Musician photo shoot... lots of work and time...

We finally got everything done for the composite I've been talking about that we shot in Gary, Indiana. This image is a composite made from five HDR shots. The guy is actually up on the cross, and those are red fluorescent lights and that cross is just over ten feet tall. Below is the final shot, and some photos from throughout the shoot... my biggest gripe is that I should have hit him with a flash to get him to stand out a bit, but he claims to prefer this. I'll let you check out the shot - let me know what your thoughts are.... (click on the main photo for a lot more info on what went into the shoot...)(keep also in mind that I know that this is not a typical subject, but it's what the client ordered up- the day of the shoot started at 5:30 am and ended at 2 am and there were a combined 20-30 hours of processing - much learned and and taken away for future shoots)

Thank you for any comments/critique...(t​his is a re-uploaded photo - I brought the subject up a little... )

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …gicusaeturnus/7​627268532/

Take this with a grain of salt as I am not a professional. I just do this for a hobby.
I feel like your subject is too lost in the background of this photo. At first glance I didnt even see the person there let alone the cross and I didnt see a cross until I scrolled down to see the 4th photo you posted. I think maybe using a flash or strobes would have helped here a great deal to seperate him from the church a little bit.

You want C&C after satisfying the client...okay. The flash would have been a good idea and...perhaps cloning away the cross to have him levitate. Or perhaps rs-shoot...

mrbubbles wrote in post #14755692
I feel like your subject is too lost in the background of this photo. At first glance I didnt even see the person there let alone the cross and I didnt see a cross until I scrolled down to see the 4th photo you posted. I think maybe using a flash or strobes would have helped here a great deal to seperate him from the church a little bit.

I agree, but then again the client is happy

I see you added a volcanic eruption in the window opening, but it's almost lost. It was the third look at the post that I noticed it. The lower cloud portions seem a bit blown

Location is great I would love to shoot there

mrbubbles wrote in post #14755692
Take this with a grain of salt as I am not a professional. I just do this for a hobby.
I feel like your subject is too lost in the background of this photo. At first glance I didnt even see the person there let alone the cross and I didnt see a cross until I scrolled down to see the 4th photo you posted. I think maybe using a flash or strobes would have helped here a great deal to seperate him from the church a little bit.

Thanks and you are correct - I really wish I'd gotten shots with flash - though the client wanted hdr, and I'm not sure how bracketing and such would be agreeable with having used the flash. Still working it out a bit... thanks again!

chauncey wrote in post #14755753
You want C&C after satisfying the client...okay. The flash would have been a good idea and...perhaps cloning away the cross to have him levitate. Or perhaps rs-shoot...

absolutely - I want really some input on it for my own benefit or the benefit of future shoots... and re-shooting is not out of the question... thanks!

pelooyen wrote in post #14755789
I agree, but then again the client is happy

I see you added a volcanic eruption in the window opening, but it's almost lost. It was the third look at the post that I noticed it. The lower cloud portions seem a bit blown

Location is great I would love to shoot there

thanks, I'll be working on reeling in the cloud and trying to get a little better seperation of the cross and background - thanks for the input!

First of all cool location! but like mrbubbles said the subject is too blended in with the background, perhaps a flash behind him would help to separate him with the background

mrbubbles wrote in post #14755692
Take this with a grain of salt as I am not a professional. I just do this for a hobby.
I feel like your subject is too lost in the background of this photo. At first glance I didnt even see the person there let alone the cross and I didnt see a cross until I scrolled down to see the 4th photo you posted. I think maybe using a flash or strobes would have helped here a great deal to seperate him from the church a little bit.

What he said :P

tommiebao wrote in post #14756102
First of all cool location! but like mrbubbles said the subject is too blended in with the background, perhaps a flash behind him would help to separate him with the background

thanks! reworking currently!

erikfig wrote in post #14756821
What he said :P

thanks!

love the concept ...everything good but the man and cross don't pop out...I'm sure you know and you have put alot of work in it......but if he popped out and bigger cross would be great.I couldn't do this but from what I see you CAN!!!!!!! very good job.