Recent image - feedback appreciated

[Eric Hiss]

Hi All,
Here's an image that I took last night. I work with the figure quite a bit but this is different than my some of my normal work and I'm going crosseyed looking at this. I'd love some feedback.

The image was light with a single strobe bounced off of two large white muslins to achieve a larger/softer light. Capture was with the Leica DMR.

Eric

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Eric,

Stunning!

The situation with the right leg - which is evidently being "held up" by the model, yet in a position one would expect to be restant, adds something unique to the work - I'm not sure how to classify it.

The model has gorgeous, but serious, legs. Is she by any chance a dancer?

 

[Ben Rubinstein]

I feel so fat!

 

[Eric Hiss]

Here's a black and white version

Hi,
Here's a black and white toned version using the 'Greg Gorman' method to covert to black and white.

 

[Eric Hiss]

more info

Hi Doug,
No as far as I know she is not a dancer. Just met her during that shoot. She works as a Chemist in a private company. I guess her legs are fairly muscular but in other poses she looks lithe. I was tempted to 'slim' them down in photoshop but I really like to keep the images as they are and work harder to find the beauty that is really there.
Eric

 

[Georg R. Baumann]

Hi,
Here's a black and white toned version using the 'Greg Gorman' method to covert to black and white.

A corresponding PDF can be found here:

http://www.gormanphotography.com/bw_conversion.pdf

 

[Eric Hiss]

thanks for posting the link

Georg,
Thanks for posting the link. I only used the simplified method here - convert to lab select lightness, invert selection, then add a color layer with the selection. The darker areas get most of the color. I did make a curves adjustment after that but it was only slight.

This is not my normal b&w conversion method...I normally use Imagefactory convert to black and white pro plugin which is really great. But somehow I couldn't get something I liked so I tried this and viola!


Curious to know which image everyone prefers... toned b&w or color? I like both but would most likely use the b&w for prints.

Eric

 

[Georg R. Baumann]

HI Eric,

sorry, I completly missed to comment on your shot.

They are both very nice, I like the b&w the most.

Beautiful woman!

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Eric,

Curious to know which image everyone prefers... toned b&w or color? I like both but would most likely use the b&w for prints.

Actually, of the two (and this is based on just viewing the images as they are displayed by my browser), I slightly prefer the full color image.

The skin tones in the toned B/W (again, as viewed on my browser) are a little dark for my taste.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Doug Kerr]

She works as a Chemist in a private company.

Vive la chimie!

I guess her legs are fairly muscular but in other poses she looks lithe. I was tempted to 'slim' them down in photoshop but I really like to keep the images as they are . . .

A wise decision (certainly in this case), in my opinion.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[nicolas claris]

chemical may be natural!

Vive la chimie!

As you may all know, the feeling of love is made by some chemical actions in our brain…

I do prefer the color one for exactly same reasons as Doug…