headshot

[Raycer]

thanks for looking.

[shreds]

I do like this shot, the shallow DoF brings out the eyes, although a little more depth in this inmmediate area maybe?

Good interesting angle and the B/W rendition keeps the attention.

Ian

[atvinnys]

the shallow DoF brings out the eyes

well, I think the left eye is out of focus..
so might either a focu point more centered or a slightly deeper DOF, to bring both eyes in focus...
otherwise, I like the style and the BW

[Raycer]

thanks guys.

the focus point was on her right eye.
probably could use more DoF. guess one eye in focus pics aren't for everyone.

EXIF:

55mm f/2.8 1/250 sec
D300 with 17-55mm f/2.8

[pixel pete]

Both eyes being focused is quite difficult to achieve as you get closer and closer. Probably defies the laws of optics.

It really doesn't bother me that only one eye is focused. I feel the closer eye is the one that needs to be in focus.

If I stood close by and I'm talking to a person in profile like that, I would be focusing on the closer eye unless of course there's something distracting on the further eye.

Maybe I have it all wrong.

[The Blue Boy]

I really like this shot, focus issues aside. For me high key b&w shots can be very hard to achieve. Cracking job Raycer!

[Alis]

Raycer, what is the reason for making the face so white/overexposed? This is a quesiton. Normally, I would think it is overexposed, I know you did it intentionally and am wondering why.

Thanks.

[Colin Southern]

"Raycer, what is the reason for making the face so white/overexposed?"

Actually, ...

... I've been wondering about this technique myself.

I once saw a photo of a girl that had been processed this way to make her blend in with some snow around her. Her skin was absolutely china white - and yet still had good skin tones (as in levels, not colours). It was quite striking. I tried to emulate it myself, but couldn't get anywhere close - and yet this image has many parallels - so I was wondering what the underlying technique is?

Cheers,

Colin - pbase.com/cjsouthern

[Raycer]

[COLOR=silver]Why? It is probably for a couple of reasons.

• [COLOR=silver]Cultural influence on metering. Being Asian, my background has directed me to prefer a lighter skin tone. I often meter off the skin and add +2/3 to 1 EV.
• [COLOR=silver]I prefer my picture to have only one focus point/ point of interest. The eye that’s closer to the viewer in this case.

[COLOR=silver]As to how I do this? It’s simple really. Meter of the skin with + 1 EV, convert to B/W then add an extreme S curve during PP.

[Raycer]

oops,
just checked my exif. I didn't use EV on this picture.

[The Blue Boy]

Why? It is probably for a couple of reasons.
Cultural influence on metering. Being Asian, my background has directed me to prefer a lighter skin tone. I often meter off the skin and add +2/3 to 1 EV.

Ray, sorry mate, I don't understand that. "prefer a lighter skin tone". Please explain.

I've always liked these sort of shots, but I've never "cracked" the composition, as you have here.

[Raycer]

Historically Far East Asians get tanned from working outdoor and the high class workers, who work indoor, don't get tanned. So tanned skin is associated with lower working class. This idea of what is beautiful has carried on to even today. (keep that in mind for those who has Asian clients) For extreme example, see the make up of geisha which is ghostly white.

[The Blue Boy]

Never knew that. Cheers Ray.

[Colin Southern]

I guess that tanning clinics wouldn't be very popular there then?

Cheers,

Colin

[Raycer]

LOL not at all.