Mandolin Girl

[CNelson]

On July 13 I will head to Siskiyou County in northern California to photograph the Scott Valley Bluegrass Festival (www.scottvalleybluegrass.com). I look forward to this each year and it's a hoot if anybody can make it.

I will be sharing any interesting photos I get but here's a workup on a shot from last year. The girl was playing her mandolin during the Friday night street jam in Etna. I gave her a slight painterly look, isolated her from an uninteresting background and placed her on a brick wall background I created following a tutorial in Photoshop User Mag. I used layers, masks and blending modes to get the look I wanted. I believe the girl's mother was in one of the bands that played last year but I can't find a website for the band as I wanted to make the image available to the mom. In any event here she is:



Chuck

[Shadowman]

very sharp, vivid colors.

[Donald]

Always like seeing your pictures from the festival, Chuck.

Not so sure that the brick wall is the best backdrop. Feels a bit 'hard' and stark. But I like your capture of the girl, absorbed in her music.

[paulwilbur]

Hi Guys..

This helps...

A simple rotate and a small sharpen.

brick is OK with me as long as the little girl story is stronger and eye catching.

I like the rotated image very much, aka: "a wall hanger"

perhaps next time, less frontal - shoot more to your right and a bit lower (makes her tlook more important by shooting from a low POV)


paul

[CNelson]

Thank you Donald...I knew I wanted to do something with the girl in another setting and the brick wall was handy because I had just created it. I was thinking I could echo the light on the wall in her hair with a bit of burning in....I did but it's not that obvious. Perhaps a plain texture would have been better than a brick wall but the wall seems to add interest.

Thanks Paul...I like the angular crop....demonstrates the different options for the image. A good reminder to think outside the box when creating.

Chuck

[ilovelucydog]

You really captured the little girl and her focus on playing her instrument. I do like the painterly look as well and the vibrancy of the colors in her top. If I were here mom, I would have loved a copy.