Grunge Sport Photography 1st attempt

[vipgraphx]

I would like to share this photo of myself. I coach soccer and and I also am a Goal Keeper coach. I wanted to go at it a little different this time with replacing the background and using photoshop and nik software processing techniques to try to achieve a certain style of photography and processing I have come to like.

I am not sure what you call it but when you do a search for grunge sport photography you can see many other samples.

I used an HDR background I took a few months back and did some layer masking to get me into this background. I then used various masking filters and brushes to get this final look.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this photo.

Thanks!

GK alley by VIPGraphX, on Flickr

 

[darkchild]

I like it a lot! Love the lighting

 

[darkchild]

The background right is a bit over exposed but it doesn't bother me much because my eyes are drawn to the main subject which is you holding the ball

 

[korreman]

For the perfectionists: The ball overlaps his chin just a teeny bit. Jk, nice photo! The background is a bit overexposed yea.

 

[annamaria]

I like the processing, nice shot, but the background light is a little distracting for me.

 

[Braineack]

The background simply doesn't make sense to me. I'd chop in something better...

 

[tirediron]

Agree ^^ The processing of the player looks good, but the background doesn't work for me, and I'd like to see a bit more room below his elbows.

 

[vipgraphx]

Ok thanks - Reason for the background choice were a couple of things. 1) when I see these pictures of gritty grungie sports photos many of them have HDR like/ over exposed / back grounds that are like it abandoned areas of towns / streets and alley ways. 2) all thought I wanted an HDR sunset on a soccer field I did not have any in my collection and did not want to copy and past someone else's work.

I will be at the park tonight and I will try to take a sunset HDR background and drop it in.

I am still learning this technique and processing.

 

[Rick50]

By the way, you can use a single exposure and do HDR stuff to it. At least in Photomatix I've done this. I haven't played much with HDR in PS.
I kind of like what you have done. Jumps out at me which I think you intended. Yes, the BG could improve.

 

[vipgraphx]

By the way, you can use a single exposure and do HDR stuff to it. At least in Photomatix I've done this. I haven't played much with HDR in PS.
I kind of like what you have done. Jumps out at me which I think you intended. Yes, the BG could improve.

Yeah I have done this in the past. What I am trying to do is get the lighting on the person to be a dramatic light then add in BG as a composite.

Thanks and yeah I was wanting the person to jump out at you.

 

[runnah]

I'd blur the BG slightly.