I have found that sometimes Photoshop can give a "graphic" look to some photos...Too often a color portrait is too REAL, while black and white is a more graphic approach. It can be easy to go overboard with special effects, I am attempting to find appropriate applications....comments.....?

-- Mark (markphoto@xoommail.com), September 05, 1999

Answers

exceptional model, very nice pose and expression, decent lighting I would have used photoshop to soften it a little, not obscure to that degree but that's just me. I don't know, I guess it's a matter of taste. If the image has improved due to some shopping that's one thing but when the image becomes more photoshop than photo I lose interest when using a live subject. But what do I know....seriously. It boils down to personal tastes. I have to say that the expression on her face is priceless. My guess is that this image caught her best before shopping it.

-- Steve Foster (sfoster@spruceharbor.com), September 05, 1999.

Hmm. First take a very good photograph, then destroy it. Is the result an improvement? Of course, I can't compare it to the original, but this one looks as if it probably was a good image. Sure, some images are improved by simplification, by removing information, but I'm not convinced about this one. Perhaps if you merged it back with the original, with the face most 'photographic', and the bottom corners most 'shopped'. I might like it more. Perhaps I'm just an old fuddy-duddy.

Doubtless there is a market for this sort of image. Very strong graphically, many original qualities of the photograph seem to have survived the butchering.

Incidentally, I am all in favour of breaking boundaries between 'pure' photography and other mediums, I'm just not convinced about this one. I think it is the 'butchery' of the very attractive subject matter that wrecks it for me.

-- Alan Gibson (Alan.Gibson@technologist.com), September 07, 1999.

Here is the original photo without PS...As you can see, the quality is lacking and it needed something. My camera is not a megapixel plus it is cropped. I appreciate your comments...maybe this was a case of "hiding something"...I still like the effect!

-- Mark (markphoto@xoommail.com), September 07, 1999.

Well then, I suppose you learned a lesson then. Carry a real camera or you may miss a golden opportunity. This could have been something special, too bad.

-- steve vancosin (steve1chsn@aol.com), September 08, 1999.