EJ #2

skipper954 · 02-12-2006, 05:35

Another image of this stunning model. I think that she will go far.

Yup, I know, I cut off her hand. Ignore that please.

skip

danpen · 02-12-2006, 06:49

Skip, I think this would benefit from being a head and shoulders crop.

I don't know if your'e working in limited space but she could do with being further from the background so you can either angle the light to avoid the shadow or seperately light the background to remove it. If space in the room is limited try setting things up so that you can be just through a door to get an extra few feet.

There's also a bit of a shadow round her nose that's quite dark and I find it a little distracting.

Her eyes are good, you've got eye contact and have brought out the colour and shape really well.

**Dabhand16** · 02-12-2006, 10:58

I agree with that. If the shadow on the backdrop is because there is a lack of space, maybe increasing the reflected light would reduce it to a better level, and would also light the face a little more too?

Just small things really, but the better the shot, the more the details stand out, and this is a good shot.

jockwav · 02-12-2006, 11:01

Very nice shot,you cut off her hand,lolol.

Bella · 02-12-2006, 11:09

Hi Skip
She is a beautiful model, however I agree that this would benefit from being cropped down to a head and shoulders portrait but for totally different reasons.
After glancing at the photo the thing that grabs my eye is her upper arm it seem out of proportion and just odd shaped to me, and this is also how I feel about her body but to a lesser degree, it just seem a little odd shaped in this shot.
I don't mind so much the closeness to the background as for me there is not enough detail in the background to distract my eye.
I do love her eyes and the fullness of her lips, and I agree I think she will go far in the industry.
Just my opinion, I'd love to see it as a head and shoulders shot.
Cheers
Bella

skipper954 · 02-12-2006, 16:56

OK, here is the headshot. I don't think that it is as interesting as the full shot. I did decrease the nose shadow, but it looked false so deleted that change.

I sort of agree about the shadows, but they are not THAT distracting, and perhaps add a bit of interest to the image.

Bella, her arm is just a pumped up tricep. She is leaning on a table on that arm. She also works out, and has better muscles than I do. One the other hand, she is 18 and I am considerably older.

My thoughts about this image: if one really looks at many of the modeling shots out there, they are of the same mold. So I wanted to create a shot that was a bit different, that forced the viewer to look longer. That is why I framed it that way.

I also wanted to emphasize her long frame (she is 6 feet tall) and the diagonal adds interest too, I think. I was not looking for the perfect model here, but wanted viewers to know that EJ is a real person.

As far as I am concerned, there are two types of model shoots, those for commercial or portfolio uses, and artistic, and frequently they are mutually incompatable, for obvious reasons. In my shoots, I try to give the model what she wants, but also to create something for me.

skip

**Dabhand16** · 02-12-2006, 17:49

I like this crop for different reasons.

I think the pose is just a little awkard. Perhaps there is another way of getting the diagonal. I can see what you mean about the tricep, but it does look a bit out of place. Maybe something to think of next time. The shadow of her arm in the lower part of the original is much more defined than the one behind her, which I agree is not that bad.

My crop would have been a bit lower - around the line of her elbow, with some tidying up on the RHS and top.

Your crop brings the face out compared to the original, so I can only think that the pale top she is wearing pulls the eye from her face if you have not changed it in the crop shot. How about changing the colour of the top in PS?

**Dabhand16** · 02-12-2006, 18:32

Here's my pimp (not very well done). I was going to leave more of her left arm in, but decided to take some of it out.

skipper954 · 02-12-2006, 18:56

What does everyone else think? Does the blue top or the light color top draw more attention to her face? I can't look objectively now.

Your crop is pretty good because you have the mild diagonal of her shoulders. But WHERE is her tricep?

skip

danpen · 02-12-2006, 19:21

Here's another take then ...

Skip, I think if you'd got more of her in the initial shot then what you were going for would have worked. ie lower the camera so you've not got the blank space above her head but have got the hands etc. Without that context I think what works in this shot is the eyes and the face, hence my crop.

However, I think if you have the chance you should try again for what you were aiming for as I think it would definitely work.

I also reduced the contrast round her nose a little to lessen the shadow and boosted the contrast slightly.

Rob Barron · 03-12-2006, 21:35

I definitely prefer Dan's pimp, it puts back something that was missing.

I looked at this original pic for ages and could not understand why I didn't like it. I think she has a stunning face and as a head and shoulders model would do really well but then it struck me what it is... the pose is way to masculine. The angle of the head is fine, it is her body shape that is spoiling it. Look at her head and it is beautiful, look at the body and arms without the head and it is too maculine and it fights against the femininity of the face. In all honesty, she doesn't have a particularly curvacious body so I think stretching her side as this shot does takes away the relatively little curves she seems to have. But most of all i guess it is that left upper arm of hers that just seems way to masculine for the shot.

The original definitely needed a bit of reflected light into the left side (as we look at her) and I have to admit to being biased with shots like these. i far prefer natural femininity to be emphasised as much as possible. That is entirely a taste thing so I am not saying this is wrong, I guess I just don't like it that much. I do however like the crop and adjustment which has put back her feminine side and is far more alluring IMHO.

Cheers,
Rob

skipper954 · 03-12-2006, 23:54

Rob - yes I agree with you. EJ is 6 ft tall, works out, and does not have a large bust. So when viewed like this, hers is not the ideal feminine image.

However, that is her. It has been said here that the essence of the model (or landscape, etc) has to stand out, has to be there. Perhaps the changes suggested here would be more esthetic, but they would not be EJ.

Also, again, her shape goes against the norm, and again, is "edgy". That is what I am looking for. I have other images that present her in a more feminine fashion, I think.

So, Rob, "that is what makes horseraces".

skip

04-12-2006, 15:57	#13 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 6,001