Gretsch

[susan]

Go ahead. I am interested in seeing if what bothers me about this photo bothers any one else. Have at it, critique away.

[celksy]

I really like this! Nice texture. I wouldn't say it bothers me, but I am wondering what the smoky stuff is near his head. Probably..... smoke, right? :)

[Marko]

The image would have been much stronger imo, if we could have seen more of the expression on his face. There's no real environment (except for a whisp of smoke) that you are showing here so for me, the story is being told/suggested by the hands and the facial expression which is mostly hidden.

That said, given the pose as it is now, Nothing really bothers me about this image - crop on right might be a bit tight is all....
Hope that may help.

[susan]

Thanks for the feedback!

Marko, I agree with your crit :thumbup: - however, i purposefully chose an image that keeps identity vague. :-) As for smoke - that is the background - a mottled purple piece of fleece. :-D Since I heavily vignetted it gets lost and becomes a suggestion of what they viewer wants it to be.

What bugs me hasn't been mentioned yet, so I will consider it a moot issue unless someone else picks up on it. :-)

[vyeko]

Even if not have visible expression of face is still very emotional.Position of his head show how he listen a music. What bothers me that I not see a nipple.

[Mad Aussie]

I think I'd add some shadow to the camera right side and bottom of frame. There's a small 'birthmark' like thing on his chest against the guitar which a) looks a bit weird and b) makes me wonder where his nipple is? I know mine would be visible.

[susan]

I think I'd add some shadow to the camera right side and bottom of frame. There's a small 'birthmark' like thing on his chest against the guitar which a) looks a bit weird and b) makes me wonder where his nipple is? I know mine would be visible.
-birthmark - too much 'burning' sigh. -nipple- behind guitar - modest model... :-D
for giggles... i like to offer up my original/untouched images and see other people's post process visions. i love diversity :-) please play along!

btw - i have model releases for images posted to the net.

[susan]

I hope the image size is big enough to play with 2000 long edge 300 dpi jpeg

[Iguanasan]

Hey, Susan, not sure if it's the thing you were talking about, but the first one to me makes it look like his left hand is just floating there. Especially since his hand doesn't wrap around the neck of the guitar. It just looks like the whole hand was just added in.

[theantiquetiger]

The only thing that bothers me is the hard shadow of his nose. I would either try to lighten it or darken the face. The missing nipple does seem a little weird.

That being said, this image is a work of art!!!! It reminds of the images of the rock stars from the 60's and 70's done by some famous photographer (maybe Annie Leibovitz).

I'm nominating it for picture of the month (just made it)

[Marko]

yup I totally see what iggy is saying, good catch.
I like the size of the colour version and the fact that the expression is more visible at this size - I think this size in bw would work well.

[susan]

Hey, Susan, not sure if it's the thing you were talking about, but the first one to me makes it look like his left hand is just floating there. Especially since his hand doesn't wrap around the neck of the guitar. It just looks like the whole hand was just added in.

I totally agree with that. I missed it too. Still not what bothers me, but I am glad you mentioned it.
Tiger. Thanks so much for the kindness!
Marko - glad you agree this works in B/W :-)
I do really like the orange color of the Gretsch tho but want to sacrifice that for the power of B/W

[theantiquetiger]

The only other thing I see in the image that might bother you is the distortion in the reflection of the guitar body. I see where you did some cloning with the distortion. I really like the distortion and your cloning of the wood grain behind it. If that is what you are talking about, I wouldn't change a thing.

***edit - I went back and studied it some more and realize it is not cloned. It does appear you had to burn it quite a bit from original to get the wood grain to come out. Like I said, if this is what is bothers you, don't let it. It looks very natural and perfect ***