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Playing grown up in the beauty parlour

© Dale Hardin

Playing grown up in the beauty parlour

Uploaded: October 17, 2013

Description

Shutter Speed: 1/60.00 F-stop: f/16.0
Focal Length: 16.00

Exif: F Number: 16, Exposure Bias Value: -0.30, ExposureTime: 1/60 seconds, Flash: fired, compulsory flash mode, return light not detected, ISO: 200, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 16.00 mm, Model: SLT-A77V

Comments

Joy Rector October 18, 2013

love this shot #1549012

Dale Hardin October 18, 2013

Thank you Joy. Found this at a civil war reenactment in Simi Valley, Calif. #10875081

Stephen Shoff October 18, 2013

I'm guessing you were going with a Norman Rockwell effect here. I like the colors pretty well but think they could be the reds could be more saturated.

Somehow the picture is spoiled for me by the girl's face. There's something odd about it. I think the paleness fits your intent but the contrast with her mouth may be way too strong.

I also think you could crop the window on the left and reflection in the mirror (or clone the reflection out) #10875161

Jeff E Jensen October 18, 2013

I've come back to this a couple of times, and I'm just not getting excited about this, Dale. Not sure what it is. The bright light on the floor is a bit distracting, that might be it. #10875172

April Riggs October 18, 2013

I think this is cute! #10875176

Dale Hardin October 18, 2013

Stephen, you are correct in the interpretation. I thought about the window but left it to stop the eye from moving off the page. The mouth problem you perceive is because she has some teeth missing. Agree the mirror reflection could go.

Jeff, I left the bright light to show where the light was coming from in this period piece. The obvious sunlight through the window justifies the brightly lit room. #10875193

Dale Hardin October 18, 2013

Thanks a lot April. :o) I do too. :o) #10875195

Stephen Shoff October 18, 2013

I saw what appeared to be missing teeth and was going to mention it, but considered it as "in character". But I think that is overly accentuated by the high contrast. #10875235

Dale Hardin October 18, 2013

I'm sure you're right Stephen. I did tweak the image a bit to try to address some of the comments. I got rid of the reflection in the mirror, added a warming filter to the light on the floor and corrected the clipped top. #10875443

Michael Kelly level-classic October 18, 2013

For me the edit is an improvement. Like Jeff, I have looked at this several times. I like the feel of almost an illustration, but there is something keeping me from being as excited about this as I should be. I can't give you an absolute reason, but two things stick out. The cords in front of the girls face and the bright light on the floor. #10875524

Dale Hardin October 18, 2013

Thanks Mike. I explained the light on the floor and that she is playing around, as the title suggests, so the wires make sense. On a shot like this, there isn't time to set it up like in a studio. It was see, shoot it.

Would I like to re-shoot? Of course, but not possible so I went with an illustration look for the photo. #10875556

Rita K. Connell level-classic October 18, 2013

I echo what has been already said. the curler is hard to make up. my first thought was to tell her not to touch for fear they would hurt her. just not getting it for me. Sorry #10875642

Dale Hardin October 19, 2013

Thanks Rita, but I'm finding the reaction to this shot very surprising. I thought it was a charming image that tells a cute story with a defining treatment that honored a great American artist. It remains one of my favorites. :o) #10876001

Susan Williams October 21, 2013

Dale, I think you succeeded in everything you set out to do and the treatment does honor the great American artist. I think the issue with this image is subliminal; the cute little girl is toying with an ugly contraption that looks torturous. I think if you removed that, and let the hair dryer speak to the place, with the little girl leaning on clean, neatly-folded towels it would eliminate the feeling of wanting the girl to move away from it. #10877636

Dale Hardin October 21, 2013

Thank you, Susan, that is an excellent suggestion. Here is the fix. #10877904

Dale Hardin October 21, 2013

Will try again for the image. BP is lousy at connectivity. #10877905

Susan Williams October 21, 2013

Dale, don't fall out of your chair, but I meant the whole big machine that looks like a hair curling device. :) #10877990

Dale Hardin October 21, 2013

LOL! You really want to put this old geezer to work, don't you Susan? Here it is but it's a pretty sloppy job. Was in a hurry just to get it posted. #10878039

Susan Williams October 21, 2013

I really like the edit, Dale, and think you've retained the Rockwell look. I really like the clean look and feel the focus is now on the girl with some interesting objects in the room. That said, please feel free to tell me to go fly a kite if I suggest something that doesn't appeal to you or is contrary to your intent. I am perfectly capable of missing the boat. :) #10878240

Dale Hardin October 21, 2013

It does look cleaner and I am never so entrenched in an image that I'm not open to change. After all, I end up with TWO good images that way, right?

And if you ever do go fly a kite let me know so I can take some images. :o) #10878247


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