The Umbrella Girl

[Charlotte Thompson]

Low six-ish (pm) natural light- comments and crit are welcome-

 

[Asher Kelman]

Low six-ish (pm) natural light- comments and crit are welcome-

Chalrotte Thompson Umbrella Girl​

Hi Charlotte,

Of course I like the picture, but there's more, perhaps. It seems you have used blown out brights to localize attention on her. I wonder whether this is a good strategy as you might have flattened the range of mid tones in doing so. One can achieve localization that's less severe by using a wideer aperture and then perhaps the light distribution, while similar, might not have to be so severe to achieve what you need.

Asher

 

[Charlotte Thompson]

Asher

First of all-Thank you-
the shot was again pure West light and I didn't enhance the back drop
sort of like the Ballerina picture-same white out effect-
I shot a lot but this facial expression was the blue ribbon for me-
I did very very very little ps
I do understand what you are saying to me though, yes I do! Don't you find it interesting though-not run of the mill expectations of light and dark?

Charlotte-

 

[Asher Kelman]

A rant: how many parameters are used in processing for presentation of a photograph?

I do understand what you are saying to me though, yes I do! Don't you find it interesting though-not run of the mill expectations of light and dark?

For sure, Charlotte, I understand and appreciate the direction you are going, but don't give up any of the data collection in the center of the gray scale. You have exposed to the right and therefore blown out a lot and the mid stones could be richer. If you pull back in the over-exposing idea and use the full range of tonalities on her face, then she will come out better and more alive. Instead of just relying on one physical parameter, over-exposure, consider also limited DOF, (by opening up the lens aperture), interesting wrapping of her in light and so forth. This way, one can employ widely different dimensions to saying what's intriguing, mysterious and important and what's not. Further, this approach provides a richer character for us to experience and a world for her to live in. When you use just over exposure, yes, it's startling, like an explosion. But, really, how about not being so extreme and using DOF and Bokeh too and maybe differential sharpness. This approach could be more expressive for you and guards your subject from being under-represented in final delivery.

Kind wishes,

Asher

 

[Charlotte Thompson]

Asher

I understand- there needs a bit of work yet on this one with the grey scale-
thank you for your help and showing me what needs to be seen as far as light- another learning experience for me has been working with LIGHT! Oh man what a bitch to get right LOL

Charlotte-

 

[Asher Kelman]

Asher

I understand- there needs a bit of work yet on this one with the grey scale-
thank you for your help and showing me what needs to be seen as far as light- another learning experience for me has been working with LIGHT! Oh man what a bitch to get right LOL

Charlotte-

Hi Charlotte,

It means a lot that you tolerate my critique! It's easier to give feedback when one feels that one is being heard. I take your work seriously, even when I disagree with your approach. Rather I try to transport myself to where I think your path is and then ask how do we get to your destination. That's always an iffy and even preposterous proposition, but that's what I try to do.

I'd ask you to look up Jim Galli's work here and on his website with soft focus lenses and portraits and see how using an open aperture might be able to take away the necessity to put so much energy into extremes of exposure. There's a lot more options for you.

Asher