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Author Topic: In Castillo de San Marcos  (Read 5774 times)

RSL

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In Castillo de San Marcos
« on: April 14, 2013, 09:53:24 am »

It's a quick snapshot but I couldn't have improved it even if I'd been able to set up lights.
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2013, 12:31:11 pm »

Very nice, Russ, and perfect background.
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amolitor

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #2 on: April 15, 2013, 09:28:59 am »

Very very nice. You're right, I don't think this can be improved, it is what it is as well as can be imagined.
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William Walker

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #3 on: April 15, 2013, 02:31:42 pm »

A really good portrait.

I like the light on his face and the clarity too.

I might be inclined to do something about the blue bench, I don't think cropping (yes, I said "crop"!) the bench and a bit of his elbow would detract from the picture at all.

William

I hope you don't mind me taking the liberty of illustrating what I had in mind?
« Last Edit: April 15, 2013, 02:45:30 pm by W. Walker »
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WalterEG

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #4 on: April 15, 2013, 04:11:42 pm »

I am normally strongly in favour of context if it means anything.  But in this case the bench detracted rather than enhanced and so I far prefer William's rendering.

W
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amolitor

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #5 on: April 15, 2013, 05:50:35 pm »

I much prefer the more generous frame on the gentleman in question. Clone the blue out, or alter its color to be less obtrusive, if you must.
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RSL

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #6 on: April 15, 2013, 07:38:23 pm »

Hi William, Not only do I not mind that you're illustrating what you had in mind, I find the fact that we can do that one of the most satisfying things about LuLa. I've dealt with other fora where this is prohibited, and requiring contributors to try to explain what they mean instead of demonstrating it in a digital environment where criticism is invited and demonstration is easy seems to me the height of asininity.

But I don't agree with the crop. Cropping the arm kills the triangular composition of the picture and turns it into a fairly ho-hum face shot. As Andrew pointed out I could drop the saturation on the blue stool or even clone it out, but it's far enough out of the zone of focus back there that it doesn't bother me. It even helps to complete the triangle. You might want to do some reading on the elements of composition and spend some time looking at well-composed paintings. I know that it's all the rage to talk about violating the "rules" of composition, but you can't really do that until you know what those rules are.
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #7 on: April 15, 2013, 08:02:11 pm »

I would be tempted to darken the top surface of the bench (or desaturate it) until it comes closer to the shadowed area, but I would NOT CROP at all.
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Patricia Sheley

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #8 on: April 15, 2013, 09:12:51 pm »

Russ...Help me, is there a way, or even permissable, to soften his strong teeth...I wish he hadn't trimmed his mustache...I love the aura of his expression and keep feeling the battle with the teeth...would a low opacity layer of his beautiful face hair be a wrong thing to do...or somehow toning them to less self importance over his wonderful gaze...help me think this through please...I've been unable to figure the way...
« Last Edit: April 16, 2013, 01:46:19 am by Patricia Sheley »
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RSL

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #9 on: April 15, 2013, 09:27:05 pm »

Hi Patricia, Here's a crop -- 100% from a 36mpx original reduced to 12 mpx -- that shows the center of his face. You're not seeing his teeth at all. You're seeing light on his lower lip. It might be worthwhile to reduce the highlight on the lip. I'll take another look at it tomorrow if I get some time to do it. Good point.
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #10 on: April 15, 2013, 11:55:07 pm »

It sure looks like teeth to me, both uppers and lowers.
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Michael West

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #11 on: April 16, 2013, 12:34:32 am »

It sure looks like teeth to me, both uppers and lowers.


I dont know what to make of this one. on close inspection the lips do indeed appear to be teeth.
 
Perhaps the photographer will post another image of this man to help clarify the matter
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Slobodan Blagojevic

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #12 on: April 16, 2013, 01:43:47 am »

It sure looks like teeth to me, both uppers and lowers.

Now, that's ambiguity! ;)

Rob C

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #13 on: April 16, 2013, 04:13:05 am »

Now, that's ambiguity! ;)



And at his age, optimism.

He's simply got an underbite.

Rob C

P.S. This never happened with film.

RSL

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #14 on: April 16, 2013, 09:38:19 am »

Unfortunately I only had time to click the shutter twice with this guy. In the other shot he's turned farther away from the camera so his lips don't show. Also unfortunately, in this shot the highlight on his lower lip is bright enough that there's not much I can do about bringing it under control. I was wrong. I could have done better if I'd been able to control the light. Until Patricia pointed it out, his lower lip never looked like teeth to me, probably because I already knew what I was looking at (believing is seeing). But this is a lip that's been around for a long time and out in all kinds of weather. Here's a small improvement -- very small.
« Last Edit: April 16, 2013, 09:41:27 am by RSL »
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amolitor

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #15 on: April 16, 2013, 10:28:22 am »

You might consider doing a tiny bit of cloning just to break up the tooth-like pattern while retaining the weathered look, rather than trying to reduce the brightness.
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RSL

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #16 on: April 16, 2013, 02:56:00 pm »

Okay, Andrew, here's the final product.
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nemo295

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #17 on: April 16, 2013, 04:28:27 pm »

That guy seriously needs to get his eyebrows trimmed.  :D
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #18 on: April 16, 2013, 08:10:15 pm »

Okay, Andrew, here's the final product.
Ouch!!!
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Patricia Sheley

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Re: In Castillo de San Marcos
« Reply #19 on: April 16, 2013, 10:06:00 pm »

I am in love with his eyebrows!
I think with some time spent using an area from around the eyes and maintaining some of the structure you could probably get that lower lip reconstructed. Took me forever to figure out where it might actually have fit...could not shake the anatomy of teeth...wish I'd never mentioned it ...it's the eyebrows that brought me like a moth to flame...I played with the patch tool a bit here, but away from the computer so defining the area fought my efforts...but think you can see the idea...maybe going for coffee with him would be more rewarding...do you know him...looks like he has a story behind those eyes, (and more...)
« Last Edit: April 17, 2013, 12:48:04 am by Patricia Sheley »
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