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This is the second and final instalment in my Human Form series (the first thread of images is here and the entire gallery is on my SmugMug site here). More artistic and less representational than my usual style of shot, these were an interesting exercise and something I'll come back to.

Pete this is very much outside your realm, but its damm good. The mono pics are sensational. Its all very PUNK. You may haved moved to another dimension with these shots and the previous lot. I like very much
jethro

Awesome stuff Peter.
Love the first one, it just works for me. If I was to pick at anything the top left hand side looks a bit hott, but its minor fault in a very interesting and engaging shot.

#2 is the worst of the series, I think the whites on his face spoil it for me...
the black and shadow I like however.

#3 Another Emily shot... I like it.. but I'm undecided about the eye in shadow, as it is... its a little scary... but I'm not sure how it would work if you hid it with shadow. Also to be super picky, it would of been better had her right eye been a little more torward centre rather then so far over... as every second time I look I think she's cross eyed.

#4 I like this one alot, it has great potential... and for some reason the whites in this one don't annoy me... love the engaging look and the shadows on the face... also love how he disolves into shadow..

Great stuff Peter, again its great to see you experiementing and proving earning your stripes in a different field of photography.

Moody compositions and as in the first series, I like them all Peter. Really like #1 and #2.

For #1 i'd be tempted to crop even closer under the chin. It looks better to me when i slide the photo to the tight pano crop on my screen.

For #2 a little cloning out of the hot spot on the forehead and perhaps feathering the subject so that the light away from the eyes thus leaving a gradual but noticeable light fall off from the eyes as well as sharpness lens blurring all else bar the eyes. I suppose so the viewers eyes completely rest on those magnetic eyes. Don't know if this all makes sense Peter? Im probably getting too arty farty
I feel a little embarrassed offering suggestions on such great work anyway, but I'm over the feeling of embarrassment

If it's not an area of strength or expertise it has surely become one for you Peter. Great images.
cheers
marco

Jethro - Thanks

Craig, Marco - thanks to you too. I've taken on board your critiques and suggestions for #2 and here is a new softer version with a hint of colour left in to give a slight sepiash look:




And for a glimpse into where I was coming from and an example of the powers of post processing - here is what I started with for this shot.

In the name of art, all the photos look great to me. Blown highlights or not, the image is good either way. Some of the ones you have not shown, that are in your gallery, are exceptional. Great work Peter.

Geez! Peter you're approaching the genius category my friend Really think that does it for me with that modification. Frame that one!
cheers
marco

Steve - thanks for your comments. This has been both educational and rewarding since I generally stray away from the "art" side of photography.

Marco - I couldn't have done that revised version without the prompt from you and Craig. I've just printed it out A4 on my Epson R1800 and it looks fantastic. BTW Most of these were done using the Nik Color Efex filters which you'll constantly see me extolling the virtues of. The James #14 shot was done using the Infra Red Black & White filter which I then faded the effect of in Photoshop to bring back some of the colour.

Hey Peter
These are really good. My faves are the reworked #2 and #1.
It's wonderful to see you experimenting with a new genre and having such great results.

Awesome stuff Peter! I love the new revised one.... and (gobsmacked by the original - > what you've created).

Peter,

Number 1 is awesome mate. Love the PP you've done to that. The slightly desat look and the blue of the wooden floor, all work brilliantly.

I like the other three but would be really interested to see how they look with the same type of PP as the first.

Peter - like the others I prefer the first one by a long shot. I see this as a great contender for any number of portrait competitions that are out there...you should submit it...it's a stunning image!! Well done.

Classically speaking #14 is a fantastic shot. I am afraid that comments about blown highlights leave me cold as the intent of art is to transform the ordinary into something that we can appreciate and #14 is it IMO.

excellent work Peter
seems like you have that style conquered
what kind of lighting did you use on image 4?

Peter, I was having another close look at James #14b, and may I make another suggest with the PP of this image ? I'd prefer if you cloned/faded to black the corner of the deck, so that James was surrounded by black on both sides. For me it doesn't add anything to the shot, but provides a unwanted distraction from James. Admittedly I didn't notice it the first time I view it, but now I see it each time I look.

I love the last one.

Very un-you, which is always a good thing for anyone (to step outside of their normals).

First two could do with better compositions.
I don't know if they're the original shots are just crops but they're too tight.

Thank you all for your feedback.

Craig - 14b now updated to remove the deck

Chris - High praise - I'm a blown highlights obsessive, but for these shots I think the blown highlights are part of the artistic effect

Wendell - the last 3 were all shot on a deck outdoors in the dark. Lighting was my SB-800 remotely fired by the D70 in commander mode.

Leigh - First one is cropped a little. The second is also a crop (see partway down page 1 for the colour uncropped original). I'm guessing you'll prefer the two below. Edit: A wider crop of the first shot can be found here.

Matt - the other three were shot at night so don't lend themselves to that treatment. Below are another two shot in the daytime with the same treatment. Takes about 2 minutes to do!

.......

Peter - Thanks for humouring me, in my opinion that minor tweak finished this shot off, its gorgeous and I'll look for it in your '06 Momento book

Yup, I do, and I also think that the first of those two you've just posted is the better one.

Nnnnsic wrote:Yup, I do, and I also think that the first of those two you've just posted is the better one.

I agree Leigh. It was very hard to work with these images since they were all upside down when thumbnailing (I shot them with James back to me) it wasn't until I did the 180 rotate I realised what a great pic it was.

One last image (a tryptych) from this shoot that I'd like to share. Click the image to see a larger version.

It's the Beatles!

I'm enjoying your foray into this style of portrait, the play between light and shadow makes the images intriguing, great stuff...

You must be having fun trying new stuff like this with good model subjects.

Russell - one's missing!

Andrew - thanks and yes it was fun both artistically and photographically