Magazine Cover

[Murphy66]

I'd be interested in your opinions of this shot. It was taken for Imagine Magazine for the April edition which features fashions for the rodeo. It's not been decided by the mag that they'll use this one but I have suggested they do.

I'm interested in your opinions about lighting, pose, etc.

Thanks,
Bob

[PhotosbyChuck]

Very nice shot and cropped perfectly for a cover. The only thing I notice that might need touchup is the light coming through her shirt (I think that's what the white splotch is inside her shirt...I wasn't looking at....oh, nevermind).

[R_Fredrick_Smith]

Its a nice photo and has good lighting, but the contrast seems a little off and a slightly too warm color cast has crept into the whites. Also I think the cropping could be slightly improved. With those details in mind, here is a before and after example of one approach:

Note the difference in the whites in the white board on the right. Also the tighter crop avoids the slightly awkward crop right at the knees. The contrast change helps make the photo pop a bit better.

Hope the example helps to explain my observations.

Cheers,
rfs

[Murphy66]

RFS - I need that image to be 8.5 x 11 for a cover - do you really think I need to crop?

[R_Fredrick_Smith]

Originally Posted by Murphy66

RFS - I need that image to be 8.5 x 11 for a cover - do you really think I need to crop?

Well, the original photo as posted is not a 8.5 x 11 crop, so the photo will have to be cropped at some point. My example crop was closer to the 8.5 x 11 ratio that was the original crop. So, given that a crop will be needed, I usually go for one that moves the subject matter closer to the rule of thirds and does not crop at the knee. There are dozens of different crops that can be made at a 8.5x11 ration, so you can experiment with them and see which might work best, although the magazine might choose what they like best based on where they'll drop in copy.
The crop is really a minor issue as the magazine will probably decide. The matter of contrast adjustment and removal of color casts from the whites is probably more at issue. I know when one shoots a warm shot, the warmness often effects the whites and that is why they must often be readjusted after the shot.
cheers,
rfs

[PhotosbyChuck]

While I saw the color, I thought it together with the shadow cast by the hat hinted at a sunset and therefore gave the original more of an outdoor feel. Removing the cast makes this look like a studio shot and less "rodeo" in my opinion.

As for the crop, I see RFS' point, but that example crop may be too tight at the top for the magazine cover.