Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

I often use a somewhat complex method of texturizing my images to give them a painterly quality. It involves layers of color, texture, noise, etc, followed by the "extraction" of the color using my digital tablet. I seldom do portraits (next to never, actually) but did this one in a saloon in Belmont, Nevada. (to find Belmont, find the middle of nowhere and then go 60 miles further!) I wondered how such a portrait might work when texturized. I wanted the textures to be subtle, but still present. so .....

No edits please, but have at it with comments and impressions.

Watching the Action

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

I love the romantic quality you have given this!
- If you can darken the light just to the left of his hat a little it would keep my attention more where it belongs otherwise print it and smile.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

This is just a first draft. I'll do that (and the one to the right as well) for the final. Thanks St3v3M.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Better?

Quick edit

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

It is beautiful, and if they were bar lights I might say leave them, but my eye is drawn to them and they do not add to the image.
I would love to know more about how you do this, but everyone needs at least one secret. Well done and thank you for sharing!

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

So much!

One thing I really love about this is that he is looking past the camera. You can clearly see his eyes which gives you the soul of the man, but it is like you are to his side witnessing a moment to come. It is very strong emotionally which leads me to wonder why you do not do more of these.

jrb1213 Loc: McDonough GEorgia

This is an image that shows resilience. A very good image. There are some objects on the right side of the picture that are distracting, both above his shoulder and a smaller one above his hat brim.
Normally I dislike any image with a frame placed around it, but the frame is appropriate in this case

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

I made a few adjustments in the quick edit to start eliminating background distractions. So far there has been enough positive reaction to warrant spending more time perfecting it. I really want to end up with something that is a bit reminiscent of a Rembrandt portrait

I usually do post with a mat and frame mockup. Since the end piece will be presented that way, I prefer to have it evaluated as if it were completed and on the wall.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

In all honesty, St3v3M, I just don't have much interest in photographing people! And posed photos of people hold even less interest for me.

Now in this case, I was in this little bar/saloon in Belmont. There were a few other travelers there as well. We were all drinking a concoction the bartender (the cowboy in the image) was mixing; something he called a Calico Punch, or some such name. I have no idea what was in it exactly (although I do remember there were at least five different spirits in the mix). It went down incredibly smooth and packed a bit more than the proverbial wallop! As the stories got more elaborate and more interesting, I picked up my camera and ripped off a string of quick candids of our host. Despite my general disinterest in portraits, the times (or maybe the punch) just called for a few shots here.

The unfortunate (or fortunate, depending on how you look at it) thing is that in my Calico Punch haze, I never thought to get out a model release, so I may have trouble if I decide to enter the final draft of this in some of the contests I like to participate in. I may have to go back there sometime this spring! Road trip ...

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Anything for a road trip!

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I am probably the worst possible person to evaluate portraits since I do almost none and don't often find them interesting. BUT - I find this one very appealing because it has such great natural lighting and environmental context, and is so well captured and presented. This appears to be not just a pose, but an image of a real and interesting person in a setting where he might normally be. I'm glad you got rid of the extraneous light flare on the upper left. My only, very tiny quibble would be that the area between his hat and shoulder on the right side don't appear to have been subjected to the same degree of processing blur (or whatever it is) as the area above the hat on the same side. On a photo of this caliber, every little thing is worth noticing. Whatever you're doing with that texturizing is pretty wonderful. I hope you'll show us more. I also hope you'll give us hints, at least up to the point that you'd be giving away valuable trade secrets.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

It is outstanding. In addition to what you have done, just darken that little area below his hat brim and above the scarf.
Great image.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

The unfortunate (or fortunate, depending on how you look at it) thing is that in my Calico Punch haze, I never thought to get out a model release, so I may have trouble if I decide to enter the final draft of this in some of the contests I like to participate in. I may have to go back there sometime this spring! Road trip ...[/quote]

Offer him a copy of the print and he'll sign all the releases you want. He'll probably commission a 24 x 36 to hang behind the bar.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

OK, people, here is the final version (I'm pretty sure, anyway). Decided to really work the contrast, and go for a more "Rembrandt" style. Strengthened the textures in the face. I think I got what I was going for. Final comments appreciated. If you spot an annoyance, let me know so I can decide if it is something I might want to change. Thanks to all y'all for your help. --Jim--

Oh, title?

Watching the Action (final version)

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Well done.