Scottlynn the ballerina

Molly Williams · 01-12-2006, 01:04 PM

I messed up. Here is the full color photo.

Garth Herrick · 01-12-2006, 01:17 PM

Golly Molly, you do breathtaking photography, in addition to your paintings! She's perfect! Is this the final crop? I would only say, consider that a frame may crop a quarter an inch on all sides, and allow for that. Perhaps digitally place a virtual frame around her to see if you want to tweak the crop. I do like the cropping by the way.

I'm jealous, wishing I could paint her too. I can't wait to see what you do with this.

You've mastered a perfect tonality with your photographic references so that they are quite paintable. The color is perfect too. I hope to learn from you more about this processing of yours. In the mean time I'll just study these.

What a great beginning. You're inspired, I can tell.

Garth

Molly Williams · 01-12-2006, 01:29 PM

Garth. I definitly will allow for more space around the figure. I cut it down here in the photo just so that I could get more of her in it for the critique.

I am going to be painting on a 30" x 20 " canvas. I took these photos three months ago, but haven't yet got a chance to start the painting. I am doing this painting for myself for a promo piece if it ends up good. I am so excited to start! Maybe I will start right this second.

Garth Herrick · 01-12-2006, 01:39 PM

Go for it Molly. She'll make you famous! It's a compelling image and pose. (Hint: enter this at the PSOA competition this year).

Garth

Linda Brandon · 01-12-2006, 08:22 PM

Hi Molly, this is a lovely, lovely photo and I know you will do a sensitive painting with it (and Garth is right, it's a competition winner for sure). At some point somebody will compare her stance to the famous Degas ballerina bronzes, but if I were you I wouldn't let this bother me in the least.

Please tell us how you lit this photo. Did you use a strobe light?

Garth Herrick · 01-12-2006, 08:33 PM

Dear Molly, I'm with Linda. Tell us more about your photo studio techniques and equiptment!

Which digital camera?

What color space and settings?

Any insights on these fine digital black-and-white conversions?

What sort of strobes and softboxes?

If shooting in RAW mode, then what is your favorite processing software?

We all have so much to learn.

Thanks for any insights,

Garth

Molly Williams · 01-13-2006, 03:04 AM

I shot this with a Canon 10D set on RAW mode. Aperture f/8 , shutter speed 1/250 sec, ISO 200, with a Bowens flash unit and a huge soft box. I blackout the windows in my studio and take a couple hundred shots. I use Photoshop to open the RAW files, then rank them in File Browser. I always convert my favorite pictures to black and white because that is where I can really see the values and composition. If the values aren't right then the painting will not look right. That is why portraits taken with a flash unit built into the camera look aweful. There isn't enough value shifts to show forms in the planes of the face or body. The flash has to come from somewhere other than the camera.

It is so fun to do photo shoots with kids because throughout the shoot I let them pick the pose, and I get fun shots like this one.

Claudemir Bonfim · 01-12-2006, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garth Herrick

I'm jealous, wishing I could paint her too. I can't wait to see what you do with this.

What a great beginning. You're inspired, I can tell.

It seems to me that Garth and I are posting together.
I can make the words mine too.

I'd recommend you to soften the glow on the lace, the lighting there is stronger than on her face. Well, that's just my opinion and of course I might be mistaken.

Molly Williams · 01-12-2006, 01:37 PM

Thanks, that is a good point. If the satin ribbon is too strong than it will detract. Right now the ribbon and the arms gracefully lead you up to her face. I don't want to create two focal points.

Claudemir Bonfim · 01-12-2006, 01:19 PM

I loved it, she is so Cute!