High Contrast Nude (NSFW)

Efergoh · Mar 22, 2007

Alright, I've been mostly a film shooter, only shooting digital for fun and games. but now that I have access to a decent editing program, I decided (or rather my professor decided) that I should explore digital a bit more seriously...

I spent some time with this one in photoshop. I didn't think that the original was bad as it was shot in camera, but after playing with this one, I think I like this better. Am I off my nut? What do y'all think?

This is the original:

This is the edit...

PNA · Mar 22, 2007

OK.....I like the shot overall, both.

In both the hair line, head to flowing hair does not seem normal. I not sure what can be done, perhaps select color and then bring in the color of the hair......

I do like the original a bit better with the cloth backdrop, but the darking of the model in the second one has more appeal. Of course remove the item on the right side.

One man's opinion.

Efergoh · Mar 22, 2007

Thanks...

PNA said:
Of course remove the item on the right side.

Yeah, that was the ladder upon which I was standing (about 15ft over the model). My perch was precarious at best. I'm surprised I was able to hold still enough to get the shot and didn't fall off the ladder bring an end to myself, camera, and model.

Flash Harry · Mar 23, 2007

She looks a bit too "tight" to me, if you understand my meaning, try getting the model to relax a bit more before hovering above her.

awe · Mar 23, 2007

Very nice composition.

As for the background, I'd probably do something in-between your two versions; the second one appears a tad bit too dark, especially because your model seems to be a bit overexposed.

JonR · Mar 23, 2007

Yeah, there are highlights on her arm and hand which don't really add to her skin tone.

Also, when posing i'd ask her to stretch her chin out a little, she looks a bit 'compressed' for want of a better word.

grafiks · Mar 24, 2007

I did a crop and adjusted brightness by -20 and contrast by -11.

RMThompson · Mar 24, 2007

My take...

dbyrd · Mar 24, 2007

Light is way too harsh.How did you light this? Diffused light or ceiling bounce usually work well with this type of pose.
Good start to your digital venture.

Efergoh · Mar 24, 2007

dbyrd said:
Light is way too harsh.How did you light this? Diffused light or ceiling bounce usually work well with this type of pose.
Good start to your digital venture.

It was lit with two strobes (or flash if the term strobe tweaks your nose). One at her head and another at her feet. They had soft boxes mounted on them and were set facing each other, not downward at the model.

I wanted kind of a "harsh" light because I was planning to give her a "glossy/plastic/hyper real" look in post.

I really like RMThompson's B&W version. Not sure about the blur, but I love the contrast.

Efergoh · Mar 24, 2007

My take on RMThompson's take

Tyson · Mar 25, 2007

I don't like the hair you need her to stretch her neck a little to get rid of the chin.

RMThompson · Mar 26, 2007

Efergoh said:
My take on RMThompson's take

I like it here without the blur...

Alpha · Mar 26, 2007

My only comment is that the photo breaks several cardinal rules of nude photography. 1) No flat lighting. The flat lighting across the torso is particularly egregious in this case, as there are no shadows except beneath the single partially exposed breast. 2) Shoulders should never be raised unless they are asymmetric, and they should never be parallel. Her shoulders are both raised and parallel. But there's good news. I just saved a bundle on my car insurance.