88mph

Posted by Duncan Galbraith (kyoto, Japan) on 27 December 2006 in People & Portraits and Portfolio.

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Daniel from Olympia, United States

Traditional dress on snappy fast trains! This must be Japan. The angle gives the image a voyeuristic feel. I don't really care for the yellow cast in this one.

27 Dec 2006 12:09am

@Daniel: Thank you for the feedback Daniel.

Sylvia from Milano, Italy

As usual, EXCELLENT shot. Oh the story in that woman's face and the demure fold of her hands. Subways are so cool for photography. Alienated space and aloof faces. Do you ask people before you take their photo? I'm still trying to figure out how to do this. I suppose the approach depends on the culture.

27 Dec 2006 12:46am

@Sylvia: Thanks Sylvia. I dont usually ask as Im more interested in trying to capture a natural expression/activity etc as oppossed to a posed image for this kind of stuff. As for method, I posted mine here and here. (in the replies to MNX and Martine respectively)

Srik from Bengalooru, India

This is a great picture. Lady's face tells a different story each time I look at it. Wonderful.

27 Dec 2006 1:29am

@Srik: Thanks Srik! great portrait from you today!

Still from Valence, France

What a serious expression... You've a fine regard on the others!

27 Dec 2006 3:22am

@Still: Thanks so much Still!

Prashanth from Bengalooru, India

lovely capture!

27 Dec 2006 4:22am

@Prashanth: Thanks so much prasanth!

Fernando D. Rubio from Madrid, Spain

great one, smooth light!

27 Dec 2006 5:22am

@Fernando D. Rubio: Cheers Fernando!

Dolphin from Italy

She's so serious.... but I like the colors in the shot! nice work u made it.

27 Dec 2006 6:46am

@Dolphin: Thanks a lot Dolphin. much appreciated!

Stu from Kyoto, Japan

it looks like there's a hidden or 'Shadow' meaning in this....! ;-)

27 Dec 2006 10:03am

@Stu: ;) there could well be stu ;)

Darren from Japan

Nice one mate. Great work in photoshop to top of your well framed image. Thanks for the process on yesterdays image I learnt something new from it.

27 Dec 2006 10:04am

@Darren: No probs mate. same goes for your methods..I'm going to post something this week using them as Ive not not done much desaturation work/selective colouring work. much appreciated.
Btw...heres todays method...
1. Tweak curves via an adjustment layer
2. Filter-render-lighting-2 oclock shadow
3. Background colour on tools window set to beige (or there abouts, basically you've free reign here, whatever suits your subject)
4. Filter-Distort-Diffuse Glow (whatever your background colour was set to is the tone you'll get)
5. Lasoo areas to darken and lighten and apply via adjustment layers (one layer for each, ensuring you used a feathered brush when selecting areas btw)
6. Bit of burning in to tidy up loose ends.
7. Copy Background layer
8. Blur the copied layer (gaussian blur in this case)
9. Using eraser, erase areas you want sharp.
10. Flatten and Bob's your uncle again!

Angry Buddha from United States

Very nicely done. Love the title.

27 Dec 2006 10:18am

@Angry Buddha: Cheers Sean. I thought the title was an obvious pun/reference but you're the first to mention it! There may be more than one frame of reference in this btw ;)

Damon Schreiber from Toronto, Canada

Really excellent, Duncan! The colours are warm but not cloying, and the focus is dead-on where it needs to be, blurred elsewhere but not enough to be jarring. And your subject (who was not obviously vogueing) has all the poise, grace, and dignity that kimono implies. You've achieved a dreamy, nostalgic feeling, and the wide-angle lap point of view gives it a bit of distance and adds to the dreamworld atmosphere. I could go on... (First attempt at comment eaten as Spam (mmm); second attempt...)

27 Dec 2006 11:37am

@Damon Schreiber: Thanks Damon. Was a bit worried about this one as it was all a bit of a reach for me via PS, I like the old days of chemicals and swollen darkroom feet! Not done any blurring before via PS (yesterdays was diffused light) so that was indeed the 'pushing' element for today and I'm most glad it's been quite well received. Just for you I blurred anything in the vicinity of 'the crotch' ;) (god thats gonna sound dreadful if noones read yesterdays comments!). 1st coment eaten as spam? yikes! the repost was most appreciated!

jc from Tokyo, Japan

love this one .. the purples and greens, her expression and hands, the processing is spot on .. great job

27 Dec 2006 12:58pm

@jc: cheers John. keep on keeping on man. Hows Ireland treating you? by the look of your recent landscape very well indeed.

badala from Leiria, Portugal

Lovely portrait.

27 Dec 2006 3:30pm

@badala: thanks badala!

Jason Kravitz from Brussels, Belgium

you are a master of the stealth subway snap! Nice job on the processing... adds a whole new dimension to an already great pose and moment.
Thanks for the PS tips and the snap technique - sometime soon we'll get some forums up on am3 where we can share technique.

27 Dec 2006 4:40pm

@Jason Kravitz: the forum idea would be great Jason! bring that puppy on! Cheers for the kind words too Jason.

Craiger from Vacaville, California, United States

Nice PP work here. You've got this down very well. Thanks for the "how to" explanation to Damon. It is helpful to me as well!

27 Dec 2006 4:40pm

@Craiger: No problem Craiger. I hope they're useful. Im posting them to hopefully recieve feedback regarding what NOT to do also...as Im a bit new to digital processing...I grew up using wet darkrooms.

Michael Zhang from New York, United States

I'm really loving the warm tone and soft focus of your recent shots. The style so well for this shot.

27 Dec 2006 9:09pm

@Michael Zhang: Cheers Michael!

Michael Zhang from New York, United States

What an intense photoshopping job!

27 Dec 2006 10:29pm

@Michael Zhang: It was a bit much time wise.... but thats due to my ineptitude with the software!

Kelvin Chan from New York City, United States

great work on the woman's face. draws the attention right away.

27 Dec 2006 10:38pm

@Kelvin Chan: Thanks Kelvin. much appreciated.

John Hartman from Kyoto, Japan

Nice work Duncs. I've been using a bit of Photoshop for our performance posters, but I think my approach is still a bit too ham-fisted. Think I'll stick to singing...

28 Dec 2006 8:23am

@John Hartman: Hey John! Happy christmas and New year to you! You having any New Year gigs coming up? let me know dude.