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Couldn't improve the lights, but I thought I'd atleast use the tripod this time. Nothing outstanding but I had fun making them. Sorry but my shirt is off again

Craig, I think you need a softer look to the portraits. It shows too much detail.

Nito, thanks. I haven't mastered making it softer.. how is this for a rough try ?

the first one is very James Dean all you need is a cigarette
the subtle suggestion that your not wearign a shirt empowers this shot

Thanks for the feedback Wendell, I'm just messing around seeing what works and what doesn't. I passed over the next shot previously as it was OOF, but after I did a B&W conversion on it... it has a interesting mood to it. I didn't do any sharpening here as I wanted to keep the blurred look.



My guess is it will be too OOF for most.

Edit : Added another shot.

Craig these are a huge improvement on your first try. Keep at it.

Oneputt wrote:Craig these are a huge improvement on your first try. Keep at it.

Thanks John, I'm enjoying messying around, I actually really like this version, but it's very PP'ed.

I like the third one and the one above this post.

For that third one, did you solarize it?

Nnnnsic wrote:I like the third one and the one above this post.

For that third one, did you solarize it?

The third one was me playing with the curves something drastic, I just kept bending them every which way till I got this rather bizarre mix of light and shadow. I'm not really familar with the solarize term, so not sure, but at a guess I doubt I solarized it.

I like the last offering too, it has a very.. hard to describe feel to it.

think the first one would have been much better with a plain white background.
high key would probably work well on it.

or mid grey perhaps.
the half and half weakens it.

we want to see you in the portrait. no background to cause distractions.

very james dean though.

Better than the self portrait thingy I just posted



Steve

Good point about the background, next time I'll actually make a bit more of a backdrop... I was trying to use a sheet, but geting it, me and the camera all in the right place (in my lounge room was challenging).
I had to look up some pics of James Dean so see why I'd got those comments, I can see what you and Wendell mean (I might try a high key version too as you suggested, but not sure what you meant by mid grey (could you provide an example?))

the blurry versions look almost pornographic like tjheres something going on

the POTW is a greyish B/g
kinda like that.

basically any shade that allows your features to be seen.
I think any lighter colour might do the job, especially with the monochrome treatment.

wendellt wrote:the blurry versions look almost pornographic like tjheres something going on

Thanks Wendell for that lovely imagery, let me just say for the record, my shirt was off, but my wants were on!

the POTW is a greyish B/g
kinda like that.

Thanks Steve, I get the drift now, and will try to incorporate that into my next trial

Alpha_7 wrote:

wendellt wrote:the blurry versions look almost pornographic like tjheres something going on

Thanks Wendell for that lovely imagery, let me just say for the record, my shirt was off, but my wants were on!

Now I am worried Craig, your "wants were on" Hope Katie was one of your wants.

Wendell you are a bugger, I will never be able to look at this series in the same light again!

Glen wrote:

Alpha_7 wrote:

wendellt wrote:the blurry versions look almost pornographic like tjheres something going on

Thanks Wendell for that lovely imagery, let me just say for the record, my shirt was off, but my wants were on!

Now I am worried Craig, your "wants were on" Hope Katie was one of your wants.

Wendell you are a bugger, I will never be able to look at this series in the same light again!

Dammit, should of double checked that before I hit post. I did mean Pants, not wants... LOL, funny how twisted my meaning can get with a typo.... looks at the keyboard W and P are miles from each other...

Alpha_7 wrote:Dammit, should of double checked that before I hit post. I did mean Pants, not wants... LOL, funny how twisted my meaning can get with a typo.... looks at the keyboard W and P are miles from each other...

Now what would Freud say about that!

Craig. I really like the first of these images. The angle and the B & W treatment are spot on (and can't believe you didn't know who James Dean was). Below is my attempt at giving it the soft focus treatment. Blurred the entire image then removed the blur from eyes, eyebrows and lips. Then dodged the white of the eyes a touch and burnt the lips a little. If you don't like this, I can remove it.

Stubbsy I know of James Dean, I wasn't aware how popular moody black and white images were of him I'm not completely uncultured, just partially. Freud would be having a grand old time reading this thread I think.

