Winter Engagement Shot

[sunvalley23]

I am curious to hear thoughts about this shot. I played with it in post-processing for quite some time, and settled on the black and white. The original shot had a red background (the barn) and a red jacket (the woman). Is it too contrasty? Does black and white not do it? Are there distracting elements in the image? I'll take any suggestions or comments. Thank you!

Shooting data:
- f/5
- 1/40 shutter
- ISO 200

Post processing included:
- cooling filter
- brightning
- add contrast
- black and white conversion

[denja]

Personally, I prefer B&W to color. I can't put my finger on it, but there is something about this photo that just doesn't look quite right to me. For the most part I really like it. I really don't think that it is the contrast that is bothering me - but I'm not quite sure. The skin tones appear a little burnt out, but not real bad. I don't know. Anyway, nice image.

Jim

[denja]

Duh! I should have read your description of PP before I wrote my comments. Try using the color channels for the conversion instead of using a cooling filter, and maybe just a tad less contrast.

Jim

[Speedykiki]

I love it! I love how the barn boards frame in the image and I love the snow on the hats. Nice work.

[mikedugganphotography]

I really like this shot. There is a lot of mood to it which I like, to me the black and white is perfect.

[SusanH1970]

I LOVE the composition! The only nitpick I have about it is that her arm is chopped off. Did you crop in PP or in camera? And the pose is great, they look completely unaware of the camera.

Not wild about the conversion, though. Skin looks slightly blown out, and her jacket blends in with the wall, but his is way too black and you've lost any and all detail in it. My eyes keep going to his jacket, and not their faces.

Any way you'd be willing to post a SOOC for some of us to play with? (hint hint, nudge nudge....lol, no need to do so if you'd rather no one played with it).

All in all, pretty nice. Love how you captured the snowfall, that's really nicely done. I suck at that.

[WooD]

I agree with Susan.

If his hand was on her waist, and her hand placed on the bicep area of his arm I think it would have been a better pose. Looks like he's just standing there.

[manwez]

Isn't it amazing? At first look I thought "great pic! Nothing wrong with it at all" then you read other people's critiques and think "Oh yeah, they have a point". I really like the black and white, but think the part I like the least is that her jacket/hair/barn all blend together. Maybe she needed a white or black jacket on? I bet they are thrilled with the shot, though! Funny how you don't notice things like that until you are a "photographer"

[sunvalley23]

Thank you everyone for your comments!

To answer some questions - this was processed in Photoshop. There was no cropping at all, this is actually the full image. I definitely agree that it would have been better with the arm completely in the frame, as well as potentially his left arm on her waist. Definitely good advice, I will try to make sure that happens next time.

As for the face "burn," I was actually trying to really get their faces to stick out from the barn. These were two very pale individuals to start with - but their faces got a bit lost in the very similar colorings in the back (even once converted to black and white).

On this particular image I can't put up the SOOC file - but maybe next time!

Manwez - I definitely agree - but that's why this forum is so great! Many eyes are better than just two.

[Bekkie]

Manwez, I couldn't agree with you more. These guys are good. I'm amazed at how much I've learned in just one evening. I'm wondering if there's a little red on the noses etc. from being out in the cold. When I convert to B&W I've noticed things like that stick out like a sore thumb.

I must google for a tutorial on how to convert to B&W using channels. I've heard it several time this evening already.

I do like the photo Sunvalley!

Bekkie