Mr. Victoriano - Critique Please

[PhotoGnat]

Had a photo shoot with a friend and wanted some feedback pretty much all around, cropping composition, lighting etc. All feedback welcome and very much appreciated. So let me know what you think Thanks and Enjoy!

Exif data

Camera Canon EOS REBEL T2i
Exposure 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture f/5.0
Focal Length 18 mm
ISO Speed 800

[BigFuzzy]

Really interestings photo, great idea and set up, well done!

Having said that, it seems a bit underexposed, particularly the black pants area and the underexposure (at least how it looks on my screen) makes it also look a bit flat.

Also, the books are cut off, so if this is a crop of the original, I'd consider re-cropping. Also the left side feels a bit tight since his elbow is so close to edge of frame.

Having said all that, all this needs is a bit more post-processing and it can really be good. If I remember, I'll try to take it and play with it a bit when I get home to show you what I have in mind (if I forget, sorry haha!).

Minimally I'd boost exposure. Have you considered this in b&w since color really isn't very relevant to this image in my view.. unless the red book has meaning I'm missing?

Still.. good idea, good set up.. just needs a bit better lighting/pp to really make it pop.

[PhotoGnat]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

Really interestings photo, great idea and set up, well done!

Having said that, it seems a bit underexposed, particularly the black pants area and the underexposure (at least how it looks on my screen) makes it also look a bit flat.

Also, the books are cut off, so if this is a crop of the original, I'd consider re-cropping. Also the left side feels a bit tight since his elbow is so close to edge of frame.

Having said all that, all this needs is a bit more post-processing and it can really be good. If I remember, I'll try to take it and play with it a bit when I get home to show you what I have in mind (if I forget, sorry haha!).

Minimally I'd boost exposure. Have you considered this in b&w since color really isn't very relevant to this image in my view.. unless the red book has meaning I'm missing?

Still.. good idea, good set up.. just needs a bit better lighting/pp to really make it pop.

As always BigFuzzy, thank you for the great critique.
-I was afraid it was a little underexposed, I was trying to use more lighting but the model didn't want it. I'm going to have to be more firm on my lighting choices next time.
-The books unfortunately did get cut off in shot, I noticed after this shot and corrected it but I couldn't duplicate this pose again and I really liked it. Maybe I'll try editing together two shots to fill in the books.
-I'll play a little with PP tonight and see what I can come up with, right now I feel really limited with PP because I only have Adobe Elements, but am working on getting a copy of CS4. I'll give the B&W a shot, the red book has no meaning I just had him hold it because I thought it would help make it pop a bit.
Thanks again, looking forward to seeing your edit and doing mine tonight

[BigFuzzy]

Here's three quickies I did in LR. Used three presets I've used for lots of my images.
My fave of the three:


Another color version:


And a b&w version:


I hope that gives you some ideas of what I had in mind. It literally took me 5 min to do and save all three versions. Looove LightRoom!

[PhotoGnat]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

Here's three quickies I did in LR. Used three presets I've used for lots of my images.
My fave of the three:

Another color version:

And a b&w version:

I hope that gives you some ideas of what I had in mind. It literally took me 5 min to do and save all three versions. Looove LightRoom!

Dang! I love all three especially the first and the B&W those are great edits! *sadface* I need to get LR!

[BigFuzzy]

Feel free to use those if you wish.
If you have a student id of some sort you can get lightroom for under 100usd I believe.
If you want any of those edits done to your RAW file, you can send it to me.. consider it my good deed for the year. I'll be a prick on your next post!

Oh, and thanks and you're welcome.

[PhotoGnat]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

Feel free to use those if you wish.
If you have a student id of some sort you can get lightroom for under 100usd I believe.
If you want any of those edits done to your RAW file, you can send it to me.. consider it my good deed for the year. I'll be a prick on your next post!

Oh, and thanks and you're welcome.

Haha thank you
I do not have a student ID, but I have a friend who handles the software distribution for an advertising company who is going to see if he can help me out. I'll show my model to see what he thinks, I want to see if I can get simliar edits on my own, but wow yeah dramatic improvment and exactly what i was looking for, thank you for the good deed as well and you can be a prick on all my posts as long as it's this constructive I wont mind at all ;o)