Portraits from China

[rokkstar]

Hello guys,

Well, it's been a hell of a long time since I posted anything here, I've been so busy trying to get into the swing of things over here just haven't had time.

SO I've started going through my photos from China and been focusing on the portraits I took. The people there were so happy to have their photos taken it was a breath of fresh air. I think I got hooked on that!!

These are a selection of the few I've processed and would appreciate C&C on them.





Cheers

[macka]

Matt, these are excellent - could easily see them in national geographic or similar.

Very hard to pick a favourite, but I think it's #2 for its simplicity, lovely light, and engaging eyes.

Nice stuff.

Edit: I'm interested in your PP too, if you don't mind divulging.

[BT*ist]

They're all great - very stark (stylistically), very real. The lack of colour heightens the subjects' personalities.

[the foto fanatic]

Excellent collection of images.

[PiroStitch]

great stuff there Matt! The style you have there is somewhat similar to Steve McCurry's style of portraits

[Oscar]

Matt, these are excellent - could easily see them in national geographic or similar.

I agree with Kris.

These are stunning timeless shots. Really good stuff Matt.

Love the faces and the tones.

Cheers, Mick

[Alpha_7]

Matt these are awesome and well worth the wait to see, really nice and as Maka said, could easily be published in any number of magazines, I see a Chimp PhotoEssay coming on ???

I'm really glad they helped you get over asking to take peoples photos, you've really caught some engaging people and very moving portraits are the result. Well done!

[stubbsy]

Wow Matt these were sure worth the wait. The images themselves are great captures, but the very stylised PP you've done on them (especially the last shot of the kids) lifts these to an entirely different plane. Superlative. You've set a bloody high standard for the rest.

[radar]

Great images there Matt,

they all tell a story, make sure you put some of them up for Travel Photographer of the Year:
http://www.tpoty.com/pages/home.html

the first one if my favourite. I also looked through your pbase album, plenty of great shots there as well.

Thanks for sharing and not forgetting about us

André

[Kris]

Matt, WOW!

Fantastic, can you elobrate on how you gave these that look? They have a great feel to them but I feel a bit was added in PS? In any case - STUNNING captures

[sirhc55]

In a word - excellent

[Geoff]

Matt - Where the bloody hell have u been?
Your absence has been noted, so too has your amazing ability to capture a great portrait shot/s! Magical work buddy, I miss ya!

[Glen]

Beautiful Matt

[antman]

These are all top notch. Great series. Well done.

[Killakoala]

They are fantastic Matt. Definitely in your style. You have captured their expressions beautifully.

[Matt. K]

Nice work and welcome back! How's the weather over there....what????did I say something wrong?

[rokkstar]

Wow, thank you very much everyone. Thank you for the warm welcome 'home' as well.

Macka, I've definately tried something a bit different here with the PP. Basically all I'm doing is creating a dark curves layer with an opacity of about 50% and then 'painting' in areas of highlight with a brush. then I play with some more curves to get the contrast right.

I've got just two more I'd like to share with you. The first is a homeless man who let me take some shots and the second is a wonderful woman who rubbed centipede infused alcohol into my knee!!

How's the weather over there....what????did I say something wrong?

Last night we had an inch of snow and ENgland has officially been closed due to chaos!!! Beautiful though.

[wendellt]

welcome back

absolutely fantastic matt
reminds me of work in national geographic

you have such a strong style there

[Mal]

Great to see your work here again.
Simply Stunning

[Big V]

WOW

[beetleboy]

I absolutely love these Matt. Stunning. Powerful. Gritty.

Great treatment. Great compositions. Beautiful.

...and I'm spent!

[gooseberry]

Great series of pics Matt. Your PP reminds me of the work of Andrzej Dragan, after whom the term Draganizer effect has been named.

[Alpha_7]

Thanks for posting a few more I prefer the 2nd out of the 2nd batch, the homless guy is perhaps pushing the PP to far but only marginally. Either way the entire series is excellent and I'd expect a POTW or a CHIMP spread to be forth coming (IMHO).

[fishafotos]

Incredible shots, I love the people you have chosen to shoot and the pp is awesome.
I want to see more!!