Not for me the most stimulating topic!
So I thought I'd try a little social commentary, by getting a model to pose as a young homeless person in the doorway of a closed down shop. The idea being that the homeless simply fade into the background of our consciousness and become "part of the furniture" around us.
The problems began when my model refused to pose at the site I'd chosen "in case any of his mates saw him". So I had to set it up in our back yard and then cut him out in photoshop, and composite him onto a layer of the shopfront.
I've been reading a book by Matt Kloskowski called "Photoshop Compositing Secrets" and I tried to use some of that new knowledge both in taking the two images (one of Matts' first tips is how to take the images to help later compositing) and in the compositing process.
After the compositing, in post processing, I went for a grungy, grainy feel that tries to add a bit more to the desolation feel and I also tried to make it so the person is not the first thing your eye settles on but by having to look for him it should reinforce the "part of the furniture" feel.
I chose this particular shopfront as it has a nice brick frame to hold things together. The only real problem I have with the picture is that I couldn't get the person "on a third" which will probably lose me marks straight away.
Have to see how the judge takes it. But what do you think?
I'm liking your interpretation of the competition and the effort you went to. I'm liking the end result. Whether the judge(s) will like it is another question.
ReplyDeleteThe gritty HDR, high contrast, location and graffiti are appropriate for your intended final shot. I might have liked to see a little more of the brick frame at the top and sides. At the same tme maybe cropping out the kerb, which I find slightly distracting.
As for not being on a 3rd, well I think in this case that's the right thing not to do. If he was on a 3rd he would be the focal point, but the whole point is that he is unseen/ignored.
I'd have been more than happy to produce something half as good as this. kudos to you.
Saw it on Flickr and liked it a lot. Enjoyed the article too. Nice work. I actually like the kerb - I think it completes the brick arch in framing the scene.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, much appreciated. Apparently (I don't go to judging nights as its painful) the judge rambled on about it being over processed, too grainy and then scored it 10/10. I didn't think it would do that well.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Peter.