And now in colour - which is better?

Ian · #1 30-05-12

After the mono study of Mariana from last Saturday's shoot on Brighton Beach, here she is in glorious colour. But here are two versions, which do you prefer?

or

Ian

OlyPaul · #2 30-05-12

I much prefer the second one as it is more dynamic due to the cropping.

The building in the background and fringing around it in the first one is to distracting in my opinion.

I think I would have asked Mariana to remove the hair stuck on her face before taking the image, in the mono one where it is across her eye it adds to the mood of the image, here not so much.

Ian · #3 30-05-12

Thanks Paul - I entirely agree. Attention to details like the hair at the time of shooting is something I have to work on!

I think it could be removed with a bit or work.

Ian

devilgas · #4 30-05-12

definitely the 2nd, however i'd have been tempted to crop more of the chalk face out as it is competing against the model. the hair across the forehead and chin is a deffo no-no though

personally, i'd have to remove it with PP

Ian · #5 30-05-12

Fair comment. Mariana, ideally, would have been higher up. The face on the column and the model are not really balanced enough.

Ian

Pops · #6 30-05-12

I much prefer the cropped version, the sky and building were a huge distraction.
The hair across the face is not natural looking at all. In fact the piece across the lower face looks like it could have been drawn on with a felt pen.
I was also thinking that more could be cropped from the top at the expense of losing the complete chalked face.

Ian · #7 31-05-12

Thanks for the feedback. I hope this has moved in the right direction!

I have worked some more on this shot: I have removed the unwanted hair on Mariana's face and cropped a little tighter. And I have produced a mono version too:

And here is the mono version - which I actually like best:

Ian

Pops · #8 31-05-12

Both very good. Don't think you could do any better with them.

John Perriment · #9 01-06-12

Getting rid of that stray hair has made all the difference and yes, mono for me too!

devilgas · #10 01-06-12

Much much better ian! I'm preferring the mono simply due to the greater contrast, but both now work very well. Top stuff!

OlyPaul · #11 01-06-12

Much better with the hair removed Ian.

I prefer the colour one but with the caveat that the background needs darkening to set the focus more on the models face.

Hope you do not mind but a slight adjustment using the gradient tool in LR on the background for your consideration. Just a suggestion to be taken or ignored.

Ian · #12 01-06-12

An interesting interpretation, Paul - it's fascinating to see how all the different reworkings of this image have developed the image!

Ian

devilgas · #13 01-06-12

I like what Paul has done, however I'd apply the effect to all of the chalk face background - reduce it by 1/2 -1 stop