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07/14/2008 08:53:36 PM · #1

[thumb]698949[/thumb]

This was one of many during a "home shoot" for the Anything but a Landscape. I did not enter it, or any image for that matter! I was not happy with PP. The background is white cloth, that I "improved" via a levels adjustment followed by a mask for Abby. I find the mask to be a bit sloppy. Also, I think the outfit is a poor choice for this type of change as her material is sheer. This was my first attempt at improving the white of a background that seems to be so popular here. Any tips or criticism?

ambaker

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

07/14/2008 08:59:05 PM · #2

The bow in her hair seems to go soft, like depth of field is a bit short.

I agree a non shear outfit would work better.

The lighting angle casts a slight shadow on her face on the left side of the image (her right side).

I think that highlighting her hair just a little, (I have no idea of what lighting you have available), would add to the image also.

That's about all I can see. It was a very good image to start with. Love that impish look.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

07/14/2008 09:09:53 PM · #3

Originally posted by ambaker:

Thanks, the impish look is an understatement.

Lighting is available light and bouncing a 430ex unit. It's the front room of our home where we get great morning light for about an hour. Clearly the window is on her left!

Highlight her hair would require a separate light from above.(?) Would a second flash achieve this or is a constant source better?

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

07/14/2008 09:28:30 PM · #4

Her face is SO cute...I would crop in really, really close to not even worry much about the outfit or the background. I don't think this is a bad effort at all. Probably would have been easier to work on the background with a different outfit, but I think it's good anyway. The focus seems to be spot on her face and eyes and you can always work with the rest.

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

07/14/2008 09:39:09 PM · #5

Here's an example of what I meant...hope you don't mind.

[thumb]699270[/thumb]

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

07/14/2008 10:47:40 PM · #6

I really like this image, but I don't like the skin tones. Too much green. Here is a quick take:

I wouldn't change the crop too much, and I love the outfit. The shallow DoF works for me. The only thing that obthers, other than the skin tones, is the head crowding the frame on the left (her right).

Edit to correct link to thumb

Message edited by author 2008-07-14 22:48:22.

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

07/14/2008 11:34:53 PM · #7

Everyone, thanks for the help.

Here I thought the skin tone was fine, definitely better

kirbic. More natural skin. Did you use a hue/sat adjustment layer or channel mixer?

Patsfan

Nikon D70s

07/14/2008 11:55:36 PM · #8

My take on it.

Message edited by author 2008-07-15 00:03:24.

Ringostarr

Nikon D70

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

07/15/2008 12:04:20 AM · #9

This is my take on it.
[thumb]699368[/thumb]

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

07/15/2008 01:03:34 AM · #10

patsfan and

ringostarr:

Would you mind sharing your PP steps? Did you primarily use an effects filter. Although I prefer a more natural look, you both still did a great job. Thanks. Ben

Message edited by author 2008-07-15 01:05:27.

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

07/15/2008 01:13:51 AM · #11

Originally posted by bspurgeon:

Can you post the original? I would like to attempt to see what I can do.
Thanks,
Scott

07/15/2008 02:11:10 AM · #12

Here is a large jpeg of the original. I could not post the RAW file.

[thumb]699408[/thumb]

train

Panasonic DMC-FZ30

07/15/2008 02:53:45 AM · #13

IMAGE_ID=699413

I hope you didnt mind me having a go I used the dodge tool to smooth the background

Message edited by author 2008-07-15 02:57:26.

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

07/15/2008 03:21:13 AM · #14

Originally posted by train:

IMAGE_ID=699413

I hope you didnt mind me having a go I used the dodge tool to smooth the background

[thumb]699413[/thumb] Fixed link.

Background is actually quite nice. That's an awful lot of dodging! I used a quick selection then a levels adjustment to get the white background, but I like the control you had as I like the hair to background transition. Sclera are too white for my taste, otherwise great job. Thanks!

Message edited by author 2008-07-15 03:22:56.

Patsfan

Nikon D70s

07/15/2008 08:36:36 AM · #15

I put an action on it, that's how it got the border. Used some neat image, boosted the saturation a bit and boosted the contrast a bit.

Originally posted by bspurgeon:

patsfan and ringostarr:

Would you mind sharing your PP steps? Did you primarily use an effects filter. Although I prefer a more natural look, you both still did a great job. Thanks. Ben

Ringostarr

Nikon D70

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

07/15/2008 09:26:04 AM · #16

Originally posted by Patsfan:

I put an action on it, that's how it got the border. Used some neat image, boosted the saturation a bit and boosted the contrast a bit.

Originally posted by bspurgeon:
patsfan and ringostarr:

Would you mind sharing your PP steps? Did you primarily use an effects filter. Although I prefer a more natural look, you both still did a great job. Thanks. Ben

I used "Neat Image" which gave it that dreamy look. Then, I did a slight crop and added some contrast. I also used shadow/ highlight.

blindjustice

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

07/15/2008 10:39:19 AM · #17

I think its a really nice shot. My only criticism would be that the background is a bit to matching of the foreground, and would really improve the shot to thrown some warm or cool color in the background, depending on you mood.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

07/15/2008 09:41:20 PM · #18

Originally posted by bspurgeon:

...Did you use a hue/sat adjustment layer or channel mixer?

Actually, I used curves, and then a hue/sat adjustment, but adjusting only saturation, and only on the reds.

ETA:
Here's an edit based on your full-sized original. I can send you a full-size file if you wish. Let me know via the e-mail address on my profile page. I'd volunteer to send the PSD file, but it's 72 MB :-P

Message edited by author 2008-07-15 22:09:17.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/16/2008 01:21:28 AM · #19

Thanks

kirbic. I'll email you.

Tej

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

07/16/2008 01:53:01 AM · #20

She surely is cute :)

Here's my simple technique for plain white background -

- Keep the background at some distance for the subject. It helps if the background is well lit.
- Use high aperture with slight over-exposure to blur out and whiten the background
- Play with levels if still some adjustment needs to be done

As far as this photo goes, I think everything is "technically" perfect. Lighting is good and photo is well exposed with decent DoF. All you need to do it to play a bit more with PP and this can be great photo. Try some Gaussian Blur to soften the skin and get that "dreamy" feel. Some sharpening around the eyes helps.

Here is one of my recent submission where I tried the same -

Also left the same information in comment for the photo :)