Overlays and Flare

[dannyrich]

Morning All

I was just wanting some critique on the below image.

It was taken last week on a shoot with a model local to me and whom I shoot almost monthly now.

I like the pose and the light freshness of the image although im not sure on her facial expression.

I added an overlay to the image using a gradient toned to the tights and jumper colour then boosted the whole image with photoshop flare.

Do you think the flare spoils the image with the faux flare circles and would it be better with just the bright light and no flare circles?



Exif data
Camera Nikon D700
Exposure 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture f/7.1
Focal Length 70 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias 0 EV

Thanks for looking/comenting, your help is appreciated.

[edbayani]

beautiful shot. only comment would be the right side from the knee down is too light. if you can remove the lines at the back, it think it would be better. the flare doesn't show on my monitor

[Rentham]

I love this shot, and you have a bunch of great work on your site. The flare on this one doesn't work for me though.

[MrJones]

very nice! I love it
but I'm with Rentham on the flare, it just gets in the way.

[evphoto]

After looking at the photo (love it by the way!) and trying to find the flare thinking I was blind I finally found it on her arm....definitely not needed on this photo! Now that I see it there my eye just keeps drawing to it. I would say nix the flare it's a great shot without it!

[dannyrich]

Thanks folks, far too late tonight to start re-editing it but will probably have a go over the weekend.

[Ambrosia76]

I see the flare and the lines,they are very distracting. Also with the lightness of her hair and clothes it seems too bright with little contrast.almost flat. But hey what do I know?

[katia]

i'd lose the flare and lose the floor/wall lines behind her,

GREAT PHOTO!! i love stuff like this!

[Mark Engelhart]

Nice shot. I like the expression on her face. I wonder if you would have pulled her away from the wall a bit and backed off the key light you could have created some definition between her and the background without loosing the great bright high key look. If you get the subject too close to the background it willl reflect back on them and your tendency will be to compensate with more key light. That's when it will get flat. Great model, pose and shot.

[sk66]

Personally, I think there is a calibration issue maybe...I can barely see the flare and the shot is very high key (not that that is necessarily bad)
As to her expression, I don't think that the expression is particularly problematic, but rather the composition for the expression....IMO there is too much "negative space" to her right and not quite enough to the upper left.
Id add space up and left and crop so her face was upper 1/3 centered...I'd also drop the white output level to 245