The idea for this image came to me while out to lunch with Therese. I had this sudden urge to transform her into the Queen Latifa character "Mama" in Chicago. If I recall correctly, I think Therese blanched, but didn't say no. She said she'd think about it. She called me later and said "let's do it". I was thrilled. I immediately called Sugano, who signed on for the project.
But what's a photographer without a budget supposed to do about glamorous costumes and jewelry???? YOU IMPROVISE!!!! My years of haunting Goodwill and other thrift stores finally payed off. All the jewelry and headpiece (a broken necklace) are from there. The blouse is hers, tucked in strategic places. The glorious skirt is one of my curtain panels (yes, vestiges of Gone with the Wind...). The rest of the props (curtains, sofa cover, pillow, glass) are "on loan" from Bed, Bath and Beyond. I had a fan behind the panels to blow them into the scene.
The setup took two hours. I shot for 15 minutes. I'm so amazed that this turned out EXACTLY as I envisioned. I hope you enjoy it.
convert from RAW
crop
denoise
clone out blemishes
layer of topaz
gradient layer
layer in overlay mode for dodging
clone out sharpening halo
save for web
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You're developing a body of work with these dramatic portraits of women with dogs. Very nice! I like the way you have the women gazing elsewhere while the dogs stare straight at the camera. Love the set, the light, and the tone in this one.
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.
Positives: What a marvellous portrait. The light, the opulence of the surroundings, the dress, the pose, the aloof dog - all contribute to a really effective image. Everything goes together so wonderfully. I particularly like the blown curtain - it adds dynamism to a quite still image.
Critical stuff: I think eye contact may have worked really well to anchor the viewers eye.
Overall: I am a fan of good portraits and this is right up there.
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