Good Reference?

Patricia Joyce · 06-14-2005, 04:46 PM

I took this picture of my nephew about a year ago and today he is about a foot taller and really changing on me, so I thought this should be my next portrait. I am thinking of attempting this in oils, too as I can still have him sit for a color study.

What do you think of this as a photo reference? I would make the background all green instead of the paneling that you see, just a simple head and shoulder.

Mike McCarty · 06-14-2005, 05:59 PM

Hey Patricia,

That's a pretty nice reference photo.

My only thoughts would be these -- the background we see here looks like it's making an influence on his skin tones. You may want to keep this in mind if you switch to a green.

I don't like these kinds of shirts in a portrait.

Chris Saper · 06-14-2005, 07:57 PM

Hi Pat,

There are a lot of things I like about this photo - the color though is so misleading, you might be better off working from a fine quality black/white image, supplemented by life color studies.

Of course if you can get him for life studies, you could also take more photos without the confounding influence of the yellow

Michele Rushworth · 06-14-2005, 08:30 PM

I think your life would be SO much easier if you took a better photo of him or someone else with correct color. If you're shooting digital be sure to set the white balance to match the light source (ie "shade" if it's window light). I personally wouldn't try to invent skintone color. Too hard for me!

Cindy Procious · 06-15-2005, 07:51 AM

Correcting photos is what Photoshop was invented for - it's fairly simple to remove a yellow tint from a photo.

What beautiful eyes he has.

Patricia Joyce · 06-15-2005, 09:33 AM

Thanks Cindy,
That's cool. What does everyone else think about the coloring of the adjustment in Photoshop? Along with a live sitting???

Chris, I don't think I can get Marty to sit still for me for more than five minutes, typical teenage boy. Plus he is very shy!! I was amazed he let me take this photo. I like this photo for the lighting on his face as far as range of value. I am thinking of doing a monochrome painting, perhaps I will just use this image for that exercise??

Mike, I am pleased you like the photo. I was pretty happy with the way the light falls across his features and it is pretty crisp for me anyways!

Michele I will check out the features of my camera, there should be some such switch...

Mike McCarty · 06-15-2005, 10:00 AM

I really like monochrome oil paintings. How bout placing the head and shoulders in the middle of the canvas and leave some blank canvas around the bottom of the shirt, tailing off irregularly instead of squaring off the bottom like in the photo. You might be able to get that done on a 16x12 canvas with a 7" head.

Patricia Joyce · 06-15-2005, 11:14 AM

Mike, this is great. I think that is what I will do. Thanks for posting this image. Hopefully you will see progress in critique section in the next couple weeks . . .