Onto your version, I really like it, I obviously have to learn how to use the burn and dodge tools. With my version I basically had two layers, and cut out eyes of the blurry one (and it was dodgey). So I definetly prefer you technique, but.. well I feel I look quiet feminine now, or more so then earlier ? Anyone else get that vibe from stubbsy version ? Please keep the shot up btw Peter.

Craig,
Katie is looking behind your shoulder

so this is what goes on in our loungeroom when i try and get an early night...maybe ill stay up and watch the photo shoot tonight

i like the original b&w photo!

Katie

Birddog114 wrote:Craig,
Katie is looking behind your shoulder

Well she wasn't then, but she appears to be now

Craig, I think Stubbsy has nailed this first one, you look young enough to be in a boy band. I liked the first too, but got distracted by Wendell's comments. You do look a bit like James Dean, here is a pic of him a few hours before he died in his 550 Spyder. I have always loved that look of confidence he had right before disaster

Craig, it is a touch more feminine with the lack of detail, don't worry wait 20 years and you will have a "character filled" face like the rest of us and be pining that smooth skin

The lighting is what made this one the best of yours so far Craig.




Katie, maybe tonight Craig will do the centrefold version with staples and all

sorry - im not used to the inuendo on this forum - can you explain more for those of us with pure minds?

Katie, sorry showing my age. Many, many years ago Playboy and Penthouse used to have 3 page pull out naked centrefolds, I don't think they still do but don't actually know. I actually had a short relationship with a centrefold, which meant I heard many. many versions of the comment "does she really have staples" or "have you seen her staples" which meant "have you seen her naked yet". So my comment meant Craig will do the naked centrefold version for you tonight Sort of loses something in the translation

ok well it makes some sense now - but i think you would all rather be spared from witnessing an "Alpha_7 Centrefold".

dont give him any more ideas either - any of you !!!!!

Alpha_7 wrote:With my version I basically had two layers, and cut out eyes of the blurry one (and it was dodgey). So I definetly prefer you technique, but.. well I feel I look quiet feminine now, or more so then earlier ? Anyone else get that vibe from stubbsy version ? Please keep the shot up btw Peter.

Maybe the darker lips make it look more feminine?

So far as technique. I used Nik Color Efex Pro Classical Soft Focus filter in what's called Selective Mode in Photoshop. Basically this let's you selectively paint the filter onto or paint it off of the image. I filled the entire image with the effect, then using the brush with a blurry edge painted the effect off (ie erased with the brush) on the aforementioned areas. Took about 2 minutes all up.

On behalf of Steve I'm posting for him a version he did of the same shot, but High Key treatment.



I look like either I'm in heaven, or Boyzone now


Thanks Steve.

Katie G wrote:ok well it makes some sense now - but i think you would all rather be spared from witnessing an "Alpha_7 Centrefold".

dont give him any more ideas either - any of you !!!!!

Glen
I surely missed all of the centrefolds in the oldies days.
We used to hang them around our BOQ (Bachelor Officer Quater) and had been asked to stripped them off when our Base Commander came in for inspection, and we re-hang them next day. love to see them again.

Craig,
If there's, I'm sure one of your centrefolds will be hang around public places.
Try to make one and you'll be rich

Nice one Craig
send it to a promo agency seriously you may get an offer

wendellt wrote:Nice one Craig
send it to a promo agency seriously you may get an offer

Care to suggest one Wendell?



Birddy, I remember the days when centrefolds were big, those days are just a memory in these politically correct days

Alpha_7 wrote:Sorry but my shirt is off again

Clearly you are too sexy for your shirt!

Love that "Have you seen her staples?" call Glen, hilarious stuff!

Craig
I think the first image is a fine portrait! Your composition works very well and the image sits big in the frame.

This thread is quite funny

Craig,
This is a much better attempt in my opinion. A bit of a shame about the distracting backgorund. Nice composition.

macka wrote:This thread is quite funny

Craig,
This is a much better attempt in my opinion. A bit of a shame about the distracting backgorund. Nice composition.

Macka,
Craig is busy in setting up the studio and ready for the shoot

craig yous are the bords sex symbols

Macka still wins Craig