Mood Setting

[MiniChris]

I shot this image on a street corner at a local farmer's market. There were a lot of trees which created quite a dappled lighting situation, especially on the steel guitarist. To offeset this mottled look, I cropped in real tight on a square format and did a major tone down because this guitarist was playing sort of a haunting blues tune and it seemed to fit the mood I remember.

Of course, never being able to leave well enough alone, I played with a little ortonizing to really soften the mood. Forest and trrees dilemma as I have seen it too much to be a good self-critic. Which do you all like best (or if at all) and why?

[Rasbury]

I like #2 better as the darkening has removed some of the distractions in the background and put the focus more on the neck of the lapsteel he's playing.Very cool photo any way you look at it though.Great photo Chris.

Ron

[Donald]

Chris

I like the lighting on the second one, but i don't like it so much as the first, because it throws the guy's left-hand too much out of focus for me. My mind is telling me that because that left hand is such an important part of the music making, I want/need to see it more in focus. Even in the first one, it's just on the edge of 'in-focus enough'.

So the second one with more depth-of-field would have been, for me the ideal image.

[arith]

Yep; like that. Try layers Screen x4 maybe not visible, multiply with Gauss over 30p, Difference 50% or Linear or Pin 100%, Color 100%, luminosity 50%, Adjustment layer levels Pin Light 100% auto, Color 100%

Adjust as necessary but the Color layers are very important and should be 100%.

All duplicates except for the adjustment layer.

Otherwise; just carry on. Very nice image.

[MiniChris]

Yep; like that. Try layers Screen x4 maybe not visible, multiply with Gauss over 30p, Difference 50% or Linear or Pin 100%, Color 100%, luminosity 50%, Adjustment layer levels Pin Light 100% auto, Color 100%

Adjust as necessary but the Color layers are very important and should be 100%.

All duplicates except for the adjustment layer.

Otherwise; just carry on. Very nice image.

I did the screen layers, and multiply and tossed in the luminosity and pin lights but didn't see enough shift to really bother with them. I did the gauss with the inversion layer but not quite so high...will give that a shot later. I am not exactly sure what level of screen you are implying x4. I think I was at about 58% and did x2.

[arith]

Actually I add four screen layers duplicated from the base, and then make them visible one at a time under the multiply layer. It sort of compresses contrast because levels will spread the histogram.

I normally start by duplicating the base 9 times. I blend as follows:
Color
____
luminosity
color
_____
multiply
screen
screen
screen
screen
base

Where the top blank is an adjustment layer for levels on Pin Light blend
and the bottom blank can be anything, in the window pic it is Hard Light.

I might create a photo filter layer on top on yet another color blend, or create another duplicate base then bring to front on Overlay and Inverted with 100p Gauss, varying the opacity to get the exact right effect.

It doesn't take long when you get used to it; my favourite blend is with difference and that mostly ends up being 50% with luminosity 40-60%.
Suppose it could be done easier, clicking on eyes sometimes gives the impression nothing has changed but mostly something has.

[MiniChris]

Interesting...I think I am getting to the same place without as many original duplicates, but in the end, I am quite sure I have as many overall layer blends as you, though in a differing order...But, as I am always open to new ideas, I shall work with your program and see where I am the same, and where different and adjust accordingly. Thanks for the workflow idea.

[arith]

Actually your right: With 100% difference no difference. Linear and Hard are potential but I don't think it can be done better than you already have done it Chris.

Pin Light with Color over it leaves the blur in place, so maybe that is the way to go.

This is as above with 100% difference with a layer 10 overlay 100% inverted and 100p Gauss. Then Deep Yellow filter 50% on color blend. Not that it makes a difference

[Dave Humphries]

I tend to agree with Donald, the second is better, but the left hand is too soft - however ...

... actually; isn't it the finger (+ plectrum?) in the right hand here that makes the notes?
Therefore, if it had been shot from the opposite 45 degrees looking back the other way, then with the right hand sharp - wouldn't that have been better?

~ and isn't hindsight is a wonderful thing?

Nice shot though, inspires me to want to shoot something like it,

[arith]

You could always try different types of blur as well Chris.

[MiniChris]

I did do some different layering setups on this version, and I think I worked a better sharpening on the left hand as well as keeping the mood I was tring to portray. They were playing a really, almost haunting blues tune and he was really working a high E like JJ Cale does. It was very hard to stop listening, and start shooting.

[arith]

I like the last one the best