Fifty-two Frames threw everyone in quite a fix with The Ginger Project for this week's theme. Natural Gingers (or redheads) are approximately only 1% of the world's population. Even though hair dyes can readily transform anyone into a ginger, it was still challenging to find redheaded subjects for this project.

        Luckily, I found an amazing model/actress who volunteered for a quick shoot last Thursday in Bryant Park. We discussed wardrobe, hair,make-up and props two days before, and got almost 300 shots by the time we finished with the shoot.

        It was quite the challenge picking a photo for submission as there were quite a few to choose from. Ultimately, I opted for the one that seemed the most editorial. The overall frame reminds me of a still from a Covergirl commercial, don't you think?

      Her complexion works great against her beautiful auburn (yes, auburn!) hair and the minimal make-up commands attention her eyes and facial expression. I don't remember what I asked her to think about or do before this shot, but she did an amazing job in giving me a vast variety of poses and expressions to work with.

      This take was edited in Lightroom to add warmth, a bit of saturation and sharpening. I toned down the exposure around her chest to recapture the details of the lace on her dress that were lost in the initial take. Thereafter, I played around with the RGB curves to get a warm, but minimal hues for the overall coloring of the image. Finally, I sharpened the areas around her eyes and lips, while de-sharpening the areas around her cheeks and forehead. 

Here's a before and after comparison of the initial image and the processed version. 

           Oh, and guess what? I got the cover photo! A pleasant surprise as always :)

           Special thank you to Stephanie Rupe for being my beautiful muse. Have a look at her page. Stay tuned for additional photos from this wonderful shoot!

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