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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 149 - Breaking the Rules >> Challenge 149 - Eligible > Indian woman
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24-DEC-2007 Tom Doyle

Indian woman

Rule broken: proper exposure. This picture is much darker overall than would be generally acceptable, especially the eyes & left side of her face.
Reason broken: capture the exotic look of this woman & lovely color hair under difficult lighting conditions.

This was taken at a Christmas festival in San Jose, CA. It was evening, under street lighting & a few street venders when I spotted her. I liked the way the lighting brought out the red in her hair (unusual in Indian woman).

Canon EOS 40D ,Canon EF 70-200 mm f/4L IS USM
1/250s f/4.0 at 200.0mm iso3200 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time24-Dec-2007 17:31:03
MakeCanon
ModelCanon EOS 40D
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length200 mm
Exposure Time1/250 sec
Aperturef/4
ISO Equivalent3200
Exposure Bias
White Balance
Metering Modecenter weighted (2)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Programmanual (4)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Guest 31-Dec-2007 14:31
This actually works better for me now. The blur adds an interesting esthetic.
Penny Street
Guest 27-Dec-2007 20:02
Thanks; John, Mikey, Rod & Lonnit.
ctfchallenge27-Dec-2007 19:24
Definitely feels better. :) ~ Lonnit
Rod 27-Dec-2007 09:35
Well done Tom this has a nice feel about it.
Guest 27-Dec-2007 06:55
OK Lonnit, now? I'm afraid if I make anymore changes, I'll ruin the whole thing, if I haven't already.
ctfchallenge26-Dec-2007 19:58
LOL! Yes, it almost is. ;) ~ Lonnit
Guest 26-Dec-2007 19:52
OK Lonnit, bottom left red gone. Anything else?
ctfchallenge26-Dec-2007 17:36
Better. I'm wondering if I'm still a bit drawn their b/c I have been biased against the area from previous view, or because the blur is drawing attention to the area still. Or, maybe it is because there is the slightest bright area, down by the bottom of the frame, that shares the same intensity and color as the orange hair, in addition to the fact that there is a red semi-circle there too - and we know how read draws the eye. In situations like this, I usually try a bit of desaturation on the red, and throw an oval around the portrait, reverse it, and use it to burn in the edges of the image. I think a little more burning, to catch that highlight, and a little desat on the red would be sufficient here. ~ Lonnit
Guest 26-Dec-2007 17:00
OK Lonnit, "hand" darkened per your request.
ctfchallenge26-Dec-2007 16:24
Yes, we are drawn to the orange in the hair, just as you would like us to be. Putting the face in darkness takes our attention from it as the main point of focus, where we would naturally place our focus. I would strongly recomment burning down the highlight in the "hand?" in the lower left, as it is as bright as the hair. My eye bounces back and forth between this and the hair. It is an inconsequential part of the image and should not have any attention drawn to it. Bring it down in tone and this image will work very well to keep all focus on the point of interest - the hair. Qualified. ~ Lonnit
ctfchallenge26-Dec-2007 16:21
Yes, we are drawn to the orange in the hair, just as you would like us to be. Qualified. ~ Lonnit
ctfchallenge26-Dec-2007 16:11
Nice portrait, Tom. Cheers, -mikey
ctfchallenge26-Dec-2007 15:03
Besides the very nice picture Tom, I think your explanation/reasoning is well done. John
Guest 26-Dec-2007 06:21
Thanks Debi. Learning things like this is a great side-benefit of these challenges.
ctfchallenge26-Dec-2007 06:04
This is a lady from Gujarat. She has dyed her hair with henna which turns it red. - Debi