NikonGear'23

Images => People, Portraits, Street, PJ & Cityscapes => Topic started by: elsa hoffmann on October 24, 2016, 20:16:43

Title: Nude form
Post by: elsa hoffmann on October 24, 2016, 20:16:43
I haven't posted nudes in a loooong time
Now it's time
Different from my usual stuff - any comments welcome
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: Bjørn Rørslett on October 24, 2016, 20:20:10
You have done well here. Tight framing helps a lot into making these excellent nude pictures. The skin contrasts are well conveyed. I liked the first two the best, but all are great.












Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: Erik Lund on October 24, 2016, 20:28:34
Yes the two first are to my liking as well, although they are very different in rendering so the first one is the the nice, second rough,,,
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: elsa hoffmann on October 24, 2016, 20:31:41
Very interesting comments!
I dont want to influence members by what I think - as I am rather interested in what you all think.
Hope to get some more members back and commenting soon.
(Need jakov - he likes out of focus stuff haha)
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: Jakov Minić on October 24, 2016, 23:00:37
The first one, smashing. You posted a similar one as I remember. Nice contrast on the skin tones.
Second one too sharp, you structured the skin too much for my taste.
Third one, yes, the blurry one, show everything but reveals nothing :)
I need to take another look at the 4th one :)
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: armando_m on October 25, 2016, 01:44:34
#1 excellent, the stomach had skin smoothing ?
#2 shot after a workout before going into the shower ?
#3 love the mistery
#4 ... ok , but doesn't stir to much emotion like the other ones
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: Ron Scubadiver on October 25, 2016, 04:22:25
There is a certain grittiness in the second one that really makes it unique.
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: Airy on October 25, 2016, 06:04:10
First one, the difference in  age makes the picture intriguing. Could be interpreted in a nice way, or less nice (illustration of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanna_(Book_of_Daniel) )

Second one reminds me of certain shots by Stieglitz, just sharper.

Third one is quite to my liking :). Maybe you could try the 2nd with the PP of the 3rd. (sentence corrected in editing)

Fourth, sorry but tattoos disturb me as much as tags on, say, greek statues.
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: John Geerts on October 25, 2016, 08:56:57
These are all intriguing but only no 1 is to my liking, due to subject and post processing. 

2 looks too sharp (and contrasty)
3 I find too vague, darkness, subject and frame-wise.
4 As 3 but I feel the same as Airy about tattoos.
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: simato73 on October 25, 2016, 09:56:15
Much of the comments above resonate with me.
So:

1) I like composition, contrast, etc but like others wonder if there has been excessive smoothing of her skin? Also not a fan of the fake nails and piercing (a matter of personal taste)
2) Good, but a bit too much structure and I am not a fan of oily/water spray on skin. Also the tan line at the bottom could be cropped out
3) I like the third but would l like to see a bit more brightness from the midtones up. I like the smooth, slightly out of focus feel of this image, perhaps my favourite of this series.
4) the last is kind of a mystery. I don't know exactly what to think or suggest, but I am intrigued.
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: Les Olson on October 25, 2016, 11:06:59
I find the implied age difference in #1 uncomfortable - so if you mean the image to cause discomfort it works for me and if you don't mean that it doesn't.

I like #3 best, although I agree that a less sharp divide between light and shadow would be better.  I think this time also that the image is improved by flipping it horizontally, because that puts the main feature on the right, where the eye does not expect to find it, and so creates a slight but pleasing visual tension.   
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: elsa hoffmann on October 25, 2016, 12:35:31
Thank you for ALL the input

Seems no 2 is the most controversial in terms of editing:
There was water splashed over the model - which is why it might look over sharpened or highly structured :) Obviously I "see" the water so I look at it differently. I did not realize others would not see it - :)

Editing was done differently to my usual shots - which is why I wanted to know what you all think, before I proceed to show this to future clients. Never a good thing to randomly alter style unless it's worth sticking to it. Playing is great - but needs to be thought tru before presenting to clients.

I might have one idea in my head - but I "see" differently as obviously I am emotionally attached to my images. An objective opinion is very valuable to me - so I thank you all for looking AND commenting.

Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: HCS on October 25, 2016, 15:43:00
can only access the site since today, so had no chance to see your excellent images, let alone comment.

I also like all of them. However, i like #3 as best of the series, so it seems i'm out of order here  8)

I like, like Jakov phrases it "show everything but reveals nothing". I like how it has this veil of mystery, while still clearly being a nude.

Also, i'm not sure you've worked on the skin less, or differently, but i like this treatment much better than some others you've posted with the skin smoothed beyond the subject's natural appearance (even though i understand why this is done).
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: elsa hoffmann on October 25, 2016, 16:10:19
Thank you Hans

Actually I like #3 best too :)

its kind of a "dirty editing" on that one - gritty feeling and old fashioned kind of editing. Which is why I like it - it's not as sterile looking as my usual images

Thank you for popping in!
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: Akira on October 25, 2016, 18:30:57
Stylistically I like the renditions of last two, but the third one excels by far.  They remind me, again stylistically, of the prints from Man Ray, Edward Weston or Josef Sudek that I like.
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: Bjørn Rørslett on October 25, 2016, 20:47:56
Been back a couple times and refreshed the impressions of these pictures. I think the second one finally is ending up as my preferred choice. The grittiness actually suits the implied theme in an excellent manner and by avoiding being too personal in the depiction, the image ends being of universal applicability and tells a timeless story. Kudos for that one and by all means for the rest of them as well.
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: elsa hoffmann on October 25, 2016, 21:36:14
Thank you once again Akira and Bjørn. I am enjoying the comments and your thoughts. It means a lot to me.
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: Airy on October 25, 2016, 22:43:28
Same with me. Concerning the second, here's the picture by Stieglitz (1922) that sprang to my mind when I saw yours. From the remarkable book "the ongoing moment" by Geoff Dyer.
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: elsa hoffmann on October 26, 2016, 07:10:57
Airy, strong image. you cant help but think about this one.
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: tommiejeep on October 27, 2016, 06:01:14
Elsa, #2 for me also.  Special  :)
Tom
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: elsa hoffmann on October 27, 2016, 06:35:49
Thank you Tom :)
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: MFloyd on October 27, 2016, 22:16:26
My preference goes for #3 - lets me think of Sam Haskins -  I have the same problem with #1: the old hands.
Title: Re: Nude form
Post by: elsa hoffmann on October 27, 2016, 22:22:57
My preference goes for #3 - lets me think of Sam Haskins -  I have the same problem with #1: the old hands.

thank you Mr Floyd :) :)