Your thoughts on my editing of this portrait?

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

05/07/2007 10:42:38 PM · #1

This is my grandfather, age 92. He asked me to take a shot he could send our far-flung family members.

I'd appreciate feedback on how I did with the editing. Does it look okay, or would some adjustments make it look better?

Thanks!

Edited/Original:

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

05/07/2007 10:46:11 PM · #2

Nice job. Edit improves the photo. I would like to see a bit more contrast in your edit to bring out the texture of his life.

Monique64

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

05/07/2007 10:54:02 PM · #3

I think you have darkened his face a little too much. Maybe about 1/2 way between the original and the edited version.

crayon

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

05/07/2007 10:59:45 PM · #4

he looked too good to be 92!
anyway, your edited one is too reddish.

edit: oops, got your original and edit mixed up!

Message edited by author 2007-05-07 23:13:31.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

05/07/2007 11:01:47 PM · #5

Folks, the first one is the edit.

I guess I should've reversed the order.

I'll do that here.

Original:

Edited to remove the redness, and brighten his face up, esp. on the darker right side:

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

05/07/2007 11:27:32 PM · #6

I think somewhere in between gives good results:

-----Original----------my edit-------your edit--------

Don't be afraid to sharpen this one to bring out the fantastic story being told in the skin textures.

Here's a formula you can make into an action:
Filter - Sharpen / Unsharpmask:18/40/0
Filter - Sharpen / Unsharpmask:150/0.3/0
Edit - Fade Unsharpmask:Darken 100%
Filter - Sharpen/Unsharpmask:150/0.3/0
Edit - Fade Unsharpmask: Lighten 50%

Run the action in a new layer via copy, and if too much, adjust the blending back a bit. I didn't on this particular edit.

Nikon D200

05/07/2007 11:30:44 PM · #7

Hi Levy,

I gave it a whack:

In CS2:
Match Color
Lucis Arts filter - Exposure at 80%
Levels -- Auto, then Blue mid point to .90
Slight Curves to bump the mids up slightly
Hue-Sat - Red Channel to -10
Slight dodge on the eye whites

I've got the PSD file if you need it.

:)

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

05/07/2007 11:31:58 PM · #8

Thanks, Brad! You succeeded in brightening him up even more without blowing anything out. I thought mine was a bit on the dim side, but every time I pushed it, it went too far.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

05/07/2007 11:34:00 PM · #9

Thanks, L2!

05/07/2007 11:38:32 PM · #10

And don't be afraid to go B&W with a touch more sharpening
(except the background) and a slight warm tone:

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

05/07/2007 11:41:29 PM · #11

Originally posted by Brad:

Don't be afraid to sharpen this one to bring out the fantastic story being told in the skin textures.

Funny. That's what I thought with this pic of my grandmother:

But a few people said that she might appreciate not having every wrinkle perfectly visible.

Maybe it's women vs. men or maybe it's just a difference of opinion among DPCers. :)

The_Dentist

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

05/07/2007 11:49:04 PM · #12

Some really cool edits here. My favourite is the one by Brad. I feel it's more contrasty and interesting than levyj413's.

As for the one by L2 - cool stuff, just don't think it's very flattering to the model. I like the vignetting, but I feel it has a slightly yellowish hue.

Oh, and by the way, that's a good portrait to begin with :-)

Message edited by author 2007-05-07 23:52:20.

05/08/2007 12:09:08 AM · #13

Originally posted by levyj413:

Maybe it's women vs. men or maybe it's just a difference of opinion among DPCers. :)

Women, no matter the age, are most flattered by softness, yet gentleman, especially the elderly, show their character best when the textures speak of their life's journey. Nothing to do with DPC really.

Message edited by author 2007-05-08 00:10:16.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

05/08/2007 11:34:13 PM · #14

Originally posted by Brad:

I think somewhere in between gives good results:

-----Original----------my edit-------your edit--------

Don't be afraid to sharpen this one to bring out the fantastic story being told in the skin textures.

Here's a formula you can make into an action:
Filter - Sharpen / Unsharpmask:18/40/0
Filter - Sharpen / Unsharpmask:150/0.3/0
Edit - Fade Unsharpmask:Darken 100%
Filter - Sharpen/Unsharpmask:150/0.3/0
Edit - Fade Unsharpmask: Lighten 50%

Run the action in a new layer via copy, and if too much, adjust the blending back a bit. I didn't on this particular edit.

Thanks to everyone who suggested things on this.

I tried your action, Brad, plus a few other things based on other people's thoughts. I think I like yours better, but I want this to be from me, so I'm going with my final version. :)

05/08/2007 11:45:23 PM · #15

Even played a little bit of dentist too I see.
;)
Looks great and good for you sticking to it and being able to call it your own.