How could I improve this photo? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/08/2005 11:56:14 PM · #1

I took this in my 'studio' with a couple Photogenic lights with 3 1/2 foot umbrellas. After adjusting the raw file in DPP, cloned out a stray hair across her face, desaturated teeth, darkened back drop to match eyes a little better, though I didn't touch the eyes.

How would you improve it?

ButterflySis

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

01/09/2005 12:05:17 AM · #2

Well, I'm certainly no expert on portraits (or anything for that matter :-D ), but here's what I see...

You have excellent focus on the eye on the right but the other seems soft. The lighting towards the left seems a more harsh than it does on the right. Parts of her face seem almost blown out because of it...particularly at the top of her nose and one brow. The catchlights are a bit strong and we can see what kind of cover/filter you used on it. I do like the angle of her face and she has a great smile.

Like I said, I'm no expert... It's better than I could've done.

ChrisW123

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

01/09/2005 12:06:36 AM · #3

Don't see the photo. :(

dartompkins

Nikon D70s

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

01/09/2005 12:24:41 AM · #4

I think you can do a lot with it. Here is my attempt at editing:

hsteg

Fujifilm X-T20

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

01/09/2005 12:29:55 AM · #5

Originally posted by dartompkins:

I think you can do a lot with it. Here is my attempt at editing:

Attack of the plastic people!

dartompkins

Nikon D70s

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

01/09/2005 12:34:07 AM · #6

Originally posted by hsteg:

Originally posted by dartompkins:
I think you can do a lot with it. Here is my attempt at editing:

Attack of the plastic people!

Interesting comment for someone with no people in your portfolio.

pitsaman

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

01/09/2005 12:40:15 AM · #7

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

01/09/2005 01:05:35 AM · #8

The umbrella reflections in the eyes are very distracting. Pic would benefit from use of healing brush in photoshop to remove skin blemishes, unless you WANT to see her au naturel.

*I see that's what Pitsaman has done, incidentally. And Tompkins, though his may be softening/blur tool?

Robt.

dartompkins

Nikon D70s

01/09/2005 02:08:08 AM · #9

I used neatimage.

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

01/09/2005 02:23:18 AM · #10

Okay, here's my relatively quick-and dirty take on her. Healing brush and cloning tool extensively. Paid particular attention to "bruised" dark areas. Took the umbrellas out of the eyes. Not entirely happy with the eyes, but this will do for now. Selections for lips and teeth, separately and as a unit. Selection for face entire. Loaded face selection, subtracted lips& teeth, hue/saturation applied. Loaded teeth selection, desturated and lightened a tad. Loaded lips selection, added back a bit of red. Used xero's mistifier on overall image at about 40% fadein.

It's a different look, anyway.

Robt.

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

01/09/2005 02:31:58 AM · #11

01/09/2005 03:25:14 AM · #12

Amazing how many ways there are to approach this. I very much like SDW's take on this, though I think it would be improved if a little color were brought back into the eyes. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks the umbrellas have to go :-)

Robt.

pitsaman

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

01/09/2005 08:44:54 AM · #13

Originally posted by bear_music:

Sparkle in the eye gives life to the subject,this way she looks like ugly plastic Barbie...

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

01/09/2005 09:23:16 AM · #14

First one is gothic glow at about 75% opacity. Second is Dave's Midnight Sepia.

:)

M

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

01/09/2005 09:31:27 AM · #15

Pitsa,

This is certainly true, in the abstract, but if you blow the original image up you will see that the so-called "sparkle" is in fact a detailed reflection of the umbrella light, and it completely destroys the image. Assuredly, some sparkle would be a plus, but that reflection had to go.

As I indicated in my comments, I'm not happy with the eyes as I left them. However, I have neither the time nor the energy right now to place a new, non-specific highlight in the eyes; my initial attempts did not look good.

Robt.

Message edited by author 2005-01-09 09:32:42.

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

01/09/2005 10:24:07 AM · #16

Plex. I think you did a good job with the equipment you have. The reflections in her eyes are a bit of a problem, but unless you will be trying to sell these to getty or are doing a magazine layout, they are not that much of a problem. If anything, I would do a mask for her forehead and right side of her nose and soften it up a bit. Use a duplicate layer so you can blend it in better. Merge. Use the scratch remover tool for the freckles, and then use the clone tool in lighten mode to lessen the shadows of the blemish on her forehead and take out the rest of the pores on her nose. Those are just cosmetic things you can do, but as it stands, you did a good job.

hsteg

Fujifilm X-T20

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

01/09/2005 11:00:31 AM · #17

Originally posted by dartompkins:

Originally posted by hsteg:

Originally posted by dartompkins:
I think you can do a lot with it. Here is my attempt at editing:

Attack of the plastic people!

Interesting comment for someone with no people in your portfolio.

I wasnt trying to insult you or anything, just trying to let you know that the skin looked a little plastic. Chill out.

Plexxoid

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/09/2005 05:51:44 PM · #18

Thanks all. Unfortunately, I only have PSE2, PSCS is a bit expensive even with student discount ($250?), so no healing brush.

I really appreciate the enthusiastic effort. However, I didn't see any thing that I liked better, but Bear's was the best (didn't look very different, exept less blemishes.)

BTW, Marie is my 14 year old sister.

Thanks again!

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

01/09/2005 06:01:26 PM · #19

Originally posted by Plexxoid:

I'd consider moving the lights further from her face, so you don't get quite such a hot spot above her eye. Also, a softbox would give perhaps more appealing highlights than the shadows from the umbrella in her eyes. Composition looks great - though perhaps either a more 'square on' camera position or slighty smaller aperture would let you get good sharp focus on both eyes - either that or set the focus on the bridge of her nose so you get both within the DoF.

Rooster

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8-4.0 Aspherical for Canon

01/09/2005 08:43:39 PM · #20

I really like the b&w but would suggest that you increase the contrast to bring out more true black & white.
Cool pic!