Father & Son

[StuartR]

Grandson Freddie and his dad. I'd taken a series of shots (not posed) and liked this one. I originally intended to convert to mono but couldn't get it right so I opted to try a "bleach bypass" filter. I don't know much about this technique but I quite liked the result.

Freddie is only 10 weeks old and still has "floppy head syndrome" so immediately after this shot I had to tell his dad to give it a bit more support!



Canon 40D, 100-400mm @ 180mm, 1/1000 sec @ F/5.6, ISO400

[tonycoyle]

Re: Father & Son

I had to scroll down to see the baby (just because of the display I'm using at the moment)

So I saw the very 'rugged' head shot and thought - that looks like a art mag headshot - pretty cool' - the graininess of the effect gave it a 'high plains drifter' vibe. then I saw the baby and almost cried.

This is probably a conflict for the parents - but I think the shot works better without the baby

[ekkl]

Re: Father & Son

I think the baby just looks too awkward for it to work for me I am afraid.

[ash]

Re: Father & Son

Not really fond of this shot sorry.
The father looks totally oblivious that he is holding his son and freddy looks so awkward and uncomfortable.
These type of shots are suppose to show the love and fun between a parent and child and this just show's the opposite.
Sorry
Ash.

[StuartR]

Re: Father & Son

Interesting views! My intent was more to get comments on the processing rather than the picture content but I have to accept the lad looks uncomfortable and this is made more unsettling(?) by the scowl on dad's face, so perhaps I should have used another shot.

In the rest of the shots in this sequence, Freddie's head is in a "normal" position and dad looks happier! IIRC, the scowl was aimed at his daughter who was doing what 5 year olds often do - misbehaving big time!

Here's a couple of said daughter from last weekend. She's never happier than when hunting frogs in our pond. In the first she's momentarily distracted by a dragonfly that settled in the plants above her and in the second she triumphantly holds a captive frog (only for a few seconds) actually found in my greenhouse, not the pond. Shame about the plants in front of her face on the first one but I think it's still a "keeper"?

[jojo]

Re: Father & Son

Stuart I've been looking at this on and off all day today and wasn't sure if I should comment, so here goes. Isn't it funny how we all see things differently. When I look at this image I don't see an indifferent father holding his son awkwardly, I see a powerful and protective alpha male looking out for his vunerable off-spring. No doubt the processing has added to this. I could well imagine substituting dad and Freddie with a Silverback gorilla and its infant and the stance and expressions would be very similar. I think it's a powerful image. Hope I haven't caused any offence?

jo

[StuartR]

Re: Father & Son

Stuart I've been looking at this on and off all day today and wasn't sure if I should comment, so here goes. Isn't it funny how we all see things differently. When I look at this image I don't see an indifferent father holding his son awkwardly, I see a powerful and protective alpha male looking out for his vunerable off-spring. No doubt the processing has added to this. I could well imagine substituting dad and Freddie with a Silverback gorilla and its infant and the stance and expressions would be very similar. I think it's a powerful image. Hope I haven't caused any offence?

jo

Not at all Jo. Couldn't have put it better myself! Thanks for your input.

[fluffy penguin]

Re: Father & Son

I have read the comments and to a certain extent I agree with most.
But I also tried to look at it a different way.
The baby is not uncomfortable in fact looks as though he has brought his cheek down to dads hand for that extra contact.
Dad has that look of come anywhere near and!! very protective.

As for the processing not sure I am keen on it.

[Stephen]

Re: Father & Son

Stuart, you may be interested to know that I like the processing, and would be interested to know what method you used

[StuartR]

Re: Father & Son

Nothing clever I'm afraid Stephen, just a filter from Nik Software's Color Efex Pro 3.0. I assume there is a "proper" way to do it with Photoshop but I don't know it and this (configurable) filter made it easy - and I'm all for labour saving devices, whatever they are

With a list price of 299 euros this set of filters is not exactly cheap but I'd really recommend people take the time to trial them. Also have a look at Viveza from the same stable. There's some good video "lessons" on Nik's site that will whet the appetite and speed up the learning process.

Photoshop experts may well be able to achieve some of the effects themselves but I reckon you'd have to be a black belt to be able to do all of them.

I like these filters so much that, If I'm not careful, I'm going to be re-processing some 15,000 + pictures.....