To texture or not?

[Makonde]

This is 'Gramps' - who models for the Life drawing class at the local retirement centre and is admired by the ladies. And no, he doesn't take his clothes off - they reward him only with shortbread biscuits. But for me, the subject of an experiment with added texturing/toning. The straight photo is OK but 'just another portrait' (on the hoof, no posing) while the textured one wins the popular vote locally. So - what do you think?; why does the one have more appeal?

And - does anybody have hints on applying textures (another subject for a separate thread perhaps...)

[benvendetta]

Re: To texture or not?

Not the best of poses but your treatment is preferrable to the first image. What about monochrome?
A nice pose and some directional lighting would show up loads of character in his face.

[Makonde]

Re: To texture or not?

Not the best of poses but your treatment is preferrable to the first image. What about monochrome?
A nice pose and some directional lighting would show up loads of character in his face.

This was a snap shot (no posing or any control over lighting) while I was shooting something else in the next room. The question is more to do with treatment - and the role texture can play; why people like it; tips you may have etc. For example, I like the work of this fellow a lot, if you check out his textured sets: http://www.flickr.com/photos/por2able/

what do you think?:

[dj69]

Re: To texture or not?

I think it's a lovely pose and I like the textured version. I loved my life drawing class I did years ago and this just brought back a lot of memories. Thank's for sharing

David

[David Gethin]

Re: To texture or not?

Hi Keith

I'm afraid I have no experience with using textures to offer. Looking at that guy's flickr, his textured work is a bit marmite for me... some I like (like the Lord Nelson set), others not.

Back to your treatment, the most noticeable improvement is the tones (particularly the skin) are much more pleasing in the treated photograph than the original.

With regard to the texture itself, either you have sharpened the original or the texture helps create an illusion whereby the subject seems more in focus than the original. Where the texture does win is in 'softening' the OOF background... that may seem an odd thing to say but the bokeh in the original of the two dark objects on the table is not that nice and the texture helps to tie that background into the picture more successfully for me.

Whether such a treatment would suit a younger model would be interesting to see... it probably would if you were going for a high end fashion shoot/retro 60s/Twiggy look. I do like it because the texture is not overpowering and used with care on the right subject would add to the image. There are plenty of examples I am sure where it would not work, but here it does.

Cheers

[Makonde]

Re: To texture or not?

Thanks to those who have commented, and particularly for that thoughtful input, David. I don't recall sharpening, so that point is interesting - two textures were applied, then to reduce their impact on the main subject the subject was selected and averaging applied (could that have the effect of sharpening I wonder?)

The tones are I think improved (by chance rather than design I confess - I am no expert at textures). They were blended in using Overlay.

My thinking is that among other things, a texture of the random pattern variety does indeed help to make the background more uniform, so bringing more 'focus' (in the sense that the eye is drawn) to the subject, and in some cases can be better than simply selecting the background and diminishing its presence in some other way (blurring, desaturating etc)

I liked the subconscious association of the 'grungy' look - reminiscent of old photographs - with the age of the subject, and I think it emphasises the 'old' aspect while his bubbly cheerfulness counters any depressing effect that might have on us older viewers!

PS: I like por2able's maritime work best, particularly his treatment of working ships and dockside machinery, where the grain, grunge and grit of textures can add a great deal to an image in his hands. It's not an area where I've done more than play a bit, but I'd like to explore the technique further and tease out what it can offer by way of images that are different and with added impact.