Jazz pianist

[Chataignier]

Pianist Daniel Garcia at the Limoges jazz festival

[Manfred M]

I do like this composition, but find the way that the way that the subject blends into the background (crushed shadows) is not working for me.

I don't have a problem when the blacks are crushed in the deepest shadow areas, but I don't particularly like it when there is no separation between the deepest shadows and the subject.

I've taken a screen shot with the Adobe Camera Raw filters and the blue shows areas where the blacks are crushed.

[Chataignier]

Somewhat reluctantly, I have to agree Manfred. The corners were deliberately darkened (with a vignette) to eliminate spurious details such as mike stands, cables etc but I could have lifted the blacks and shadows a bit more in the main part of the image. I've done that in my stored master copy - thanks for the reminder.

[billtils]

If you are seeking perfection () perhaps quieten the highlights on the back of the hands.

[Chataignier]

Already did, perhaps a bit more....

[billtils]

Already did, perhaps a bit more....

Just a little ...