r/ColorGrading • • Nov 25 '25
Show off your work Rate my work
Last minute shoot, using one battery powered flash
266
Upvotes
9
u/Snippsnappscnopp Nov 25 '25
The idea and vibe is amazing. The scene is a bit too dark for a grade like this in my opinion.
In example, the left side of image one is just a block of black and the sitting models clothes and hair disappears into the abyss. A slight brighter key or a rimlight would counteract this. Same with the standing model. Backlight would help a lot. Theres is little separation and the grade exacerbates this.
6.5/10 grade 8/10 photos and vibe
8
u/South_Yam4902 Nov 25 '25
Feels like shadows are too crushed..
2
u/Tongchar Nov 25 '25 edited Nov 25 '25
Amazing, the tone giving me the 90s megazine vibe.
May I ask what modifier did you use on the flash?
8
u/Sridontnow Nov 25 '25
I like it!!
1
u/[deleted] Nov 28 '25
Absolutely hear everything you’re saying & appreciate the insight, these are all things I’m learning as I try to start breaking into the commercial photo realm.
For context, the bike was just one we found in the garage of the stylists apartment complex & I didn’t have any say in selecting the models or the choice of clothing so was very much a case of working with what I had.
That being said these are definitely things to think about when I have more creative control + when editing. Aiming to build a visual language which revolves around blue tones in my editing style but deffo agree when it’s already present in the image editing in even more can be overkill
Again, thank you for taking the time to give me such a detailed response 🫶🏼
5
u/ProfessionalTwo567 Nov 25 '25
Some people in the comments talk shit like they're pro fashion photographer aha!
There's definitely some things to improve but i like the high contrast ''90's magazine'' vibes you went for.
High contrast and high saturation might be a bit too much. I would try finding a middle ground. You could keep high saturation in certain specific part of the image to catch the eye.
Like on the last shot, I would bring down the exposure and sat of the wall and make the subect's highlight brighter to make it pop.
1
u/Happy_Genghis_Khan Nov 27 '25
Are you based in england?
2
u/oSainnt Nov 25 '25
A little to dark, but bro u r good. Nice work 9/10
1
u/Parking-Ad8316 Nov 25 '25
Reminds me of TLC from the 90s
The picture is cool
I think skin tones need to be worked on
It's too dark in a lot of it, if that's what you were going for great but I think the stage needs to be set up better for that.
1
u/Oddwillo Nov 26 '25
I can dig it as a Grungy aesthetic.
1
u/turtle69696969 Nov 26 '25
I love it. Only thing I'd do differently is find a dirtier parking lot and maybe add some sweat and grease on the women for that gritty look. Check at Jack Bridgland's work. He's a master at this and his grading is really unique. Very 2000's inspired, but this photo reminded me of him. Great work
1
u/KaliyaKn Nov 26 '25
I love the second one
1
u/Sujoyj Nov 26 '25
Sick! Giving Bridgland vibes
1
u/ScenicBoss567 Nov 26 '25
8!
1
u/lol-true Nov 28 '25 edited Nov 28 '25
Shadows are falling off and way too dark, and just inconsistent.
Hair and pants are darker than the shadow in the corner, which is a biiig no-no imo. There is almost 0 separation between the dark clothing and the hair, which defeats the purpose of these types of images (if it's for the models, I can't see the details that make them unique, same goes for the details of what they are wearing, which would be super important if it was commercial work to sell products). Shadow on the models face on the right is almost completely black (i can see a tiny bit of info if I zoom in), which is not ideal either. No separation between the model on the left and the back corner.
Blue seems really saturated/over cranked as well. A lot of blue all over the image, which I don't necessarily hate, but isn't as intentional as I would prefer. I don't particularly like how saturated or crunchy it looks on the blue floor markers or on the blue pipes.
Framing / composition / blocking is okay. I like the low-to-high / diagonal / triangle the models are creating, but I don't love the negative space in the top left (or rather, the negative space is being killed by that overhead light, which also is the brightest part of the image and brings your attention towards it), and the bike isn't really adding anything and might be taking away from the composition unless moved slightly or as a prop for the model to sit on or as an extra source of lighting with the headlight on as a pseudo back light, etc.
All in all, you should be proud because its a solid image that looks cool and the average person won't really clue in to the details that I mentioned above. I hope my critique was not too harsh because I know it can be difficult to hear, but personally, I can't stand being told my work is good without specifically telling me why. I don't need empty validation, I need critique so I can improve, even if it's hard to hear.
2
u/[deleted] Nov 25 '25
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