Just a little playing with the grain and filters. I am not really good at photoshop, but accidentally i touched some filters and then began to explore as a result of my curiosity (though i think it is going to be harmful for me). I thought this was a good chance to work for a retro shot! This is the resul, tell me what you think?!
To speak the truth aloud, Visar, I am rather anti-filter in general, when they used "just for playing around", since I find it quite boring to see so many "works of art" that are "created" accidentally by using 3765 filters with no vision whatsoever.
But any rule has its exception, I guess, and here you prove to me just such a very strong exception. It is not only "retro" to me, but also much more.
The moment of the shot makes up much of the style and the character of this image. Even without alteration it would be strong, if I can judge from the very special expression of that guy. One of the few faces with the very own character, and perhaps it reminds me a bit of Huge Jackman, or even Clint Eastwood in his younger years - straight eyes, straight talks, and still so much going on in that mind that you will not know about.
Now, the above, together with that kind of aged look, that also reminds me of a big magnification of, say, some photo made in a bar a while ago, where the protagonist was sitting between many other people, has also something mysterious - as if it were the only available evidence of some person that disappeared somewhen in the past and left no other trace. Like a memory that one can't prevent to get more and more vague as the time passes by. I think this makes the very aged look and feel stronger.
I could imagine that very very well as a cover of some CD about the past. Intriguing in its own way!
I guess we stand alike on this. Only i am talking of these hard talks with my friends, (they still did not have a chance to use digital :P) LOL. And as you mentioned that you were a film fanatic, well i still am. And every month i shoot at lest three rolls of film, (and store most of them). But i got hooked, again like you, in digital and its easier in many ways, and there is nothing you cannot do with it! :) warm regards, V.
You shouldnt worry what the friends tell you or think! You know, I guess i also like to stay as close to the original as possible, but when the , for example lighting conditions are not what you want, to give the right effect to the shot, PS is very useful, or when something is really distracting a great photo, PS again can bee very helpful & so on & so on.. you know as long as the core of the photo is intact & original I think the rest is just improving work. I used to be a fanatic of film before & original photography but then it happened I tried digital & I was hooked, a wider horizon was open for me. i still love film though! at the end of the day I think as long as you can express yourself, your vision the way that you want & the way that you see it it in your minds eye, that is the most important thing! take care E
Hey again Edlira, Well I would like to know more of PS, i only know a few basic things. But, whatever or whenever i put a pic in PS, these friends of mine give me harsh critiques of doing that! while my argument is very simple, 'I use anything to get to my idea', but they do not buy that. Sometime, i cheat them (because they do not know PS) and tell them that i did it like this, without PS and they like 'good work', but then i tell them. Once they figure it was PS work in it, they say 'f*** it'. well, anyway, I am learning PS and as i said, i'll use anythign to get to the idea. Even though, even i do not like that much of PS used in PS especially when by using it all the contures and whatever naturality is lost. anyway, thanks for the comment and encouragement. many warm regards, V.
you have found a new hobby now eh? photoshop can be addictive!!! ..lol.. great job here Visar, I like the way that you have turned your portrait, nice effect, love the tones & even the unsharpness adds to the mood. well done, I would like to see more of this sort of photos from you. I would encourage you to play with photoshop it does give your photos that extra something( sometimes). take care E.
Srna, he's way out of his character on this one! But you're right when saying he looks like someone to who you can talk to, very talkative. But usually he holds his head high, and very straightforward, and very conscious; poor clumsy ones who met him! Crazy guy! regards, and thank you very much for the comment, V.
Playing in PC could be so very interesting Visar and your play turned out quite well ... you've got the mood and the story !!! And I really do like your friend's expression, well done !!! He seems as somebody with whom you can be so very close and this is so very rare those days ... excellent capture though !!! Warm hugs Srna
well as you see, I put it to peace and tranquillity, LOL, ganjafeeling. He's actually a friend of mine, and i am abusing his face, but we do have a lot of hard talks- we even shout, and sometime do not talk to one another for days, but then another little gasoline on fire, and 'zeng' you... well, curse the dealer! LOL... V.
Oh yes, playing with PS is much fun. You did well, V-Greenie. It both has an oldfashioned feel to it, but even more so adding some kind of ganjafeeling to it like seing you(?) while being high after a night of discussions, smoke, music*LOL* It´s not always possible to describe a mood, but I love photos that add a mood or bring out thoughts - the technique itself is not so interesting. Be well Blueeye
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{K:127263} 11/13/2007
