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A portrait of a pygmy goat that I would appreciate some advice on for improvements in composition, post processing, etc. I have included a colour version for which I applied basic processing using Lightroom simply as reference starting point for comparison purposes to a black and white version that I processed in Nik Silver Efex using a high key black and white template.
I have no experience using Nik but downloaded the trial program in order to try processing this image in black and white with my goal being an artistic (rather than documentary) high key black and white portrait of a goat. I thought this image should be suitable in black and white because of the lines and texture. I like white backgrounds. My experience processing images in black and white is minimal but I have noticed that Nik seems to be highly thought of for black and white imagery so I thought I would give it a try.
I also have photoshop which I typically use as a last step for dodging and burning, final sharpening and removing small distractions which could be stray hairs in this particular image.
Focal Length 500 mm SS 1/400 f 5.6 ISO 72
Thank you in advance.
Hello, @ Christina Stubbs,
Welcome to our forum and thank you for submitting your image. I checked out your page, and you have great images of animals there. All of them are fully captured and not cropped like the one on this page. My personal opinion is that both the color version, and the black and white version work fine. However, this crop does not. Unfortunately you cropped the goat at a most unwanted part. Cropping of at the bombs does usually not do good to portraits, whether it is a person or an animal. Have you got a version where the goat is seen complete? Why not submit that? This here is like an exciting story without theend. L think it could have been much much better and much more attractive. Have good light. Cicek Kiral Senior critic...
Hello Cicek,
Thank you for your reply and for sharing that you think the colour and black and white version work fine. I do not have an image that shows the entire goat and this is because the surrounding area is not attractive. (Actually I do have a few but they are headed to the trash bin because they do not work. (This image is cropped just a little at the bottom, no legs included.)) I wait for a goat to move to an area with just sky or trees in the background, and move until I am close enough to capture just the head and shoulders as one might do when taking a portrait of a person. Can you please enlighten me as to what you mean by cropping at the bombs? ie; legs? Thank you. Christina
Hello, again
I meant limbs. I made a spelling mistake. Sorry...
Hello, No worries. I thought you meant limbs (legs) but I did not wish to assume so. I appreciate the clarification. Thank you.
Dear Christina,
Silver Effex is a very good tool for conversion to b&w, I can highly recommend. It takes a while to not go too far, and most of the presets are pushing it too far.
Nevertheless, I'd prefer a color version of this. I shoot in b&w (and RAW) most of the time, never use the b&w JPGs but convert them by Silver Efex later on. Shooting in B&W helps me to have a focus on composition, no distractions.
I find your composition not optimal, I would bring the head off-center. I cropped a 4x3 from the left, which puts the center of the goats head on golden ratio, leaving enough negative space in front.
In Adobe RAW filter I decreased the lights, pulled up shadows, increased dehaze. The goal was to keep the gradients in background (as opposed to plain white) , brighten up by lightening up shadows and dehaze puts some life to the colors. Talkinf about colors, I use Color Grade to ive the highlights a bit of a blue tone, which corresponds to the fur color as complimentary color. If I shoot color myself, I tend to reduce colors to two, maximum three tones.
In your original, the back of your goat is brighter than the head and eyes, which is a flaw in my view. By dodging the highlights of the goats head and face, I think you can pull the attention there - where it belongs.
This is the outcome, I hope it's of any use for you:
Best regards,
Mike
Me again... could not stop playing.
Another trick, once you get familiar with b&w conversion, is to create a contrasty, dark version of your frame and use it as blending layer in "soft light" or "overlay" blend mode. THis can lead to bizarre, contrasty photos, needs some experience though. By reducing the opacity of that b&w "light" you can decrease the impact.
3DLUTs are another playfield to get to moody color sets. In fact LUTs (Color look up tables) alter color shades, so it's logical they can set a mood. In film industry, LUTs are almost always used. There are people in post who do only that, keep an eye on color tones. Once you have an eye for it, you will always notice them in your cinema visits...
And lastly, textures can also set a mood and give some color flavour. Applied as an overlay blend mode, they may not affect the very bright parts, but more alter the mid tones.
So here I did all of these three techniques:
Enjoy playing! :-)
Mike
Hello Mike, Thank you for advising on the composition, and suggesting a crop to improve it. Yes, the lighting is partially back lit. I appreciate your detailed advice and suggestions for processing and I will revisit this image and similar to give it a whirl. Indeed the blue sky complements the colouring of the goat.
Your sharing is truly appreciated. Thank you.
Thank you Mike for continuing to play. I like the texture. All of this new to me but I will research your suggestions and give it a try. Truly appreciated.
Hi Christina,
I think you overdid it with the blue tones, but never mind. I think when ever we discover a new technique it takes a while before we put it "to our portfolio" of possible altering methods and use it for a certain enhancement only - instead of being fascinated by the look and throw it on everything.
I once was a big fan of "bleach bypass" in Color Efex, then after quite some while just used it to increase local contrasts with reduced opacity on an extra layer, locally or applied to a limited range of tones.
However, the reason I write again is textures. I rarley shoot them, in fact I shoot weird bokehs with a modified ancient lens sometimes becuase I love the bizarre looks it produces. The other textures I use I simply collected over time. Mostly paper / stone / metal surface structure. You find them sometimes o photo magazine DVDs, or for free download,. A good source for it is deviantart (https://www.deviantart.com/search?q=paper+textures). I exchanged a comprehensove set with a photoshop trainer once. If you send me an email (I'm easy to find), I can WeTransfer you a first set, if you like.
In this one I used an "own" texture, it's the Zeiss Pancolar 55mm lens from 60s-70s where you easily can flip an inner lens. When photographing very bright elements, you get this "LSD"-like look. A lovely toy...
The "Texture" looks like this, it's a branch with icy elements in bright sun and what the Zeiss made of it :-) :
Best regards,
Mike
Hello Mike,
Indeed, upon viewing my pic this morning I also think that I got carried away with the blue tones! I will revisit this type of processing one day, perhaps on another goat image, using a lighter touch.
Thank you for sharing and advising on textures. Truly appreciated. I think I would like to try using textures one day. I will look into your suggestions and send you an email. Truly appreciated!
PS Your image of the dancer is exquisite!
GREAT!!1
