magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Yep, he's turning a lighthouse from a chunk of local serpentine stone - down at Lizard Point, Cornwall, UK. Do you approve of the processing, or have some helpful critique to offer - it will be welcome and appreciated.

(Download)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

This is a super-interesting image for me, a slice of life I never see, and a craftsman intent on his work.

Seems like the crop is perfect (as is the vignette) to include just the details of importance, and to show a bit of the setting. Such great clarity on his face, I can count the whiskers.

However, when enlarged, the clarity of his face contrasted to the out of focus wall seems a little unnatural, considering how close they are together. But that is only an issue (for me) on very close, enlarged examination - and doesn't affect my overall positive emotional response to the image.

Wondering if you considered removing the cord/cable that goes into his forehead?

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

I approve and have no help.......Wonderfully captured with the correct shutter speed to perfectly display the motion of the lathe and processed to perfection to emit the feeling of the scene. Splendid job all the way around magnetoman.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

You have spotted the Achilles heel Linda - a poor bit of pp on the background around his nose! A socket outlet, plugs and cables that appeared to drip from his nose have been cloned out, but not very expertly. I decided the cable you mention didn't matter, but should probably have removed it. Glad to approve the crop, I played with it quite a while! Many thanks for commenting.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Many thanks for commenting Frank, much appreciated. There are however some issues with it, as Linda mentions above.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Well at least you attended to the dripping nose - lol. Love it

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

In a scene like this none of that bothers me magnetoman, all part of a cramped work area......for some reason it's different than a tree trunk sprouting from a skull.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Excellent point!

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Take your point Frank - it was certainly cramped, just a little wooden hut with a purpose-built lathe and enough room to stand at it. The attached wooden shop where his goods are displayed was a bit bigger!

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Well my friend you asked about processing so here goes. Im not a technical guy but find BW much harder to control with bright areas than colour so my way around it is to break the picture into different areas and process just for the chosen area and then combine the images via layer masks
So here you have 3 zones. His head the background wall and his body. The background wall looks close to blown in front of his head and his face has a large bright spot. Dealing with these areas individually allows one to fine tune minor parts before combining the image into one.
If using something like Silver Efex you can choose three different pre sets if that's the way you work and when combined carefully its impossible to tell.
Some will read this and say Im crazy etc and a lightroom brush with a bit of dodging and burning is easier. OK I'm crazy but happy with the results I get with mono work. A picture may take me a good few hours of work but Im satisfied at the end of the procedure. Re cables on the back wall its finding that happy medium where the place looks natural but they do not intrude. I would say you got that about right my friend.
Love your subject matter by the way.

pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

a great image and super comments. I like the idea that this isn't a tree growing out of a skull. I think the background details are ok.. so long as proper separation exists between man and background. So... what Billy says, and perhaps soften the background details also. I was wondering where his safety glasses were, even reading glasses might be good, but having said that, obviously this man knows what he is about!

BTW, love the blur on the lathe belt. Gives a wonderful sense of depth and motion.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Great shot - not much room for improvement. If it was mine I'd try to lose some of the glare on the wall right in front of his face and on the cowling on the lathe. And I'd try to brighten what he's working on or at the very least brighten that general area. The subject of his concentration deserves a bit of emphasis.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

I don't think H&S has ever entered this chaps head Frank! I stood in the doorway, holding the camera above the drive system for the lathe, which consisted unguarded flat belts - and the shine on the large pulley is obviously where he slows thing down with his hand once power is turned-off. Having studied machine shop engineering as a young man, and having had a workshop of my own throughout my life, I must admit one can get a bit blase about these things, but where the public or customers can walk in it definitely pays to take a few precautions! I had a chap visit once with his child and the young lad turned a knob simply because it was in front of him - it started my lathe! Fortunately no damage to him or the machine but I made sure all machinery was isolated before allowing anybody into the workshop after that event.
I have a local stone carver that says I can visit his workshop for a shoot sometime soon, so I'm hoping for some more in a similar vein.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Hi RG, thanks for commenting - yes, I did think about brightening the workpiece a bit but forgot to do it! Your other suggestions are all valid and I may have another go at it if I can put a little series together of craftspeople doing their thing - there are plenty around here if they can be persuaded to pose.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Thanks for the guidance Billy, it's an interesting approach - must admit to being a Lr fan, so brushes seem the easiest way for me. I am using Ps as you know, and tend to do some tasks in one then swap to the other, usually finishing-off in Lr. As always, I'm following some online videos at present in the hope that all this layers, adjustments and blending modes thing will eventually gel within my befuddled bonce! I use your advice often for HDR in Ps so there's hope for me yet!