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For some a serious matter...

It bothers me a little. After thinking about it, I think the "plastic" skin on her face is at odds with the rest of the image she seems keen to portray.
A more craggy - that's the wrong word but its the one that springs to mind - look to her face would work better I think. As it is I can't help thinking she's had a facelift gone wrong
(Please don't tell her where I live!)

 LOL... in my experience, no matter how alternative a woman's lifestyle might be, all prefer an image with an 'enhanced' face... basic human nature.
I think this looks more plastic in the smaller image as quite a bit of texture is lost in the conversion.
That said I'll need to go back and review what I did... it's quite likely looking at this version that I've been heavy handed with the makeup brush... and your input is just the sort of reason to post here... ta !!!

Hi Mj - is there a reason for the doorjam/corner just to the right or is that just the scene as it was

The corner you see is part of the elevator lift. Part of the challenge of this series of shots (I've only posted the one) is that the model was in a lift with very little opportunity for lighting options and a fairly tight space both around her and behind me... it's one of the joys of this sort of location shooting... that and the tendency for the lift to keep going either up or down!
She got some pretty interesting responses from some of the residents who used the lift during the shoot !!!

I could actually remove all of the elevator bits and pieces (like the corner, flooring and skirting) but then it starts to look like any other studio shoot with one light and a mottled backdrop and start to lose any sense of depth... as there is literally an ocean of that sort of image out there I try to do something at least a little bit different. It doesn't always work of course which is a good reason to post here and see what reaction I get. In part I think I possibly have removed too much of the elevator components... to the left there is the other doorjam and the left controls etc but they weren't exactly all that pretty to look at so I cropped them out. I've also clearly over done the face make up so will pare that back.
Thinking that I'll plan to do a really grungy, scary composition with this model... I know she wants to do something with blood and corpses and graves etc, well... let's just say you'd not hang it in your kid's room... she already has 2 litres of blood at the ready

I'm focused on getting a broader portfolio of work than the typical bikini/lingerie/glamour and fashion stuff, which I have, but there's just too much out there... it's fun to try to other things and to work with people with a different view on life.

Mr Darcy wrote:It bothers me a little.... (Please don't tell her where I live!)

She'll possibly read this at some point... be afraid... be very afraid...

MJ
Don't change a damn thing! That is one hell of an image and I love it! I love the plastic face as it fits the theme and the lift/doorjamb enhances the composition. This is a fine art image and deserves space on a gallery wall. Picture of the year in my opinion.

strangely scared, yet attracted.....

MJ
I keep coming back to this image for another look. I think it should go into the annually held Moran photographic portraiture competition. There's big money to be had aside from the obvious prestige. I have seen imagery not up to the standadrd of this image take prizes so what's to lose? I am sure it will be very well regarded. It's images like this that make me love this forum.

Like Matt I keep coming back to look at this image.

What I now see (or think I see) is an amazing image where the body looks 3D but the face appears to be painted on the wall - I love it

Matt. K wrote:...should go into the annually held Moran photographic portraiture competition....

Interesting thought Matt... looks like the competition for this year ended in May so I'll need to watch out for when 2013 opens for submissions.

sirhc55 wrote:What I now see (or think I see) is an amazing image where the body looks 3D but the face appears to be painted on the wall - I love it

Thank's Chris... it's comments and thoughts (both good and bad) that makes it worth posting here. Although I'm not a very prolific poster I always get a range of reactions when I do... which is great !!!

Youer image is the modern equivilent of a Modigliani. I would love to see a large print on high quality German paper.

 LOL... well spotted with the elongated face (I'm guessing)... when the opportunity came up to do a session with this model I just had to... I love to shoot with alternative types with attitude... and she has plenty (probably too much) of that... rather than polished pro models that have all the practised poses (they are great for commercial stuff though).

I might seek some help with paper and printing etc... this is certainly NOT an area of comfort for me but I might need to explore this if I really am going to submit something to a competition.

Michael,

With the discussion on the post you've applied, could you please post the OOC version?

It's certainly a very interesting image, with heaps of personality coming through.

Certainly...

I've just uploaded the original warts and all... not ever to be distributed in any way as I hate a client to see an unfinished product.
You should be able to see the full size jpg image in flickr.
As far as processing, all that I have really done is the following...

1. added some sharpening
2. adjusted 2 skin creases on the neck
3. nip and tuck at the corners of the lips
4. some perspiration shine removal on the forehead
5. some contrast adjustment to darken the floor and pants and highlight her face
6. removal of the joins in the background just because again they irritated me and took focus from her (IMHO).

That's about it... white balance was set and remains on 5500.

p.s. and added a border and signature. btw... I tried resizing the original in MS Picture Manager to make it the same size as the processed version but it changed the colours (space adjustment I assume)... I need to get my head around colour spaces better.

Original...


Processed...

Very interesting. I might fire up PS when I am back at the desktop and have a go.