Square cropped portraits (SCPs) - Archive

[Antonio Correia]

... I appreciate the honest critique rather than "this is a great photo" or some other such nonsense.

That is very well William. Good attitude.
We all have much to learn with one another.
I have commented your statement because there are foruns where we can't read that our photos are excellent without being truth what doesn't happen here.
As I said before: We all have much to learn with one another.
Keep posting !

[Antonio Correia]

I am so so very sorry for posting this in a squared crop posting. Misread it as non-square crops.
moderators I need your help.

See the picture here please.

[Antonio Correia]

Dave !
Your young man.

[Dave Humphries]

Well that has certainly 'killed' the sodium vapour light

Thank you for taking the time to show me (us) an alternative, I am grateful.

It was taken initially as no more than a humourous 'family snap' of my son trying on an ancient fighting helmet, but I thought it lent itself to the SCP thread, so took a little time on PP, cropping, etc.

Of course, if I had put the iso back down to normal levels and let the flash do its job, it wouldn't have needed so much PP to mask the shortcomings. The moment didn't last long enough for me to gather my wits and do a proper job.

I have passed both versions on to my son

Thanks again,

[Antonio Correia]

I think however, Dave that it could even be improved ...

[Dave Humphries]

I think however, Dave that it could even be improved ...

Hmmm, that depends on what we are am aiming for; it helps to have that in mind (and my mind has gone blank ).

It started life as a family snap, then became a SCP, during which process, I tried to make the best of;
a) shot in an orange wood stained room illuminated with a sodium vapour light (double orange)
b) while the camera could expose the room ok at iso3200, under the helmet, I knew I wouldn't see his eyes without help from the flash

As most SCPs are just straight record shots with careful attention to crop, exposure, DoF, backgrounds and everything else we hold dear, that's what I aimed for.

What you produced is more what I would call a 'work of art', I'd have to think again (when in the mood) to produce something better.

If I am lazy, what do I mean 'if' - maybe I should make this the next PP challenge and see what everyone comes up with

Thanks,

[Ashwin]

It also proves that even if (I think) I know how other peoples images can be improved, that is a long way from being able to do it oneself and here is the proof, for critique.

To some extend you are right... Here is my version with little effort on my part

[Ashwin]

Hi Antonio,

Please don't complaint, Image is SQUARE ( SQUARE + SQUARE )

[Dave Humphries]

Thanks Ashwin,

Would I be correct in thinking that the majority of what you did was (selectively) desaturate the background and helmet?

I notice there is also a strange 'shadow effect' through the slit on the face, but it was there in my original too, so that bit is my fault

Perhaps I'll have another go later in the week.

Thanks,

[Dave Humphries]

Probably there was no ART DIRECTOR PRESENT

There's never one when about you need them

[Ashwin]

Thanks Ashwin,

Would I be correct in thinking that the majority of what you did was (selectively) desaturate the background and helmet?

I notice there is also a strange 'shadow effect' through the slit on the face, but it was there in my original too, so that bit is my fault

Perhaps I'll have another go later in the week.

Thanks,

Hi Dave,

Subject and other condition of the image are such that, if you have to do any PP on the Image it will be selectively only, otherwise on one hand you are improving something and destroying other portion.

First I selected background only, little lens blurred, disaturate bit and replace colour, Same thing for helmet converted to B&W little touch up at edges, face selectively darken, to get more details... So you see everything has to be done selectively

[Ashwin]

There's never one when about you need them

How is it possible..? You are a Photographer, you have your technique, about f Stop, shutter speed, and focus and get best out of the given situation, all other things have to be decided by Art Director only, as to Location, angle of view, and other set up will be decided and arranged by Art Director for any Commercial shoot. Even the composiition of the Image is decided by Art Director.

For Good commercial shoot, a team work is required.

1 ) Photographer with best of equipment

2 ) Make-up man

3 ) Art Director

These are minimum requirements, if it is a big project, artist to visualise

[jacsul]

Sorry

[Alis]

I hate the background myself!

[Antonio Correia]

While many of my portraits are with natural light yours are very often with flash.
And I - we - can see how you master this equipment.
I like the picture very much in spite of the not so happy background.

Keep the good work Alis and thank you for posting

After eating with such a spoon he had to cover his face with chocolate !!! LOL

[Alis]

After eating with such a spoon he had to cover his face with chocolate !!! LOL

Thanks, Antonio!

He was licking the chocolate cake batter off that spatula! Not a good practice with raw eggs in it...

[Antonio Correia]

[Antonio Correia]

[Wirefox]

Tis with some trepidation that I step into this arena filled with multiple flashguns, alien wasp thingies and single digit camera marques. I am clutching tightly my Walmart carrier bag containing meagre possessions, a low powered flash gun, a milk carton diffuser, a broken brolley and rickety light stand. The cacophony of light from multiple strobes catches the dint in my secondhand 40D as my lens screams its nakedness of red ringed aristocratic birth.... right enough with the preemptive excuses. Antonio has encouraged me to post here so here goes. I have included both right and left handed versions. I cannot make my mind up which I prefer.

[carregwen]

Excellent shot, Steve. Great colour, and the mask adds a real element of mystery. Not too sure about the mesh fence (is that what it is?). A very thin trickle of fake blood might have been better from the corner of the mouth, but an excellent shot.