House Mate Playing Guitar

[stixstudios]

My first Sepia portrait shot.

The grainy look is actual film grain.

I'm going to frame this one so he can give it to his girlfriend.
However I'd like to get rid of the flash shadow on his rhs. - or should I just leave it as is? - I can't help noticing the shadow all the time now and it pi**es me off .

What would be a good method using ps to remove the shadow?

cc's welcome please.

Steve.

[jurujoh]

Have you tried using the lasso tool to seperate him from the background and then either put him back covering the shadow area or cloning the shadow area in a seperate layer and then put him back in place or you could try cloning it out like this. It would be less obvious with a full size image to work with.
It could do with a little more contrast as well.

Jules

[stixstudios]

Thanks jurujoh,

At least someone replied

Thanks for your efforts (good job) - I do have the orig to work with, so when I get the time I'll give it a go.

I don't mind the contrast as is, but perhaps the mid-tones could be shifted up a little?

steve.

[jurujoh]

Thanks jurujoh,

At least someone replied

Thanks for your efforts (good job) - I do have the orig to work with, so when I get the time I'll give it a go.

I don't mind the contrast as is, but perhaps the mid-tones could be shifted up a little?

steve.

I reckon that would work.

Jules

[k8star]

I actually really like this as it is. A great gritty shot!

[stixstudios]

Thanks k8star.

By "gritty" do you mean the subject or the grainy look o the film?

cheers,
Steve.

[k8star]

I mean BOTH! The grainy look suits the subject and vice versa!

[stixstudios]

Ahh good, thanks k8star.

Colour didn't exactly suit the shot it so I did a duotone in ps which also enhanced the film grain - which was exactly the look I was after!

Cheers, Steve.

[Buz]

I like the "feel"of this shot, but the composition doesn't do it for me. I think that having his left hand on the strings, and also including the right hand on the neck would improve it (but thats just my opinion).
BUZ

[stixstudios]

Ok then Buz,

Unfortunately Steve is outside having a cigarette at the moment - this is his automated reply service . . . he will respond to your request shortly. . .

Alvin.

[stixstudios]

Ha ha ha Alvin . . . good one!

I wasn't out having a cigarette but had merely stepped away from the computer for a while (the auto response software is playing up again!)

The upshot with this photo Buz is that it's about the 5th photo I have ever taken (the first four have been rounded up by the relevant authorities and promptly destoyed!)

The guy in the photo (Tim) was actually playing the guitar but paused to "pose" for the shot. Hence the overplayed attitude... fine by me.

I prefered to zoom in portrait for the shot than to pan out and get superfluous sh*t in it - the left hand on the strings (fretts) is implied... and yes, sure it would have been good if his right hand was actually "playing" the strings.

I shot in auto as I didn't really know how to use the camera at the time.

I quite like it for what it is, and thank you for your input.

Cheers, Steve.