Title: "The Shark and Me"
Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom
Post-processing: Combined three exposures (-2,0,+2 using timer with camera on a nearby curb) with Photomatix HDR software > Photoshop CS3 > Duplicate Background Layer > Topaz Adjust plugin "Psychedelic" preset at @44% opacity > Level Adjustment Layer to set black and white points
5 comments:
I can't get my head wrapped around this one Barry. I like the concept and it's a cute idea, but I think I'm at odds with how it makes me feel.
It may be your serious look doesn't seem to fit with the posture of the shark. Holy cow, a shark with posture?
DHaass
Thanks for the comment Doug!
I think you're trying to say what my boss at work says when I try to be funny..."keep your day job!" LOL
Cheers!
Barry
Barry,
This is a really nice shot. I believe you have cornered the market on portraits of Barry Armer. Is there a big market here that I am missing?
I really like your treatment with the Topaz filters. By the way, are you scared that you might wear them out?
My only suggestion would be a capture one. I would like to simplify the background--make it almost all blue. I would move the camera right so as to get "his" profile, you looking at the camera from below his head and the back of the bench. I would also shoot it with an aperture that would produce less depth of field. I just do not think that the background adds anything.
I like what you are doing. Trying a lot of different things. I am sure that you will find that "look" you think expresses both the outward and inner Barry Armer. Keep look and keep shooting.
Good luck on finding the LOOK!
Thanks for your comments Patrick!
Its hard to imagine there will ever be a market for Barry Armer portraits, but if it happens I'll have the supply on hand to meet demand! :-)
I really really like the Topaz filters. Of course I really really liked Virtual Photographer a couple months ago. I still like VP a lot but I'm not using it nearly as much as I did when it was new to me. I'm counting on you to let me know if I am overusing any of my tools. In the mean time I just try to use them in ways I find appealing and hopefully not over the top.
I agree with your suggestions about the capture. I tend to use a pretty small aperture on a self-portrait where I have to use the camera's timer and then move into the picture. My thinking here is that the wider depth of field means I don't have to be perfect when I pre-focus and set the lens to manual focus for the shot. Of course, I suppose I could fix the DOF with in post-processing!
I'm not sure about the "look" but in the end it will probably involve a bag! LOL
Cheers!
Barry
I think you are doing a great job of finding subject matter Barry. I've made note of that a few times already, in previous posts. You see opportunities many of us pass by at first glance.
I had actually grabbed your photo to play with it a little in PS, just to see what different crops did with it. It removed some background but still didn't change the way I looked at it.
Don't sell yourself short. You cannot hit a home run every time, but you are taking a swing with every at bat.
DHaass
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