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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> If you have the time could you critique my photo?
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07/10/2011 04:09:56 PM · #1


I admire everyone's portrait shots on this site and would love to be able to do the same. I have been making a concetrated effort to become proficient in my exposure etc. This is a photo I shot of my daughter using available window light. Then processed to achieve the trendy high contrast look using Scott Kelby's technique.

I would appreciate it if I could get some critiques on this photo. I like it but I know it can be improved on.

Any suggestions and comments are welcome.

PS. I unfortunately shot this with my ISO set to 2000 so you may see some noise.

Thank you,
Becky
07/10/2011 04:20:17 PM · #2
I think for the most part you are successful. I would like to see a bit more light in her eyes and I think you could do a bit more spot editing either with the clone tool or the spot editing tool to smooth the skin just a tiny bit more. I would have backed up just slightly so that you are not cutting off the tips of the hat brim. Other than that a very nice job.
07/10/2011 06:19:01 PM · #3
If I was scoring this in a challenge it would be on my 7-8 scale. I agree the crop is a little tight around the rim of the hat but overall I really like it. Now I'm going to look at the kelby technique you used.
07/10/2011 06:34:52 PM · #4
I agree--very nice. I would either crop in and really lose some of the hat, or pull back and keep a bit (not a lot needed) of space between the brim and edges of frame. Having them just touch is unsettling. I think your lighting is very nicely done. A bit more (just a tiny bit) of retouching on the skin could be done, depending on how you feel about such things. There are are couple or three individual strands of hair brightly lit with the dark brim behind them--I would definitely clean those.

But, be sure to notice that ALL of these comments are very minor nitpicky details--exactly the kinds of things that get attention when the overall shot is awesome. :-) Keep it in perspective! You got a great shot, did a great job, and you have some detail things being noted that are typically things that most such shots would need.
07/10/2011 07:12:06 PM · #5
I think the main part of her face is well done. On my monitor it does look there is too much contrast. Her cheek gets lost in the white background.

Message edited by author 2011-07-10 19:39:48.
07/10/2011 07:20:07 PM · #6
I am no professional, but like everyone said, the shot overall is quite pleasant. My small critique, like franktheyank said, is that her cheek is too bright, but I am not familiar with the technique that you talked about, so maybe that's what you were going for. Also, I am a bit iffy about the negative space on top of her. I would've prefered to see more skin, less white - if that makes sense.
07/10/2011 10:12:30 PM · #7
I like the shot setup, very nice. That being said, my two cents are that the high contrast look is a notch or two, too much for me. I would dial it down a bit. I would like to see a bit more fill light on the left side of the image - just a touch to see some additional details in the darker areas. The had brim doesn't bother me - it looks fine. Those would be my 2 cents! :)
07/11/2011 07:32:30 AM · #8
Thank you all so much for your comments. I will try to upload the unedited version tonight. Anyone who wants to have at it and share their proceessing is more than welcome. This was a suggestion given to me by senor_kasper as a way of learning also. Sounds fun and interesting.
07/11/2011 09:36:47 AM · #9
That would be fun, I always like to try editing others photos it's a good learning experience for us as well.
08/17/2011 10:14:21 PM · #10


Apologize for not getting around to this sooner. I have had some issues going on in my life.

This is another photo from the same sitting. Used natural light. ISO was way high because I forgot to change it. Be my guess and edit the photo as you see fit and share what you did. I am really interested in seeing how others would process this image. I have not edited this one except to resize it.

Thank you all for your time.
08/17/2011 10:47:36 PM · #11
I like the high contrast shot; there is some mystique and depth.It may be that the head tilt is better in the first shot.
08/17/2011 11:22:17 PM · #12
Hey Becky, I just did some playing around with that shot in Aperture 3.
It has more the Pastel portrait look and feel, but brings out the hair/tones, etc in what I thought was a nice way.



I used Aperture 3, Noise Ninja, and Photomatix for PP.
False 3 frame HDR, then de-noise with D300s Profile for ISO 2000
Then some spot sharpening, smoothing, and Dodging.

Hope you like it!

Nick

Edited to add this:
Well... on my MAC monitor it looks great, just looked on the windows LCD flat screen and the image is a little flatter than I had hoped, oh well hope you like it anyway :)

Message edited by author 2011-08-17 23:51:37.
08/18/2011 06:29:41 AM · #13
Hi ShutterRev
I do like it. You gave it a total different feel that fits. Thank you so much for taking the time to play and share.
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