Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Toyed around with one of my favorite snaps of this last season. Seems the Brides are really liking the artsy look so this is what I came up with, going to use it on my home page .......

(Download)

Bobbee

Yes they do. They see the good shots and say, 'that is nice'. they see these things and go WOW. People seem to like different today. A lot of brides like it when you PUSH the editing. People here don't like it but the brides do. And think about it, the people here aren't sending me checks, just advice. I like this, It is saved in the 2016 UHH archive folder for reference.

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

I love the effect!

But, was the top of her head intentionally cut off?

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Yes

And the youngsters like it that way ;-)

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

BC, now THAT, I really, really like.

I saw a tutorial on how to do snow, and also one on how to do realistic shallow DOF lights (you know how I hate the "b" word) Yours is an awesome combination of both.

Is this an action, or did you do it by hand?

I have been messing around a bit with making my own special effect actions, so I don't have to keep repeating all the steps and settings, just more paint, and hit next, then paint, hit next, select, hit next, etc.

As for cutting off the top of the head, I hear you! I still have difficulty doing it, just because I'm old and set in my ways, but it seems to be the higher end the photographer, the more of the head gets chopped off.

I'm surprised someone like Ed (as high end as he is) isn't asked to do all photos from the neck down :shock: :thumbup: :shock:

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

It's a special effect 'action' for Photoshop, you buy it .......

fotodon Loc: Oberlin, OH

Great FX!!! Since we do a lot of FX, both with wedding, portrait and fine art and mostly from scratch as the mood demands, we tend to not use much canned stuff. However, this one is a real winner. Please tell us which one it is before I start trying to duplicate it in Photoshop. What the heck, I may do that anyway. One of my favorite sections in Photoshop User is the one where they tell you how they duplicated an effect from a famous movie poster or something similar.

However, as great as the FX is, the pose is what grabbed me at first glance. We use the well worn bouquet/half face shot a lot because it never seems to lose it's appeal with brides. The clincher is how it accentuates the eyes. On your shot, the eyes are absolutely captivating. Are they natural or did you do something to brighten them? Either way, the eyes are what makes this shot outstanding in my book. And this is not to downplay the great FX.

This shot is a fine example of what great wedding photography should look like when all the elements of composition, lighting and PP are expertly used. That's my two cents worth, which is usually not worth a plug nickel, so don't let it go to your head. At least not until you sell her a big wall hanger or win a competition with it.

Now that I over did the compliments I will offer a subjective suggestion. How about a square crop. Top and bottom as is. Right crop at the vertical line in the background just off her shoulder. Left crop where it falls in a square.

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Thanks Don,

Actually it was just tossing up paint splatter, adding/deleting until it seemed right.

Never played with this in Photoshop before so I was pleased as several on this forum and others have given it high marks.

The eyes are for real, though I did make the white of the eye a bit whiter, she really had great eyes 8-)

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Here you go Don .....

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Good call Don. I loved the original, but I do think I like the square crop more. I notice her eyes even more.

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

Looks Great! It has all been said previously so I will just add my appreciation to the list :)

Something I would experiment with to see what it looks like would be to remove the grey haze overlay part of the effect from the brides skin, but leaving the paint splatters. I have never been a fine art kind of guy and am probably wrong, but just a thought.