Head in the clouds

[dreampolice]

Had a quick wander into town today to try out the new camera and lens.

Head in the clouds by Nigel G, on Flickr

[zx9]

I am liking the saturation except the guy's head it looks like a painful dose of sunburn, you should be able to select / mask and slightly desaturate him. Certainly hit the correct focus point which works well with the OOF street art and van.

[dreampolice]

Jan 19, 2024 18:03:30 GMT zx9 said:

I am liking the saturation except the guy's head it looks like a painful dose of sunburn, you should be able to select / mask and slightly desaturate him. Certainly hit the correct focus point which works well with the OOF street art and van

looking at the RAW he actually was fairly red. Presumably because his head was on fire!


Head in the clouds edit by Nigel G, on Flickr

[zou]

It's one where it does work and the context is good, but the van etc. is almost too messy/distracting.

[dreampolice]

Jan 19, 2024 18:41:15 GMT zou said:

It's one where it does work and the context is good, but the van etc. is almost too messy/distracting.

Yes, I agree. For the short while the guy was there (looked like he was on a cig break from work) he either wasn't smoking or there was a vehicle passing by. 

[dreampolice]

PS generative fill to the rescue?

Edit. From a FB group I am on, someone suggested that on this one that the street art draws the eye away from the man.

Head in the clouds re edit by Nigel G, on Flickr

[zou]

I don't think that distracts more than the van. The other thing that crossed my mind was doing it black and white, using localised burning to darken the RHS subtly and using colour channels to get a less distracting tonal palette there. Edit to add, square crop could also work, keeping the first circle in the graffiti for balance. Edit again to add I mean the non-van version.

[dreampolice]

Head in the clouds square by Nigel G, on Flickr

That works, although I prefer the previous ratio. A Quick Look through Silver Efex B&W presets doesn't work that well. The smoke just looks like a white blob. It is more obvious it is smoke (vapour) in the colour.

[zou]

Jan 19, 2024 20:34:41 GMT dreampolice said:

Head in the clouds square by Nigel G, on Flickr

That works, although I prefer the previous ratio. A Quick Look through Silver Efex B&W presets doesn't work that well. The smoke just looks like a white blob. It is more obvious it is smoke (vapour) in the colour.

This definitely pulls you in to the character, but it loses some of the vape cloud which is a shame. As with many pictures, I guess it's about finding the compromise you are happy with. And I would be happy with it, I think!

[steveandthedogs]

crop in to that blue pole thing to make a looong portrait shot?

S

[zx9]

If you have a non van shot put it into a layer on the van and smoke shot and paint out the van, might take a bit of alignment and probably not worth the effort other than a learning exercise.

Anyway I like the van there it places the bloke into the story of that street at that moment in time.

[Kath]

It's not the van that's distracting me I don't think but the three blobs of light. I rather like the generative fill version but I'd still get rid of that last blob of light. Otherwise it's a cracker

[peterba]

Jan 19, 2024 18:41:15 GMT zou said:

It's one where it does work and the context is good, but the van etc. is almost too messy/distracting.

I'd go for using a wider aperture...

[El Sid]

I like the original, it's very subtle and it took me a few seconds to answer the question; "What bloody clouds?"...

I'd agree with Kath though - the light blobs have to go.  I'm fine with the van, it sets the scene off for me but I might be inclined to darken that general area as the van and, even more so the buildings, are a bit on the bright side.