DSLRUsers.com

Had a coffee on the esplanade with a mate this afternoon. Snapped this one off with my new 85mm 1.4 as he answered his mobile.
He recenly had a skin graft on his nose and has a natural ruddy complexion. We were under typical coffee shop umbrellas in late afternoon light and there is some washed out background on the right.
Is this too distracting ?
Would you try to fix it in PP or scrap the photo?
How would you go about improving/ fixing it in photoshop?

Also my photos seem to loose some or their oomph!! when I upload to smugmug - Is this typical ?



Thanks
Bob G

Great shot Bob,, and so sharp, wish I could get my shots that sharp

Suzanne

Suzanne said:

Great shot Bob,, and so sharp, wish I could get my shots that sharp

Suzanne you can just buy an 85 f/1.4 lens from Birddog It's probably one of if not the sharpest lens in Nikons lineup

Bob this is a very sharp, well composed and exposed candid. The only suggestion I could offer is the distracting background removal- the bright colours and the hot spot distract the eyes from what is essentially a great portrait, a more neutral background would have focussed viewer attention more on the subject and I know it's difficult to get that when you are taking candids but perhaps slight repositioning may have accommodated this.
cheers
marco

You could select the background and desaturate it a little. I think that would improve it, but it is a great portrait.

I'd have a go at a B&W conversion. The background could be darkened to minimise the distraction. Also, it'd preserve the character lines in his face while removing the reddish tinge from his skin-grafted nose.

It's a good character shot, it's definitely worth holding on to.

You may also consider tendering this shot to this month's ES thread.

Cheers
Steffen.

Steffen wrote:You may also consider tendering this shot to this month's ES thread.

Cheers
Steffen.

However if anyone wants to be a sticklier for the rules, then the photo is of a mate, not of a stranger so technically it's not elligible, but other then that it certainly suits the theme and only builds my lens lust for a fast sharp prime.

great shot although the blue in the background is a bit distracting
~William

certainly a good capture. I would have to agree with rooboy's suggestion of going B&W. There is just some classic appeal that B&W evokes in a pic. perhaps clone out the telephone and monogram on the hat to make it more timeless.

good eye! keep shooting.