Pick your favorite

[bigtwinky]

So one of my 2010 photo resolutions is working on my people and portraits, posing and what not. So I'm taking a fashion photography class at a local university (my last of 10 classes to get a diploma!)

We had a group project where we had to come up with a theme, an object or what not, decide on our lighting, models, accessories and so on.

Well, all 3 of our models bailed. So we had someone call her boyfriend in (not a model, but willing to help) and a classmate to use as models. Our theme was ads for sunglasses.

So while I do not own the lighting, the setups and all that are mine. I need to present 3 as a final project. Curious to read your thoughts on them. There is slight photoshop in them, nothing major (not allowed). Some colour correction, I cleaned up obvious blemishes, I had to remove someone's head from a photo as well. I darkened the glasses as I did not have a polarizer with me and thus the entire classroom was reflected in the glasses hehe.

So lemme have it!

1. One of my faves from the shoot.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2749/4328826279_5e23fd5f46_b.jpg

2. A bit too heavy on the blurry skin?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2692/4329561170_773f33fc34_b.jpg

3. I should of had her hand a bit higher up on his chest...http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4329560866_dd40349c92_b.jpg

4. This is the one with the head I took out, it was the top of a head behind his left shoulder
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2731/4329560630_1618fb9387_b.jpg

[bigtwinky]

come on peoples, I need inputs! :D

[Heck]

The 1st and 3rd work for what your going for IMO. The sun glasses are the focal point most in them.. The blur on the skin in the 2nd one is a little distracting. Looks like a fun class to take.

[Mohain]

I agree with Heck.

I think the last shot could have worked well if it was the mans own hands taking the glasses off.

I would say 1, 2 & 3 for the 3 to present but easy on the skin smoothing :)

[Antarctican]

^^^ I agree on all points. I think #1 is the best, the blurry skin is distracting in #2, the hand should have been a bit higher in #3 (as the 'fingertips-only' are a bit distracting), and the female hand taking off the glasses takes the focus off the glasses in #4, and that 1, 2 and 3 are therefore the ones to submit.

[bigtwinky]

I'll rework that blurry skin. thanks for all the input! Its good to get other people's opinions after you have been staring at these for too long.

And I need more photoshop skills :)

[Heck]

I dont have great photoshop skills but I do have a link to a easy skin fix that leaves the texture of the skin on.. I have the link at home and Ill post it tonight.

[Fox Paw]

I prefer the first and second. For skin smoothing, a good start is to lower clarity in Lightroom by 10 or so. (I know very little but I watched a tutorial from Adobe that suggested doing this and it works.) You may want to restore it or boost it locally (e.g., eyes) with a local adjustment.

[Heck]

Here is a skin retouch video that I think is pretty cool. She has some other vids on her site.
http://www.christyschuler.com/retouching.html

[Terri]

I won't comment on any of them but #4 - I think it's quirky and fun! I happen to like that female hand tugging on the sunglasses, and the model's riveting stare balances the slight distraction of the polished nails.

Does it work as an ad for the sunglasses? .....mmmm, probably not, because the direct stare is the most compelling thing in the shot. ;) Not what you're really trying to accomplish with your project - but, it still is a great shot all on its own.

[bigtwinky]

Thanks for the inputs. And thanks for the link Heck!