First time at the post

[Justiceiro]

10006Lacquerware engraving, Bagan, 2005

OK, here goes...

This is, for some reason, one of the more interesting (to my mind) shots from my trip to SE asia. What I was trying to do was to convey a sense of the girl's "focus" on her work by restricting the focus of the shot to a very tight DOF. Do you think that works? What else is wrong with it. Lash away Brothers!

[gus]

Good subject.
I would have thought the hands but that is subjective. Poor light is not doing you any favours...the lack of it for me is making the shot low in contrast & quite flat.

[Justiceiro]

Good subject.
What did you want as point of focus ? I would have thought the hands. Poor light is not doing you any favours...the lack of it for me is making the shot low in contrast & quite flat.

I was trying to get the engraving needle as the point of focus, but it came out to be the foreward hand. The light inside this area was not very good at all, so I had a hard time seeing it through the viewfinder. Do you think I should postprocess to increase contrast?

[gus]

I was trying to get the engraving needle as the point of focus, but it came out to be the foreward hand. The light inside this area was not very good at all, so I had a hard time seeing it through the viewfinder. Do you think I should postprocess to increase contrast?

I now always hit my shots with LAB curves (descibed by rutt in a forum here..let me know if you cant find it) I use it to see what will lift & what wont. Im a basic P/shopper so thats about all i do. It does not work every time. I dont think there is a lot i could do with your shot but im sure others here could.

[Justiceiro]

I now always hit my shots with LAB curves (descibed by rutt in a forum here..let me know if you cant find it) I use it to see what will lift & what wont. Im a basic P/shopper so thats about all i do. It does not work every time. I dont think there is a lot i could do with your shot but im sure others here could.

As of now, I blew my cash on my camera and lenses, so I don't have PS yet. I have.... the cheap microsoft program [hangs head in shame].

However, I am going to be in Mexico next month, where you can pick up a bootleg copy for like $50, so I'll try that when I get back. When it comes to photoshop, I am a total novice.

[DavidTO]

I like the shot. Yep, you could have focused on the needle, but you still got a nice shot. Maybe not a great shot, but like I said, I like it.

Yes, LAB curves would help. Heck, any curves would give that shot a bit more punch, and it needs it, IMO.