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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 77: Single Light Source (Host: Michael Puff) >> Challenge 77: Eligible > 12th Place
Break Time
by Victor Engel
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26-SEP-2006 Victor Engel

12th Place
Break Time
by Victor Engel

Austin, TX

Canon EOS 10D ,Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
1/40s f/2.0 at 135.0mm iso800 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Canon DSLR Challenge03-Oct-2006 23:21
I like it now! - Pops
Guest 03-Oct-2006 22:36
I like the cool details in this portrait. The partial desaturation on the necklace doesn't do anything for me one way or the other. For me, the primary problem is that the brightest area in the image is focused on her right shoulder and chest, thereby grabbing my attention. While still maintaining the deep shadow from the cap, I think the brightest area should be her shoulder and head, moving the central focus higher in the image. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge03-Oct-2006 22:30
OK. I've decided to go with this one. I removed the partial desat. I also added 5% USM with a large radius to bring out the 3rd dimension. -- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge03-Oct-2006 17:12
Interesting portrait Victor. Lots of detail to look at. Her pose, tattoo and general appearance make her look like a tough Harley girl but yet she seems to have a distant, wistful, far off look on her face. This contrast makes you want to look and study the image longer. As far as the green stone, I guess you'd have to be there to appreciate it as it doesn't really add anything to the image for me, I just want to look at all the other details. CJ
alexeig03-Oct-2006 15:10
Thats the combination of tatoo, posture and, the most important, the deep shadow on her eyes
Canon DSLR Challenge01-Oct-2006 21:16
Pops,

Thanks for the comments. I usually don't like partial desat either. Actually, I started out with partial desat and switched to partial channel mixer, to omit the excess noise in the blue channel. Another reason I omitted the blue channel is that there was an additional light source -- a blue light. By omitting the blue channel, I was able to bring this picture in compliance with the challenge rules.

Keeping the stone green is something I did just for myself. That is how the stone looked to me from across the room. I was amazed how brilliantly it shone. If anything, this picture is an understatement of what it looked like. That is lost in the B&W image (maybe a good thing).

I take your criticism to heart, though. In fact, the version of the file I saved has a desaturation layer with no mask that is simply unselected. I can get rid of the green simply be selecting that layer. Whether I do so will depend upon how I feel about the picture in a couple days.

Alexeig, What do you think makes her look evil? Is it the tattoo? Is it the partially curled fingers? The expression on her face?

Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge01-Oct-2006 20:47
Contrary to Shu, I don't like it. I just don't understand partial de-sats. I personally think they are an overdone and usually improperly done photo cliche. Go with full color or full B&W and this is a marvelous portrait.

The lonely splash of green does not convey anything to me. It does not specifically emphasize a single light source. It's just there. To me, it doesn't work. And on top of that the necklace does not appear to be anything special deserving it's retention of color, which to me is the purpose of partial de-sats. Why not her hair or the hat or her blouse, or her face?

Victor, you normally do shots that I really enjoy. This is not one of them. I just don't get or like partial de-sats, sorrry. I guess that's my problem.

Pops
alexeig01-Oct-2006 18:55
She looks a tad evil, this girl. Nice capture.
Canon DSLR Challenge01-Oct-2006 17:25
Very nice! I like the desat and and green bauble. The lighting is superb showing all the wonderful details (tatoos and belt reflection on belly). shu