is somewhat blurred.

Thorrulz wrote in post #18601950
Overall I like the shot, though the neck area from the chin to shoulder looks odds. Perhaps it's the lighting with the shadow playing tricks but it stands out to me anyway.

Thanks for taking the time to comment. I can understand your comment about the odd light. Maybe if the light was dappled in that area, the shot would seem less odd?

The tones and WB are an easy fix in post.

Osa713 wrote in post #18602188
The tones and WB are an easy fix in post.

Yes Osa713, I know both of these issues can be fixed, but I don't really want to. I guess that was the reason for my original post, even though you break the "rules" of photography, if you like the end result, it's ok.

I love the shot as is (agree some what with the highlights) ... but what do I know!

skidzam wrote in post #18602253
Yes Osa713, I know both of these issues can be fixed, but I don't really want to. I guess that was the reason for my original post, even though you break the "rules" of photography, if you like the end result, it's ok.

Agreed, my apologies if my post suggested that you "fix" it, I like the image the way it is too.

@monty28428 Thanks for commenting. I would've lower the highlights more, but the BG started looking very weird.

@osa713 No need to apologize. I value your input, so thank you.

skidzam wrote in post #18602422
@monty28428 Thanks for commenting. I would've lower the highlights more, but the BG started looking very weird.

Yes, often trying to "fix" blown highlights like these do more to degrade the image, rather than enhance it. Burning doesn't work well either. In my opinion, and that's just opinion, in this case it goes well with the rest of the image in conveying the mood. In other words, it is what it is.

A quick and easy fix for blown highlights is creating a curves layer with a mask. You can paint in the areas you want light.

Osa713 wrote in post #18602469
A quick and easy fix for blown highlights is creating a curves layer with a mask. You can paint in the areas you want light.

I'll give it a shot in PS. Thanks.