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Seeking a way out.
Seeking a way out.
patrickpeterson


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Searching (Advanced Editing V)
Camera: Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi
Lens: Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 APO DG Macro HSM for Canon
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Date: Oct 4, 2007
Aperture: 4.0
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/2000
Galleries: Abstract, Portraiture
Date Uploaded: Oct 7, 2007

 My idea was to express the danger she faced on the path she had taken. And give the impression she has a choice to make ,that she is seeking a way out of her current predicament. I changed the hue of the trees to to give a sense of danger and possible destruction. My hope was that it appeared to be a raging fire closing in, but still leaving room for interpretation. Her faced was sharpened using unsharp mask to add tension and bring her closer to the camera. I lightened her pupils to add to her detached expression. I desaturated her skin to reflect her sorrow, but used an orange tint to keep her tied into the frame. And I had her stand under a ray of sunlight to direct attention to her face and to convey her standing at the end of a path, deciding which one to take next.

Statistics
Place: 76 out of 122
Avg (all users): 5.3194
Avg (commenters): 5.9091
Avg (participants): 4.8776
Avg (non-participants): 5.5474
Views since voting: 1275
Views during voting: 359
Votes: 144
Comments: 16
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
 10/22/2007 06:57:24 AM
This is a very poignant photograph. I believe you accomplished your goals very well. I have dealt with the same subject and emotions in a few of my photos, and really appreciate this image.

edit to add: I like the sharpened features of her face, but not the rough skin -- that is distracting to me. She is such a pretty girl, that I would like to see her skin smooth.

Message edited by author 2007-10-22 11:03:13.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/18/2007 01:01:24 PM
I just saw this and can't believe the score, I am sorry I didn't vote if I had it would have been a 10 from me. As it is I am making this a favorite. It convey's so much emotion, beautifully done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/18/2007 12:44:21 PM
Hi from the Critique Club,

An emotional photo of a person searching for a way out of a stalking danger.

Technically, very well done with selective desat. I get a feeling of separation between the subject and the background, almost as if it is a composite photo. The shadow under her chin is distracting and draws the eye away from her eyes. I feel that the background could have been saturated more to give the impression of fire, the orange is a light.

Composition is fine with her being the central subject. I think the placing of the subject in a central position works well, but maybe you should try re-shooting with subject to the right.

Overall, this is an expressive photo that just misses that stunning effect to bring it higher in scoring. With the background more orange and flamelike and the subject to the right, I feel the impact would have been greater. Also, just a personal thought, if her eyes had been green, then this would have been a ribbon shot. The green would have punched up the orange background and been a stunning shot. I hope you will try doing some P&P and post it in the forums. This is a stunning photo that slipped by the voters, it deserved to score higher. I will keep an eye open for future work. Well Done and keep working on this style, it is worth pursuing.

Steve
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/17/2007 05:08:22 PM
Criminally low score on this haunting image. One of my higher scores of the challenge, exceptionally well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/13/2007 11:42:27 PM
Nice conveyance of emotion and I like the use of desaturation here. (and look at all those freckles!)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/13/2007 08:08:58 PM
I like the selective color. The light play on her face is very interesting and makes the image very memorable. Her hair on the left of image (her right) is a bit distracting as the fly away hairs instantly scream Something About Mary. Great capture and the uniqueness is excellent.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/13/2007 04:31:12 PM
really like the background, very pretty. The expression seems to work, don't care for the desaturation
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/13/2007 10:44:01 AM
somehow i do not like the color processing.there are haloes all over the place..I think the selective desat does not work here....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/12/2007 06:22:48 AM
Effective coloring and added noise. Good DOF and facial expression showing deep thought.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/11/2007 10:50:34 AM
Very emotive portrait. Good shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 06:37:05 PM
cool shot and it really has an emotional feel. I would think this would be a good ad picture for depression, well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 11:24:54 AM
Good image, like to just stare at it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 08:48:28 AM
Interesting choice for selective desat, I don't think the lighting really works here though because you have great shadow and definition on her eyes and nose and then everything underneath that looks like you tried to force the shadows out and it looks really unnatural.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 02:37:12 PM
Nice model, she's a little too centered for my tastes and the PP is a little over the top. What was your reasoning behind the composition?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 12:21:29 PM
The selective desat just does not work. The model's skin looks a sickly grey, don't you think?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 01:41:44 AM
hmm, interesting pp. i like it
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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