More People of Myanmar

[Marvin]

This is part 2 of my brother's candids from Myanmar. Comments appreciated.
Cheers,
Lee

[Handlebars]

#2 is a fantastic portrait.

#3 would have been brilliant if the whole fishing net was in frame!

[mattyjacobs]

#2 is fantastic! has he tried a b/w conversion?

EDIT: Marvin/Lee, that #2 shot reminds me of a pic that I saw in a photography magazine, about giving a photo a 'grainy/gritty' sort of treatment in PS ... I had a bit of a play with it ... do you mind if I post it up here?

[Bubby]

#2 is my favourite, but like matty said would love to see a b/w version

[Steffen]

Yet again, great reportage, marred only by minor technical mistakes. Like the slight (though not necessarily objectionable) lack of sharpness in #1, the cropped fishing net in #3, or the crooked horizon in #4. These are mere nit-picks though, well and truly.

The images work very nicely and convey a sense of intimacy that lifts them well above tourist shots.

Cheers
Steffen. PS my favourite is #5, I guess for the red and green, and the intense look on the girl's face...

[Marvin]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the feedback. Matty, no go right ahead. I would love to see what you can do with it!
Lee

[mattyjacobs]

cool - the magazine article (seemed to be a pommy photography magazine) was showing how to give a nice treatment in photoshop to pics of older people, especially old fellas with leathery skin, which your #2 pic reminded me of.

Basically, the dude was saying that you start by making a duplicate layer. Then, you completely desaturate the background layer, and slightly boost the saturation of the other layer.

Then, in layer blending, he set it to multiply, and reduced the opacity till it looks nice. Then you kind of fiddle around with the opacity and the saturation of the colour layer until you're happy.

He also added a noise layer for a bit of grit, and a solid colour layer (v. dark brown, with opacity wound down a touch to hide the background), then used a white brush to paint over the guys face, to reveal the face a bit ... had to explain, but I didn't do that with this one.

The treatment really suits old blokes. I tried it on a pic of my wife, and it didn't suit it at all ... it brings out a lot of wrinkles and blemishes.

[ozimax]

#2 is excellent, the sharpness, the skin detail, perfect exposure.

[Marvin]

Hi Matty,
You are right - the treatment really does bring out the character in the face. I would like to see it a bit lighter around the eyes - thanks for the tips.
Lee

[mattyjacobs]

no worries, thanks for letting me have a play!

I'm sure that you can bring out lightness in the eyes by playing with the opactiy and saturation a bit.

[zafra52]

2-3 and 5 are all great images. It is not that the others are bad, they are just not as accomplished, I think. I would have liked to see the top part of the net in picture 3 and a bit more reflection in the water in picture 4, but I know that sometimes it is difficult to get what you want in the field. I think you should feel very good with each one of these images. Well done!