Attempt at poignant emotion

[lerabu]

Hello everyone. This is my first attempt at some more "in depth" post processing than simply adjusting exposure, contrast and saturation levels.

So, we have a Tiffany lamp in our bedroom and we have these salt and pepper figurines which hug each other, they really convey strong emotion. I wanted to mimic that hug emotion between lovers.

I had previously played around with the lamp with HDR tries because I wanted to have it show all the colours and as I was photographing a light source the parts with lighter colours would get overblown and HDR would give the desired effect.

I wanted to show emotion by then stripping the colours from an HDR, so first I processed the photo to have it look like I wanted in colour, increased blacks to give it stronger colours and then darkened further the dark part of the tone curve.

I then proceded to make it B&W and then used split toning for highlights and shadows. I wished to give the whole atmosphere of the photo a rugged look but to keep this strength of emotion that can be seen between these two figurines. And I wanted to use the subject of the lamp both as a light source to emphasise the hug but also because I thought it would be an interesting secondary subject.

I welcome constructive criticism as I am not sure that I managed to achieve what I wanted with the photograph.

The EXIF data is:

Camera Nikon D80
Exposure 6
Aperture f/25.0
Focal Length 22 mm
ISO Speed 100
HDR biases: -4,7,0;+2 EV

The Embrace

Composition-wise should I have left more space on the left for the whole shadow of the huggers to be shown?

Thank you in advance for criticism

[dionv]

Thank you for sharing, not only the photo, but what you did to make it.

Personally, I like the composition, but not the colour. It seems a bit off. I think I understand what you were aiming for with your description, but I don't think the end result works well in this case.

It would be interesting to see it in colour, before you made it B&W and all the rest.

Something says to me that having the figures remain in full colour, while the rest is done the way your photo is now could be an interesting look.

Take it with a large grain of salt. I couldn't post-process my way out of a paper bag at this point (although I try from time to time )

Thanks again for sharing.

[Sterling]

You've already noted the position of the figures - they'd be better placed closer to the lamp. Also, the top of the lamp is cut off and it appears to be leaning to the right.

Regarding your subject, I don't see the relationship between the figures and the lamp. My eye goes directly to the lamp and then down to the figures as almost an afterthought. I find the lamp much more interesting than the figures. I also appreciate what you were trying show. But I must say that I don't have much of an emotional response to salt and pepper shakers. I guess I just don't "get" this one.

[lerabu]

Dear both,

Thank you for your critique and feedback.

The lamp was cropped when I actually took the picture, I though it wouldn't be such a problem but now I see it is. I should have perhaps taken a larger view and then cropped later.

I can agree that the lamp dominates the photo. It is leaning towards the right beacuse the lamp i actually leaning a bit I will try to correct that in a new shoot.

Do you think the lamp would work on its own as a subject as it is and just crop out the figures?

I still am unsure what buttons I need to push in Lightroom to get what I want lol :P I guess I have the same issue as you Dionv

[Sistereinstein]

The sepia tone is meant to add a warmth that is tough to portray, I think, as a b/w subject. I also would have just cropped the lamp out entirely, and your focus is meant to be on the embrace. The two images are too contrasting.

Your camera is held out at a distance - as a passive observer, I'm assuming. Really study the lighting and where the shadows fall. Could you use the base as a streetlamp of sorts, blurred in the foreground with the focus on the back subjects? I have a vague idea, but no way to test it : )

I think you can achieve this goal. Keep at it!