Self: B&W or Color

[crbeveri]

Cheers

[tml]

Such a formal shot, perhaps, a squarish format would be better. The background texture is a little too "loud" in my opinion. Color for me since the B+W could not compete with the background.

Tri

[The Philos]

I agree with Tri.

[crbeveri]

Originally Posted by tml

Such a formal shot, perhaps, a squarish format would be better. The background texture is a little too "loud" in my opinion. Color for me since the B+W could not compete with the background.

Tri

I personally wouldn't call this formal lol I just shot it when I got home from work lol. I tried a sq format and really didn't like it. This was the only crop I liked...iono (personal thing I guess I am not a portrait photographer lol).

For the background do you feel it is to loud in general or bc of the thought of this being a formal pic? It's the only background I have so any help on a way to tone it down would be grand.

I do see what you are saying about the B&W not being able to really stand out from the background.

I appreciate the comments and thoughts from you two. Cheers.

[cfortner]

I like the color version as well. I'd also like to see another 1" or so cropped off the left side, moving the vertical third line off of your nose onto your left eye. Great self portrait BTW.

[crbeveri]

Originally Posted by cfortner

I like the color version as well. I'd also like to see another 1" or so cropped off the left side, moving the vertical third line off of your nose onto your left eye. Great self portrait BTW.

thanks for your feed back. I am starting to understand and see what is being said about the problems with the B&W and am moving towards the color too.

As for the third lines. The top and right third lines actually intersect right int he center of my left eye as the picture is right now. When I cropped it that is how I placed them and just verified in LR. If I had done a sq crop the vertical third lines would have been on either side of my face with the top horz line going through my eyes.

Thanks again for your comments.

Cheers

[crbeveri]

92 views and only 3 people helping with feedback... even if you think the picture is total rubbish I would like to know. I am not a portrait photographer so all the help really does make a difference.

Thank you to the above three that have offered their incite and opinion on this portrait.

[tomdrink]

Originally Posted by crbeveri

92 views and only 3 people helping with feedback... even if you think the picture is total rubbish I would like to know. I am not a portrait photographer so all the help really does make a difference.

Thank you to the above three that have offered their incite and opinion on this portrait.

Since you asked...
I would shoot with a narrower dof (or put more distance between you & the background) to throw the background out of focus a little more.
I, also, think there is a little too much dead space on the left.
I am no way a professional photographer, and my advice might be stupid, but it's my unbiased opinion!
And, for this, I like the color version better.
TomD

[The Philos]

Use a longer focal length, a grid, and pull yourself further away from the backdrop.

[BRosePhoto]

I agree that you get a little "lost" in the background in the BW version. Decreasing your DOF will certainly help (move away from the background, a little longer focal length lens, larger aperture) as well as controlling the light on the background. Moving away from the background will also help with that, but you can also try flagging off some of the spill from your main light if you don't have a grid.

[bryanlindsey]

Background tones are too close to skin tones. Color.