An attempt at a classical look

[Alex Roberts]

Originally Posted by Panda

This is the original with some slight editing to take out flaws in the sheet and such. What do you think?


OK, can anyone tell me why the link shows up and not the picture?

This link works ok for me. Good colouring in the original the only thing wrong with it for me is the shadow above the dark base, Thanx for posting and like you am a novice. Alex

[johnw]

I agree, I prefer the original.

I think that if you had the top blanket draped such that a little more of her hip was revealed and in more of a curve rather than the straight line, the image wold take on a more sensual tone. Also not crazy about how the bottom sheet appears to be blocked up without any detail, maybe it's my monitor, but she appears to be lying in dark space.

John

[netimages]

I like the second version, I think it has plenty going on.

[BenE]

Originally Posted by Panda

I really wasn't sure if I liked the "photoshop" look or not. I also have this as a normal color picture, but I kinda like the way her hair stands out. The hair and blanket are natural color, but the rest of the picture was made B & W.

Let me know what suggests or comments you have.

It appears you have one large light source (about level with her body and on the right), and it is in a position that creates mostly flat lighting on the back of the model. Also it causes a shadow on the lower part of the body... just above whatever she is lying on. I believe it is always more flattering to use lights higher and in a position to create "rim" lighting on the figure, or at least to have some shadows and highlights on the body.

The example I have posted is the only thing I could find at the moment, but you can see the light creates highlights on the top side of her body and shadows on the front part. While this is not rim lighting it shows the direction of light that creates highlights and shadows on her body. Had I posed the model (in my shot) facing away, I would have moved the main light farther around to achieve more of a rim light effect.
I also think that not using the cloth across her hip would work much
better. I think I can understand what you were thinking by using having the strong reddish color on her hip to compliment here red hair, but the large desaturated area of her back causes so much separation that my eye just can't find a point of interest.

....edit....

I wasn't sure of the rules concerning this section of the forum, and since my example was a photograph of a nude, I thought it best to remove it, and replace it with a link instead.

So, the link is:

http://www.benjaminstudio.com/forum/stilesnue1.jpg

[PhotoAl]

I actually like the color version much better, but I wonder if you just desaturated the colors a little on the first one if it would work better?