outdoor portrait attempt (Suzanne)

10/15/2005 03:43:06 PM · #1

It was an overcast day, (great even lighting) so I convinced a friend to pose a little for me down by the river. (she kept telling me she looked like shit today, and wasn't able to fix her hair/makeup) but I think she still made a beautiful subject.

We took a few shots, different poses, mostly with the 50mm 1.8 II

This last image was overdone a bit with neatimage, but I thought I'd post it anyways.

Message edited by author 2005-10-15 15:43:55.

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

10/15/2005 04:26:45 PM · #2

A little USM helps these I think, barely noticeable, but I think it does.

Selecting here iris's (irii?) and sharpening them more also helps.

Not sure the light in this was right for a soft focus image IMO.

owen

Canon EOS-40D

10/15/2005 04:41:59 PM · #3

I like your shots. The second one looks a little unbalanced though, cropped too tight to the head, and the bench takes a lot away from the model though her smile/expression is very nice in this shot.

10/15/2005 04:42:37 PM · #4

Okay, quickie edit of the second, needs improvement and fine tuning.

I selected her face with the selection brush, applied just a little USM, deselect, copied background to a new layer, applied gaussian blur, changed the blend to Hard light, and opacity to 59%. Applied some levels (not in a layer) to the background for some fine tuning.

I think it provided a nice glowy look.

I REALLY wish she had not been wearing that jacket for the picture though. Tell her I said she's pretty, and to stop talking down about herself. My wife does that too. (insert anrgy smiley that I don't have here.)

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

10/15/2005 04:53:48 PM · #5

Okay, I decided to do the first one also with about the same technique, except a little more USM on the face. still Gblur at r3.0, hard light, and 79% opacity this time. Levels layer in below the glow layer.

skylen

Nikon D200

10/15/2005 05:51:26 PM · #6

Originally posted by wavelength:

Okay, quickie edit of the second, needs improvement and fine tuning.

I selected her face with the selection brush, applied just a little USM, deselect, copied background to a new layer, applied gaussian blur, changed the blend to Hard light, and opacity to 59%. Applied some levels (not in a layer) to the background for some fine tuning.

I think it provided a nice glowy look.

I REALLY wish she had not been wearing that jacket for the picture though. Tell her I said she's pretty, and to stop talking down about herself. My wife does that too. (insert anrgy smiley that I don't have here.)

I like the original better, I like the soft feel of it.

10/15/2005 05:53:45 PM · #7

Originally posted by skylen:

I like the original better, I like the soft feel of it.

Yeah, I guess it was a bit overdone. I like my second attempt at the same trick better. Applying the levels in a layer so I could go back and adjust helped. Also kept the overlay from darkening the image badly.

Message edited by author 2005-10-15 17:54:03.

Marc923

10/15/2005 05:56:24 PM · #8

Shots look really good. I like them. There is one thing that I would do, and that is clone out the bird doo doo on the bench.

10/15/2005 06:01:31 PM · #9

I agree with the comment about the crop on the 2nd one.. never noticed before, I'll have to try again there's lots of room in the original to crop differently.

And next time I'll give her some warning and hair/makeup/clothing could be prepared for the next shoot.

thanks for all the comments and editing tips.
maybe I'll post an unedited picture and see what you guys&gals can do with it.

10/15/2005 09:16:14 PM · #10

ok, new version of the 2nd pic.. revised crop and cloned out the bird droppings..
I think it's interesting because it's not your average portrait..

10/15/2005 09:47:36 PM · #11

replaced pic 3.. not so soft..

10/15/2005 09:52:16 PM · #12

Originally posted by rwaudio:

replaced pic 3.. not so soft..

ooh, umm. I'm afraid this photo has suffered from neat image intoxication poisoning. when's the funeral?

The noise couldn't have been THAT bad... could it?

ShorterThanJesus

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Canon

10/15/2005 09:54:41 PM · #13

I think (not having seen the originals) that the softening might not be necessary. In shots like this, the details are what make it. Her hair in that close-up looks almost slicked down after the neat image. It might just be the lighting, but that's what I'm seeing.

longlivenyhc

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

10/15/2005 10:21:25 PM · #14

hope u dont mind me doing a bit of editing. here i just sharpened it up and then did a little adjustments using curves.

edcanas

10/16/2005 10:03:40 PM · #15

looks like a great outdoor lighting day. one thing ive learned is that you dont want to show your light source in the background of your subject. if you were in a studio, you wouldnt want to show a big light coming out from behind her. great expression on your model's face.

deapee

Kodak V803

10/16/2005 10:08:51 PM · #16

are those intentionally out of focus? They don't just look soft to me, they look like there's something wrong with your camera -- backfocusing maybe?