Portrait: Nicholas

[Octane]

All,

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM: 1/25s f/8.0 at 105.0mm iso400.

Higher resolution, here (http://users.tpg.com.au/octane2/nd.html).

Comments, critique, etc., welcome.

Regards,
Humayun

[matt]

I like it, H.

Care to describe the processing carried out?

It looks like you've used the burn tool as well as applying a tint to get that brownish sepia look?

Cheers.

[gary]

Fabulous portrait. Beautiful light. Excellent post-processing. :thumbsup:

Best Regards

Gary

[Quark]

Another masterpiece Humayun,

I think, a most worthy contender for the "National Photographic Portrait Awards", worth $25,000. Just thought I might bring that to your attention H.

I love this image, don't really care how you did it, at all. You have achieved an amazing overall effect. When I look at this it is just so powerful. I see this little guy's eyes, almost transfixed. The colour, light and shade create such emotion, a look of almost wonderment or surprise. he looks to be deeply affected by what he sees.

The light and shade really highlight the lads eyes, which really seem, in this instance, to almost be windows to his soul.

Excellent work indeed.
Regards
Trevor

[seeker372011]

love your work Humayun

appreciate all your images even if I don't always comment BTW

[acropolite]

Fantastic image Humayan, I too like the way you've caught the light in Nicholas' eyes (580 Ex catchlight perhaps?). Like the others I'd be interested to know the finer details on how you achieved the lighting and processing.

If you were to submit the image for any contest it might be an idea to clone out the epaulette buttons (or at least the one on the right of the image).

[sheeny]

Stunning image, H! Monochrome was an excellent choice!

I see what Phil is getting about the button(s)... the RH hand one would be less distracting if it blended in more. A little dodge maybe?

Al.

[Deeno]

Wow

Looks like you have a real flair for portraits.
Beautiful manipulation of light.

[iceman]

Beautiful picture! I agree, clone out the button. Distracts from the eyes.

[RB]

Now that's a lovely portrait.
I'm not a big fan of cloning out items in a photo but I'd agree with the others, the button is distracting.
To be faithful to the scene though you would just leave it in and maybe tone it down so that it's not as noticeable.

Either way, it's a lovely photo.

:thumbsup:

[ving]

great image H.!!!
i live the emotion of the image :D

... what did youdo to scare the poor kid? he looks like he has seen a ghost!

[rogerg]

Overall a very professional looking portrait shot. If not asked to cratique it I don't think I would instinctively, I'd just think it's a nice shot.

It has quite a "sad" feel to it .. might just be my screen.. but quite dark etc. If that's intentional then that's good but I'm not sure if should be.

The button I'm in 2 minds about..I think I'd leave it, perhaps just tone it down a bit. If it were removed then it might become obvious that there's no matching button to the other one.

Other than that... I like the selection of DOF, nicely isolates the subject. I like the moody feel of the image. I like that there's something else in the image other than the subject's face. I like the lighting (just would prefer it a little lighter).

I have been giving a lot of thought to what makes a good portrait lately. Something I'm struggling with a bit (deciding what makes them good). I don't typically take portraits myself.

Roger.

[Tilt]

Brilliant! Stunning work. I agree with the button, if not eliminate it maybe just darken it a touch. The scene reminds me of an old creepy PC game, Silent Hill.

Michael

[Liz]

Amazingly beautiful pic H ;)

[Octane]

Matt,

Cheers.

I didn't use any burning on this image. I applied multiple layers of the same image, each processed separately for shadows, midtones and highlights (levels and curves) to focus the eyes on the subject and not wander off into the background.

I also used the black and white tool in Photoshop to convert and give the slightest tint to highlights and shadows to tend towards sepia.



Gary,

Thank you; appreciate it!



Trevor,

Wow, thanks for the compliment! I doubt mine would even get looked at, but, I might keep it in mind. :)

Thanks for the eloquent commentary, too. I always look forward to your posts. :)



Narayan,

Appreciate the comment. :)



Phil,

Cheers.

Not the 580EX. I have a piddly 420EX. I would like to do as little flash light photography as I possibly can. I wish to remain a natural light photographer. If I get to the stage of ever doing studio work, then, that's different.

The whole time I was working on the image, I thought about removing the button. Against my better judgment, I decided to leave it in there. I will revisit the image before it is printed and tone down the button.

Thanks!



Al,

Thanks, mate. The image looked great in colour, as well. :)

Yep, may tone down, or even clone out button in a revisit.



Deeno,

Thanks, mate! I hope to do more of this type of work soon.



Mike,

Cheers.

As mentioned, I'll revisit and then reconsider what to do with it. :)



Andrew,

Thanks, sir.

I'm not a fan of cloning out, either. The only time I try to do that is to remove dust bunnies.

Yep, toning might be the way to go.



David,

Thanks! I did nothing -- it was all him -- the kid'll grow up to be a model.



Roger,

Thanks, mate.

I wasn't necessarily thinking of the emotion at the time of working on this one, it was more of what felt or looked good to me. But, I can see that it has a look of sadness. I don't mind it. :)

You're right about the other objects in the background. I had another version where they were also bathed in blackness. But, it just didn't look as good.

As for what makes a good portrait; lighting, framing, composition, subject, expression and experience.



Michael,

Thanks, mate. :)



Liz,

Much appreciated.



Thank you all for the wonderful comment and constructive criticism.

Glad you enjoyed the image. :)

Regards,
Humayun