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09/23/2006 03:47:34 PM · #1 |
Took some shots of my daughters. These were the best two of each. I'd very much appreciate frank comments! I'm especially interested in what I can do with the lighting and post processing. I know the backgrounds in the first and last ones aren't so great. In other words, I know to look for better backgrounds, but I'm less sure of how to light them or process the pics afterward.
I'm posting the original and my edited version to make it easier to see what to improve in the camera vs. processing.
Thanks in advance. :)
 
 
 
 
Message edited by author 2006-09-23 15:57:01. |
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09/23/2006 04:05:33 PM · #2 |
For me, the 3rd set is the best. I like what you did in editing her face. If you are using PhotoShop, I would then use the history brush and UNDO the grass in the background. In other words, keep the original background, and only the girl has the new edits. This would have the effect of softening and darkening the background and bringing more attention onto the girl.
The 2nd set ... I just don't care for the edit. I just think the editing made her features out to be a bit too harsh.
First and fourth... same recommendation as before. Use history brush to undo edits on the background.
To avoid having to work so hard in photoshop, I'd recommend a much wider aperture (smaller number) so that you can keep your subject in focus while gently blurring the background.
Message edited by author 2006-09-23 18:41:11.
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09/23/2006 04:35:27 PM · #3 |
Played with one of them....
adjusted levels
fixed blown area on the neck
toned down and blurred the background (maybe a tad much in some areas)
applied light diffuse glow with layer mask, and removed portions I didnt want...
usm
and good to go...
Message edited by author 2006-09-23 16:37:59.
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09/23/2006 05:00:08 PM · #4 |
First off, I'd like to say that the pictures came out really nice. But here are a few post-processing tips from a portrait photographer:
The problem a lot of people make is that they'll trust their auto color/auto levels. I very rarely, if ever use the auto buttons on Adobe. What I'm talking about specifically is your second image. The picture will make a good effect for a DP Challenge, but when it comes to portraits nobody wants to see their face that pale.
The second problem is the unsharpen mask I think it's a little strong on your pictures. Try to keep that to a minimum. I usually do it where I think it looks good, then cut it in half.
I edited the second picture the way I would normally do it, here are my steps:
Curves (There is a tutorial on how to use curves properly in the learn section)
Brightness/Contrast (I add anywhere from +5 to +10 contrast, then tweak the brightness/darkness a little bit)
Unsharp mask
Then I selected just the eyes and did unsharp mask again
That's it, I think the color was fine in the original image so I didn't tweak that.
Here is my edit (I might have even over done the eyes a bit):
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09/24/2006 01:50:05 AM · #5 |
Thanks, folks!
I really appreciate the time you took to help me understand what I did right and wrong. |
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09/24/2006 02:07:24 AM · #6 |
Here's my go at it!! First I need to just say that these girls are so precious...and the girl in the first photos has AMAZING eyes!! I went ahead and edited the first two...i'll give a go at the second two later on. I blurred out the backgrounds a little more to bring the focus to the girl...cropped (again to bring focus), adjusted the coloring, bumped up the contrast slightly and applied a lighting filter to emphasize the girl's face in both photos. Hope this helps!!
-Crystal
[url= ]Original[/url]
[url= ]Edit[/url]
[url= ]Original[/url]
[url= ]Edit[/url]
Message edited by author 2006-09-24 02:11:55.
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09/25/2006 02:06:59 AM · #7 |
I just thought of this. I have been a digital photographer for 4 years now (3 years of film), so I hadn't really printed anything in over a year. One day I decided to update my hard copy portfolio and went out to Ritz Camera to print a few pictures. I asked the person not to mess with the lighting or color because I had it the way I liked it.
When I got the pictures back I realized that they were really bright. I got so used to making my pictures computer ready that I forgot to make sure they also looked good as prints.
Don't let this happen to you. Print a few pictures now and then.
Here is one of my examples:
Original
Fixed
When they aren't side by side both pictures look good online, but the second one is much better for prints.
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09/25/2006 04:50:39 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by Loki:
I just thought of this. I have been a digital photographer for 4 years now (3 years of film), so I hadn't really printed anything in over a year. One day I decided to update my hard copy portfolio and went out to Ritz Camera to print a few pictures. I asked the person not to mess with the lighting or color because I had it the way I liked it.
When I got the pictures back I realized that they were really bright. I got so used to making my pictures computer ready that I forgot to make sure they also looked good as prints.
Don't let this happen to you. Print a few pictures now and then. |
It is interesting that you say this as I have found that if I use my laptop screen to set the "brightness" for a picture then it looks a little dull on most other monitors but prints pretty well. If, on the other hand, I use my 19" TFT monitor I get a "brighter" image that works well for on-line but it very bright for printing.
I dare not use my wife's laptop when editing as it is nothing like the two I normally use :-) |
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09/25/2006 06:13:11 AM · #9 |
| Gaussian blur and soft light would be a nice effect. |
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09/25/2006 12:04:59 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by obsidian:
It is interesting that you say this as I have found that if I use my laptop screen to set the "brightness" for a picture then it looks a little dull on most other monitors but prints pretty well. If, on the other hand, I use my 19" TFT monitor I get a "brighter" image that works well for on-line but it very bright for printing. |
Yep. My home 20" CRT is darker than my work 19" TFT. I try to keep that in mind when editing, so make things look a little too dark at home and then check it at work. |
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