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I've been meaning to rework a portrait I took a few months ago with a specific idea in mind... I wanted to get your thoughts. Just a note that I've posted this in an international forum and got 'some' feedback so i've tried to improve upon it a little. So this is version 2.1.

Any hints, tips for improvements and any comments greatly appreciated.

I like the rework however feel the gun shot and glass fracture don't seem too realistic. I have no experience in such things but it looks less like a gunshot and more like a light of some sort. If ou know what I mean. Also there is no bullet?

I must admit that it doesn't work as a photograph
for me. It might as a graphic poster.

I quite like it. It is different and for that reason alone it works for me. Not sure how the effect has been achieved but well done for exploring.

Hey Suren, I reckon as a concept its great, the execution is also sweet as well. There is no doubt that its a manufactured image, this I like, there is no crossover, its not trying to be a complete realism, its a scifi/fantasy image.

I personally would look at mixing the clarity of the face in V1 with this version, i like the overall glass panel, the water drops etc in this version however that processing has left the face a bit muddled, now remembering that we are not portraying reality, i think having that clarity on the face from V1 would really engage the viewer with the person and not just the gun.

good lateral thinking in my opinion.

biggerry wrote:I personally would look at mixing the clarity of the face in V1 with this version, i like the overall glass panel, the water drops etc in this version however that processing has left the face a bit muddled, now remembering that we are not portraying reality, i think having that clarity on the face from V1 would really engage the viewer with the person and not just the gun.

This is important as I can fix this very easily. I was trying to create seperation between the glass and the person; I was keen to create two worlds. His on the other side of the glass, and the viewer whose space has just been invaded by the shattering glass.
Thanks Gerry for your detailed comments.

Reschsmooth wrote:feel the gun shot and glass fracture don't seem too realistic. I have no experience in such things but it looks less like a gunshot and more like a light of some sort. If ou know what I mean. Also there is no bullet?

I think I might work on those a little more. Yeah, about that bullet. Does anyone have any I could borrow?.... I asked all the supermarkets and Kmart etc and they said they don't have any in stock...

zafra52 wrote:I must admit that it doesn't work as a photograph

Hi Zafra, I don't subscribe to the energypolice way of life.

Geoff M wrote:Not sure how the effect has been achieved but well done for exploring.

Hi Geoff, this was done all in-camera + post processing = the photographic workflow. In hindsight, I should have just found a dirty window to photograph. It's so much easier to just photograph the damn things than to create them from scratch.

Surenj, I am sorry it you took offence at my comment,
but it was not intended. The fact that the special
effects do not work for me and that I might prefer the
original to this version doesn't mean it is bad. It means
my taste is elsewhere.

Some times we choose to cross the thin boundaries that
exists between photography and graphic art. Some
pictures are better as a graphic than as a photograph
(this is a matter of opinion) as it happened when I turned
the bullfighting photograph into a graphic to spare
the possible sensitivity of the viewer. Some of you liked
it and many didn't, and I respect that.

Zafra,
I'd never take any offence to comments made here. Most of my comments are tongue in cheek and that's hard to convey in a forum. Thanks for your explanation and I value your comments.

Thanks for your reply.