Under the Willow Tree

DanOstergren · Mar 3, 2015

runnah · Mar 3, 2015

I like the amount of detail you were able to keep while having the face in shadow. Good job.

Braineack · Mar 3, 2015

runnah said:
I like the amount of detail you were able to keep while having the face in shadow. Good job.

I thought you hated DR.

runnah · Mar 3, 2015

Braineack said:
runnah said:

I like the amount of detail you were able to keep while having the face in shadow. Good job.

Click to expand...

I thought you hated DR.

The irony of your statement is that he used a 5d MK1 and through skill and practice he was about to accomplish that.

DanOstergren · Mar 3, 2015

runnah said:
Braineack said:

runnah said:

I like the amount of detail you were able to keep while having the face in shadow. Good job.

Click to expand...

I thought you hated DR.

Click to expand...

The irony of your statement is that he used a 5d MK1 and through skill and practice he was about to accomplish that.

I don't even know what DR is, but thanks for the compliment.

I've been practicing like crazy to learn ways to balance my exposures in camera making sure I get as much detail as possible. I also shoot and process my raw images so that shadows and highlights are generally flat, because I know when I further process them in my style in photoshop that spots that are too dark or too bright to begin with will get clipped if I'm not careful.

DanOstergren · Mar 3, 2015

this is what it looked like before I started processing it.

screen_shot_2015_03_03_at_6_08_45_am_by_danostergren-d8k93g8.png

DanOstergren · Mar 5, 2015

pgriz · Mar 5, 2015

Nicely done, Dan. The final image is actually both appealing and disturbing. The clarity with which you show the eyes pulls you in. The shadow on his right side (our left) creates a certain disquiet. The branch shadows come across as drips of blood running down his face (I know they are not, but that was the impression I had when I saw the image). And yet, despite the "blood" his look is tranquil and direct. The processing and conversion have emphasized these elements and (to me) make it a very powerful portrait.

DanOstergren · Mar 5, 2015

pgriz said:
Nicely done, Dan. The final image is actually both appealing and disturbing. The clarity with which you show the eyes pulls you in. The shadow on his right side (our left) creates a certain disquiet. The branch shadows come across as drips of blood running down his face (I know they are not, but that was the impression I had when I saw the image). And yet, despite the "blood" his look is tranquil and direct. The processing and conversion have emphasized these elements and (to me) make it a very powerful portrait.

Thank you. I enjoy hearing that perspective. It's not one that I would normally notice in an image (blood makes me sick), but after you explained it I can certainly see and appreciate it. I love hearing all of the different ways an obscure portrait can be interpreted.