In terms of Photoshop, I agree with Hoppen that I prefer Photoshop work to appear “seamless” and not *look* Photoshopped, even if the reality of what you’ve captured cannot possibly have been as shot (that’s a general thing, not a response to any of your specific images). Unless the over-Photoshopped or deliberately collaged style is what you are after and works with the concept. But I definitely don’t see any problem with how much or how little post-processing someone may do on their work to achieve the final image.

In terms of ‘Girl Dreaming’, I think your decision to clone out the items on the table and to darken the shadows behind you to remove the “clutter” from the image were good ones. I also believe the darkening behind you works with the window light – the drop off that you would have had if you’d exposed the shot a couple of stops down. There’s also the factor that the items behind you seem to be anachronistic with the furniture and give it a more modern feel which you were not after.

However, the one gem I personally feel you could have left in now that I’ve had a chance to see the original [though somehow in a way that would just gently catch the eye, not draw the viewer's eye too much away from the main subject]: the world atlas! Although it potentially also fits into the “too modern” category of some of the other peripheral items, I think there is a nice suggestion of what you may be dreaming about: travel, a foreign affair, etc., etc. It suggests more, but doesn’t close off the narrative / dialogue.

SR

Thanks @ Stugee for your comment.

Very interesting post. Intrigued to see that you are still so reflective given the level of your success – really nice to see.

Anyway, I like both versions of your Girl Dreaming image. I think the painterly version in the heavily photoshopped version has something, but elements of the un-processed image are stronger. I wonder if there is scope to work more on the preperation of the space you shoot in and so have less to do with the processing? By clearing up the clutter slightly, blocking off some of the light and reducing exposure slightly, you could have achieved a chunk of the work you got in photoshop in-camera, which might have given you an image better than either versions.

Anyway, for the record I like both.

Best,

Stewart.

everyone else got one!!!!

sob!!!!!!!

love from chris

I would love to see you use film, even if just for a short while. One day we should meet and you can try my Rolleiflex! I think you would find it really interesting, especially 6×6 film….

@ Piotr – thanks, I agree about the image. I’m still unsure whether I want to go down the road of ‘fitting the right image to the right audience’, because that instantly requires one to learn ‘how’ to do something and therefore not act so much with instinctive & honest creativity. As much as I am cynical of the ‘wows’ on Flickr, I also like the idea of pleasing more people than just an elite crowd – not necessarily bozoes who want quick eye candy, just people who understand there is more to art than following conventions…

@ Arty
I have never admired your ultra-negative slant… and the ‘I told you so’ tone in response to this blog post could not be more out of place with its intent – of putting the artist’s desires first!

Blurring the boundaries between, rather than ‘floundering’ between, ‘commercial/fashion fodder’ and art might, for all I know at this stage, happen to be my USP, and you certainly need a USP in a world reaching a human population of 7 billion…

You’ll be as surprised as I was to discover that one of my most Photoshopped pieces has just been chosen by a notable museum curator in an international art competition, to be exhibited amongst work that would be deemed more up Hoppen’s street.

@ Solarina
Haha – fab comment, always interested to see your take on things.
I do agree about the image (the processed one looking more like a painting, which would fit my Balthus inspiration and intent better, but without that context it could be seen to be better unprocessed).

@ everyone: Brook, Lash, Sharon, RayPG:
thanks very much for taking the time to comment, it does make me feel as if it was well worth sharing this write-up, and encourages me to do more in the future.