Lost In Thought C&C Welcomed

[thegman]

+1 to Izzie's last comment, personally I think the image has become to light, but that takes nothing away from a very good image.

[flashback]

Thank you Gerry. Of course you only further complicate this for me because I'm still undecided which way I prefer the image, dark or light.

[Loose Canon]

What about using a vignette?

[Mike Buckley]

If it was my image (it's not!), I would make it straight as in the last version, dark as in the first version, and with the subject as in the last version.

[flashback]

If it was my image (it's not!), I would make it straight as in the last version, dark as in the first version, and with the subject as in the last version.

Arrrrrgggggg!

[ajohnw]

I have a feeling I would try cropping a lot of the left hand side.

John
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[flashback]

Thanks John, the thing about '...cropping a lot of the left hand side' is I feel it would separate the subject from his environment. Showing the street receding serves to isolate and maybe further the sense of being lost in thought.

[flashback]

Okay I've gone back to the original 'darkness', included the three figures in the BG, brought out the subject a bit from the shadows, cropped a bit from the left side and hopefully created a stronger image. Thanks to all.

[FootLoose]

I'm a bit late to this thread but working through it, I see all the good suggestions have been made. This latest version looks good to me Jack. It focuses attention more on the guy and less on the street.

Do you use CC, Jack? If so there is tool in ACR (radial grad) that can be used very easily to apply a subtle 'spotlight affect to a subject - such as the guy here.

[flashback]

Thanks Greg. I don't use CC ( but rather Gimp) so not familiar with what you're referring to. I'm not sure how it would look but I can tell you I selectively adjusted the curve on the arms and face, to bring him out a bit more.

[Mike Buckley]

The last one is my favorite of the bunch.

[flashback]

Thanks Mike, for your valuable suggestions.

[IzzieK]

OK...frustration over...you got the edit of the best of both worlds's suggestions. I am glad you took the time and patience to do so... I would have done something else...

[thegman]

Jack the last version is a winner. All the positive input only came about because you created a strong image to start with. Now you can look for next shot and start all over again

[ajohnw]

GIMP has a radial gradient as well. I usually use it on a transparent layer in soft light mode - if I remember correctly - and often drag the wrong way so simply invert it. It can be extended/removed etc by painting black or white on the layer.

Personally and from playing with the image in the light box on here I would look at cropping more off the left. There is a sort of bright vertical strip about 1/4 way across which I would take out completely. This may give you more scope for general light levels etc as well. But tastes vary.

John
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[Ashwin]

My suggestion is recompose the Image

[IMG][/IMG]

[flashback]

John, thanks for the suggestions, it's something I can play around with and see how it works.

[flashback]

Ashwin, thanks for looking. Are suggesting an image like you posted, with the subject framed out, or are you suggesting a crop of just the subject?