First Posted Portrait

[Dark Star]

Playing about with my new Canon 50mm 1.8 yesterday I tried a couple of shots of my son at Stansted - he wanted to see a mono version and, although he is quite pleased with the result, I'm sure it could be better!!!

So advice and guidance please...I'm ready to learn!!!

(For example should that bright patch to his right go! I can't quite make up my mind!)

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/803/James_B_W_original.jpg

[GfK]

Yeah try using the burn tool in Photoshop to shade out the light patch.

Pity the top of his head got chopped off, too. Other than that its a decent enough pic.

[oldgit]

There is a very good technique of blending the R,G,B layers individually ...
detailled here:

http://www.creativepro.com/story/howto/24845.html

Takes some time to get it right, but can lead to very good results.

[Dark Star]

Thanks GfK and oldigt - I'll have a study and perhaps re post after some tweaking. I'm not so worried about the loss of the top of his head as (imo) it adds something to the pic (don't know what though )

Lots to learn!

John

[Venomator]

I agree with GfK about the head chop bit ... doesn't add anything imo ... but as long as you like it ... and your son who cares right ...:D

You could lose most of the bright patch by croppiung up to the back of the head ... think this would add something to the shot as well ... again imo of course :p

A good portrait though ... and I think the mono treatment works well in his case ...:thumbs:

[CT]

Well you might as well work with the tight crop rather than try to compensate for it. Not a lot wrong with that - nice punchy shot. I gave it a sharpen (It'll probably stand a bit more) and ran noise reduction on the background.

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/530/James_B_W_original1.jpg

[Dark Star]

Thanks that looks good - I did sharpen using USM - is that how you Sharpened it CT? The crop works well imo thanks again!

[CT]

Yep - gradual amounts of USM. Just keep going till it looks a bit too much - you tend to get halos starting to appear - then undo the last sharpen.

Glad you like it. I was a bit cautious actually - if it was mine I'd crop even tighter on the right, probably in front of the sideburns. :D Give it a try.

[Grendel]

Good shot John, works really well in mono and the concentrated look on his face is great! I agree that CT's crop works well

[RickMezza]

Very nice shot John - not much up with it IMO, but CT's crop works very very well :thumbs:

[lee]

A good portriat John, and the crop by CT works really well. :thumbs:

[Arkady]

S'not at all bad that - all niggles covered above...

[Clint_Black]

My eyes keep being drawn to what looks like a 'D' on his forehead, (no dunce pun intended).

[Dark Star]

He's sitting next to me right now and its there!!!!! Damien said he's not noticed it before!!!

[Clint_Black]

Sorry, no offence, I thought it was a shadow or something. :embarrassed:

[Dark Star]

No don't worry I was only joking - there is a slight mark there.

James (not Damien - that was an attempt at humour!) reckoned it might be the mark of the Devil!!

His mum noticed it in the photo as well.

I can only just see it in real life - maybe its a quality of mono to bring that sort of detail out.

So don't worry no offence taken and an interesting observation!

[Grendel]

That's not a D for Darkstar is it (or son of)? :D

[Dark Star]

Stamped at birth: Delinquent!

[InaGlo]

'D'elinquent, He! he!

Tis a cracking shot, I can see why he likes it, especially with CT's crop!

[Dark Star]

Don't forget he's a poser of a pop star - I might even get to do his next album cover!!!

[pxl8]

Here's how I'd pp the shot...

http://www.pxl8.co.uk/bw_portrait_edit.jpg

[Janice]

What is that white line down the corner of his mouth?

Good shot indeed.....he looks kind of Mediterranean....is he?

[Dark Star]

I think its a hair Janice (he's shaved the beard off since). Re the Mediterranean look its maybe because he's Anglo Indian - me being the Anglo half! You can see more pics of him on his myspace site www.myspace.com/fridayhillofficialsite and the few fan links on there.

He's said before he's the only ginger Indian he knows! And yes, the ginger's from me!

[Arkady]

Reminds me of Seth Green (Dr Evil's son or Willow from Buffy's BF)

[Dark Star]

Hmmm (sucks on little finger) more Dr Evil's son that Willow's bf (wasn't he a werewolf?)

[Matt Charlton]

Yeah Willow's boyfriend - Oz turned into a werewolf in around season god I cant remember, it might be time to get the buffy boxsets out and rewatch them.

[Dark Star]

Thankfully my lad's beard is off now (there wasn't a full moon when I took the shot!)

[Matt Charlton]

I quite like what CT and pxl8 have done to the shot and i think that the tight crop works really well. Its a brilliant portrait and I know I'd be proud of it.

[Dark Star]

Thanks indeed Matt - I agree with the cropping and my final version is even more tightly cropped and seems to work - won't post it here (seen enough if my boys mug!) but its in my gallery if interested.