Some Photoshop work on a portrait of a bum

[yoyoma]

here's a new techinque I have been toying with. tell me what you think:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/2952886121_a9d64a544c_b.jpg

original:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/2952896801_542cd2963d.jpg

materials:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2952881999_6054699f84.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2952881999_6054699f84.jpg)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3021/2953732556_af8ba658dd.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3021/2953732556_af8ba658dd.jpg)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/2953733962_13e6391573.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/2953733962_13e6391573.jpg)

[Vanquiz]

Wow, that's an IMPRESSIVE work well done. You really brought out the characteristic in that portrait.

[Frog Lady]

looks good - except for the black slits of the eyes. They are so black that I'm drawn right into their depths of nothingness and it seems weird (imo). But otherwise, I agree that you've really brought out the character of the man.

C.

[yoyoma]

looks good - except for the black slits of the eyes. They are so black that I'm drawn right into their depths of nothingness and it seems weird (imo). But otherwise, I agree that you've really brought out the character of the man.

C.

Thanks, and you are definitely right about the eyes. I spent so much time worrying about the textures that I forgot about them.

[urbanaries]

From the original shot, the subject looked like a nice man with clean skin and a beard. If your goal was to characterize him as a dirty and unkempt homeless person, you did very well.

[yoyoma]

From the original shot, the subject looked like a nice man with clean skin and a beard. If your goal was to characterize him as a dirty and unkempt homeless person, you did very well.

I don't know whether this is some kind of criticism for misrepresenting a person's image or not, but let me give you a little background. I was photographing a street protest for a friend which he had permits for and was non-violent. This homeless man, who smelled terrible, began berating us with obscene insults for over an hour and yelling in our faces about unrelated political nonsense to the point that he was spitting on us. I was suprised no one punched him. He was eventually warded off after we called the police. He also gave me explicit permission to post his picture online.

I would also like to add that this photo is not intended to be any form of factual photojournalism.

[clemensphoto's]

Interesting photo!! Really like the layering. I have to agree with frog lady the eyes are dark and very creepy (great time for Halloween).

[kombizz]

like the original image although it is not sharp enough

[crockett]

I think you would make a stronger presentation by removing the "deepest background". Try removing that, squaring the image and see what you think. I think you will like that version better.