Storybook Elopement (Page 3): This is a nice improvement, IMHO. I still believe a little Photoshop magic (including automatic content-aware fill and any ensuing touch-up) to center the...

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

wham121736 wrote:

This is a good attempt, but you've included too much that is distracting. I will not repeat what others have very well explained. Let me add however that you could have used the white sheet to your advantage by putting it behind both people. As it is the girls head and flowers blend in with the foliage. My quick example should give you some idea of what I and others have articulated. You have a good eye for composition so keep up the good work!

This is a nice improvement, IMHO. I still believe a little Photoshop magic (including automatic content-aware fill and any ensuing touch-up) to center the couple in the trellis would be a tremendous improvement -- and easily achieved.

Good thinking about the sheet as a backdrop behind the couples' heads. That could also be moved or enlarged in Ps pretty easily.

Red in Colorado

htbrown wrote:

When I look at the photo, it seems peculiarly flat to me, almost like it was taken indoors in front of a photo backdrop. Unless you spread dirt on the floor of your studio, that does not appear to be the case, so I'm not sure why it appears this way. Perhaps you need a different balance between the ambient light and the fill light?

Yes. Good catch. I deliberately flattened the light. It was taken outside in the late afternoon with natural light. I am glad it is noticeable.

Red in Colorado

Desert Gecko wrote:

This is a nice improvement, IMHO. I still believe a little Photoshop magic (including automatic content-aware fill and any ensuing touch-up) to center the couple in the trellis would be a tremendous improvement -- and easily achieved.

Good thinking about the sheet as a backdrop behind the couples' heads. That could also be moved or enlarged in Ps pretty easily.

I will be working on this further next week. I really appreciate everyone's input. This has been a terrific learning experience and I will be back with more. I am even learning how to ask for the type of critique I need.

fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

Red in Colorado wrote:

I will be working on this further next week. I really appreciate everyone's input. This has been a terrific learning experience and I will be back with more. I am even learning how to ask for the type of critique I need.

Im looking forward to seeing more of your work. You are very talented.

Red in Colorado

fergmark wrote:

Im looking forward to seeing more of your work. You are very talented.

Thank you very much. I appreciate that.
(I am learning to take compliments--see how well I did there?)

Red in Colorado

AzPicLady wrote:

I actually like the decorated trellis. It's the t... (show quote)

It's flat lighting. And I added a tint. Their skin is a funny color also. I think I went too intense on the reds for the era I was intending to emulate as far as the colors go. It throws one off a bit, but that is the effect I wanted.
I do think the decor is a matter of taste and I might move them around a bit to make myself a little happier. I agree that the background is too much. That was exactly what I couldn't figure out when I was working this.
Thank you.

Nightski

I really do love it and I like the processing. Two things. There's too much foreground that doesn't add anything. The antlers and the candle holder simply distract from your subject. They both intersect with the arbor and take away from it. I LOVE the arbor and the flowers. They add so much to your whole scheme. If you shot from a higher position maybe their heads wouldn't intersect with the arbor, but I'm not sure if that would make it better or not .. it's just something I would have tried in taking a variety of shots. The antlers could be off in the background somehwere or sticking in the dirt as if they'd been there awhile. The candle stick has to go in my opionion. But .. listen to this .. it's a very good image and I'm just what-iffing.

Red in Colorado

Nightski wrote:

I really do love it and I like the processing. Two... (show quote)

Thanks so much for the feedback. This wasn't my styling, so I didn't have a chance to change things. I want to work the shot for me to use and am definitely removing the random horn. I am going to try to get rid of the lampstand thing which, to me, is tacky in this shot. The higher angle shots looked weird, lol.
Thanks for taking the time to critique. I am incorporating much of this.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Red in Colorado wrote:

This is my first effort in the critique forum. I a... (show quote)

A good idea but it does need some work to make it a really great idea and an enchanting image. Each part of this kind of image should help tell the story of the main subject, the couple. Get rid of anything that is not related to the story line. Be sure when taking this kind of shot, or any shot for that matter, that "mergers" do not occur, such as the merger of the drape with the male's head. Also, in this particular case, centering the subject a bit away from and directly in front of the drape might have been a better choice. You've obviously got talent but you just need to keep working to fine tune it.