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Mabel
Mabel
InDots

Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Nude IV (Advanced Editing V)
Camera: Pentax K10D
Lens: Tokina AF 28-70mm f/2.8 ATX Pro-SV for Pentax
Location: Venray, The Netherlands
Date: Jan 24, 2007
Aperture: f 2.8
ISO: 500
Shutter: 1/250
Galleries: Nude
Date Uploaded: Jan 27, 2007

 My goal was to make a very natural confident image. We discussed the different poses but we both agreed that we didn’t want a very powerful masculine pose, it wouldn’t suite her well. She has a really nice and smooth skin and a confident female appearance. Why the glass in the scene? We made some shots without it but it was lacking something. Some mystery was needed.. for me (and her) this shot got it all. I want the viewer to fantasy his or her own story with a everyday woman in a everyday situation. It took an hour to come to this, an for me a great learning experience. I promised her that I would go the extra mile to make this photo perfect within the limits of my capabilities.

I used 2x500 watt, 4x150 watt construction lights, further 2x150 watt omni lights. The construction lights are matted with a wall of thin foam, so i didn't get harsh skin. She is sitting on the same foam giving it really soft shadows.

This (my first) improvised homemade "studio" worked well, but the next time i could still improve a lot.

Postprocess: A lot of dodging and leveling to get the foam whiter. Contrast, a little hue shift, white balancing, sharpening, etc..

This is my first entry i actually did my very best on, hopefully the viewers will like it.

(update)
No neat image or similar technique was used on her skin. Almost no processing was done to her skin. The picture goes wrong with the extensive dodging of back- and foreground. The glass in the picture is for most a NoNo, i can't help it but i'll still like it!

Statistics
Place: 36 out of 121
Avg (all users): 6.0539
Avg (commenters): 6.7949
Avg (participants): 5.7805
Avg (non-participants): 6.1126
Views since voting: 8369
Views during voting: 1689
Votes: 464
Comments: 45
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
 02/05/2007 12:20:47 AM
Congrats on your new personal best. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
02/04/2007 11:51:23 PM
I like this. I only wish the shadows at the bottom felt more realistic and not like the background was lightened but otherwise very good quality here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2007 09:11:28 PM
5
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2007 05:42:27 AM
kbk.n.m
 02/03/2007 03:07:30 AM
A clear path to face and her right shoulder behind the glass would have been better IMO, as I tend to look into subject's eyes and faces (even with nudes).
This distorts her face unjustly so if I may add.
Good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 01:21:45 AM
Beautifully done 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2007 02:25:14 PM
This would have been a lovely photo if it weren't for those glass 'things'. They are so distracting and I just don't understand the position of them. I also don't like the darkening around the models foot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/31/2007 09:20:24 PM
The glassware is distracting to me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/31/2007 05:09:00 PM
why the vases? I think she'd look more beautiful without them!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/31/2007 12:58:26 PM
I think that the glass tubes detract from this image. If they had been used to frame the model the might serve a purpose.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2007 10:05:42 PM
Very original! And very well lit and perfectly post-processed. But the concept as a whole somehow just doesn't come together for me. With such a unique element like these clear tubes, the image asks to be interpreted. But I'm not finding any relationship between the the tubes, the white sheet and the model.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2007 03:36:45 PM
Hmmm, difficult one. Everything good here technically. However, IMHO the glass infront of the models face doesn't work for me, the highlight over the eye also detracts a little.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2007 03:34:03 PM
Look at the freaky eye! It's great! 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2007 12:44:08 PM
I commend the effort to use the glass to make the lighting and image more interesting, but I don't really like the way it's distorted her face.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2007 12:02:21 PM
I'm not sure if I'm looking at some glasses and your awesome PS skills or you may have some great props but I think it's awesome! Great idea and follow through! I love the light over the sheet and your main subject! I hope this does well for you!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2007 08:38:22 AM
interesting idea, but the glass takes away from her face. shadow of the sheet looks fake, the sheet itself could be brighter. too much softening on her leg
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2007 06:26:23 AM
Soft and senious...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2007 01:10:20 AM
this is a super neat idea though I don't like her face behind the glass, everything else is great, soft skin, nice focus, color and lighting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 11:21:05 PM
that's interesting! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 09:28:27 PM
the distortion in the class make her eyes not level
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 09:23:15 PM
I would have liked it more without the tubes.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 07:52:26 PM
i dont think that those glass cylinders add anything, but nevertheless a very nice phot6o...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 07:46:13 PM
I think this is a well executed shot, with great lighting and composition, with one exception - the right-side glass. They are an intersting touch, although they do get lost a bit. But the one in front of her face really distracts in how it distorts her features, and especially reduces the sharpness of her eyes. I think it would have been much better off more to one side or the other.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 07:01:09 PM
great image and great idea. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 02:54:50 PM
The pose and concept are both interesting and the model is beautiful. However, I am NOT a fan of several things. The foreground and background have been obviously removed and the halos around the subject are a bit distracting. The reflections in the glass cylinder that obscure the breast add visual interest, but the same reflection becomes a distraction when it obscures the models face. Your model has beautiful skin... it almost looks unreal!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 02:50:37 PM
ummm those glass thingys what on earth are they Ithink this is more cheese cake than nude
 01/29/2007 02:44:33 PM
Why did we need the vases or giant test tubes?
 01/29/2007 02:08:31 PM
Nice post processing... i really like that part of this one... but something about the distortion in the face caused by the clear tube takes away from the image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 02:07:26 PM
A different shot and well lit. I'm not sure about the leg leaving the frame though
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 12:48:47 PM
great use of props - gives this an other-worldly effect, and keeps things interesting!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 12:23:04 PM
I don't like the cthe object in front of her face especially since the beauty of her eyes are being masked from the glare.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 12:20:27 PM
Creative capture. The glare of the glass on the eyes is a bit distracting though
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 10:42:18 AM
My friend, I see rgeat efforts in this shot. But the overuse of Neat Image (or similar technique) is quite disturbing I find.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 10:22:12 AM
neat idea
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 08:50:02 AM
Those are some tall vases! I think one would have worked easily (the one in front of her face). This is unusual and artfully done. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 07:22:37 AM
Great pose and pretty cool light. Only thing bothering me is the cut off leg.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 06:38:04 AM
Love the pose but the glass cylinders seem to create a barrier. Would be better without them.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 04:41:32 AM
eventhough I really like the shot, I think you've done a lot of pp on the back (and fore)ground looking at the shadows by her foot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 02:55:17 AM
Not lovin' the glass cylinders, but love the model and lighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 02:40:33 AM
Mabel, not Chele? Well, you have her gorgeous eyes if not! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 02:13:38 AM
7 top votes of 9 for this challenge, this has been one of them
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 01:35:50 AM
Beautiful image. I don't like the face through the glass though. The face is the most important part of a person. lighting, composition & idea are great. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 01:33:10 AM
Nice leg and body shapes. good use of cloth, but I dont get the glass vases, I think they detract not add to the picture
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 12:38:23 AM
It is a wonderful setup and super lighting - In my humble opinion, the refraction caused by the cyclinder has distroted her face is such a way that is ditracting from your nicely done image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 12:18:48 AM
I would have left out the tubes, but she is beautiful and a wonderful shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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