Steampunk

[Wandjina]

I will let you Google the definition of a "Steampunk."

A few weeks ago, my wife and I ventured off to the annual Steampunk Festival held at the National Railway Museum in Port Adelaide.
We came across this fellow, who explained that he had made his "weapon" out of an old vacuum cleaner and a round cake tin. I am not sure what he was supposed to be selling or guarding but he was happy for me to take his photo.

The original image was very "busy," so I cloned out a lot of the distractions. To emphasize and create my "story," I darkened anything that didn't contribute to it. To do this, using Photoshop, I made a selection of those bright, colourful areas and then I applied the Hue/Saturation tool set to "Saturation -100, Lightness -60."

I am not sure if I am happy with the final result or if I needed to stop somewhere in between the original and the final image, I am happy to hear your comments.

I used a Yongnuo 600EX - RTII speedlite (set at 1/16 power, 32mm zoom) which was hand held by my Wife about 3-4 metres from the subject.

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/100, f/4.0, ISO 200
Lens: EF 24 - 105mm, f/4L IS USM @ 35mm

Original

[Manfred M]

Excellent image and a nice retouch as well.

I very much enjoy shooting cosplay type figures like this one.Unfortunately, with all of the COVID restrictions, I have not had a chance to do so for the past couple of years.

[lovelife65]

Fantastic. Very nice image. The edit works quite well.
Thanks for sharing.

[billtils]

Excellent editing Martin - resulting in a very nice image.

[Martin A]

In my view the edited image is a winner. Wonderful editing.

[DanK]

I think the editing is excellent (and obviously not simple), and the resulting image is very well done.

I find Steampunk a truly weird phenomenon, but that's neither here nor there.

[selig1656]

Terrific work with an excellent outcome.

[mugge]

Love it!

[escape]

A big thumbs up. The before and after are amazing. As amazing as making a rifle from a vacuum cleaner. Well done.

[Wandjina]

Thank you all for your comments and feedback. I will leave the retouching of the image as it is. Thanks again

[Jim A]

As a latecomer, I have not much to add, Martin, except to echo the previous contributors. Looking on the smaller screen of my cellphone, you have achieved an excellent outcome! A couple of years ago, my wife and I went to a long weekend Steampunk Festival, located in Thames, here in New Zealand. We both really enjoyed it, plus it was great in regard to my original reason for us going, for me to take photos. Anyway, back to your image - I really like the way you have got him peering into the distance, he is seeing, or, imagining something beyond our ken!

[Wandjina]

plus it was great in regard to my original reason for us going, for me to take photos.

Thanks Jim. Steampunk Festivals and Medieval Fairs, and the like, are always great opportunities for taking photos and a good day out. There are always interesting people there.