Deep Thought

[slater62586]

I just want to see what other people think of this picture.

This was taken at the grooms house when he was getting dressed when I saw him pause for a sec and take a deep breath.

If you have any opinions let me know.

[MicWayWal]

I don't like the image very much. It has too many problems to be impressive. It does not move me emotionally. His look feels like he is disgusted. It also appears his eyes are almost shut.

The lighting is not flattering. The on-camera flash, from off the left side, creates some real issues of bad lighting resulting in overexposure and shadows leaving no detail in his eyes.

This is an image of extreme problems, extremes of blacks and whites.
His hair is too black with no detail showing.
The black of the background on the right, confuses the line of his hair and forehead. I can't see where his hair stops and the black background begins. It also confuses the line of his forehead.
His arm that shows behind his head looks like a stub. The non-descript lines of the arm confuses the profile lines of his face.
The white of his shirt is overexposed and draws the viewers eye away from his face.
I don't like the texture applied, especially on the skin of his face.

Next time:
You would be better off bouncing your light off the ceiling and wall to your right creating a more pleasing quality of light on the mask of the face.
Isolate the subjects' profile from other objects in the background to have a clean edge.
Severely reduce the opacity of the texture off his face.

[slater62586]

I actually added the over exposure and lots of black in to the image in Lightroom. But Thanks for your input.

[John_A]

First thought is:

Put your hands behind your head - interlace your fingers - walk back to the sound of my voice.....

[Phisch]

I totally get what you're trying to do with the texture and effect and I can see how some would like it. Not my preference, but maybe if there were no texture? I would have preferred more context (more of his arms, the room) so that the stuff around his face makes more sense. Just my 2cents, please take with much salt.

You were being alert for moments like this...that's awesome!

[danchez]

looks like a guy putting on a shirt to me plus a distracting post processing.

[BigMelt]

I really like the moment you captured and the emotion he's showing. I do wonder how much of the emotion is influenced by the editing. With all the post and the harsh grain, I think it drives the emotion to an apparent dark place, like he's thinking he's making a mistake. Maybe a more naturalistic edit would shade that more towards wedding day jitters...

Again, I really like the shot and feel the closeness of the crop is necessary to try and force the viewer into his head. I just wonder with different edits, what different things might the viewer find when they get there.