Edit this... - DPChallenge Forums

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

07/18/2007 10:52:18 AM · #1

I took this test Head-Shot last Saturday. I was thinking of entering it in Natural Light Portrait but thought it was a little flat and I didn't edit it as I'd envisioned. Thought there might be some Photop Gurus who'd might take a crack at it. I'm looking for "dreamy" but NOT over the top. Note: the "Pedro Border" ...huh???

My initial problem was evening out the skin tones so they didn't look fake. As you can see she wore no make-up and it was taken while she was working. Keep in mind my edit (up top) was saved at 640 about three times, so it's lost a little of the luster, it once had but here's one un-edited copy at 800 px.

Message edited by author 2007-07-18 15:42:04.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

07/18/2007 11:08:19 AM · #2

A quickie! :)

07/18/2007 11:09:21 AM · #3

i did curves, and sharpened a touch, then dodged her irises a bit to bring her eyes out.

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

07/18/2007 11:48:15 AM · #4

I did use neat image on this one and wish i had your steps that you had used on the one with the border ...

I'm sure that there are others who can do a lot better than me

Message edited by author 2007-07-18 11:49:40.

jdfido

Nikon D70s

07/18/2007 11:55:10 AM · #5

I'm not sure if this is dreamy enough though

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

07/18/2007 12:19:28 PM · #6

I went a slightly different direction:

From this:

-- to this -->

Or even better yet, using the original:

From this:

-- to this -->

-- then to this -- >

(my fav)

What a gorgeous girl and I love the look & pose here - very genuine, very real.

Message edited by author 2007-07-18 14:33:14.

oOWonderBreadOo

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

07/18/2007 12:23:03 PM · #7

guess I'll play too but I don't think her shin is blotchy really. It's a natural redness of skin and I think it makes her look fresh :0)

Message edited by author 2007-07-18 12:23:38.

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

07/18/2007 12:28:32 PM · #8

I'm wondering if it wasn't the lights from the coffee shop that make her skin red... although true redheads do have either a blueish or red cast to their skin...

Sunniee

Canon EOS-40D

07/18/2007 12:28:39 PM · #9

07/18/2007 12:34:10 PM · #10

07/18/2007 12:46:24 PM · #11

WOW these look great. Keep'em coming.

It was shot just inside the doorway entrance and at ISO 400 which always adds a little red/orange to my images (as I have my camera set-up). That color, I did want to play down a dash but not too much because she does have that hue to her by nature.

I feel foolish having neglected the eyes and their beautiful color, the way I did. A major selling point.

Please keep these posted in your portfolios, since I'm at work and will need time to get back to them.

Cheers! AND again, keep'em coming.

Might have even cracked the Top 10 in Natural Light the way they are looking now.

Message edited by author 2007-07-18 12:47:51.

07/18/2007 12:49:13 PM · #12

Originally posted by pawdrix:

Here's a tip: Dupe BG layer, go to image/adjusments/match color/neutralize; it will bring up a cyanish new cast. Then fade that layer on top of the reddish base layer until the red's under control.

R.

ETA: note that both Brad and I cloned in some more white pupil on her right eye.

Message edited by author 2007-07-18 12:50:50.

07/18/2007 12:59:59 PM · #13

Thanks for the tip Robert

I tried it and loved the result

I only used it at 45%

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

07/18/2007 01:41:38 PM · #14

What about some Gothic Glow?

Kidding...kidding...kidding

All great ideas guys. I need to get home and hit the original.

I added some Dust and Scratches to see how it handled the skin evening.

I think bringing out the eyes was really where I was lacking.

Message edited by author 2007-07-18 14:08:06.

Pedro

Nikon D200

07/18/2007 02:05:12 PM · #15

Sexy border indeed, Steve ;)

i don't think the photo needed very much processing at all - here's what I'd have done to it if it were mine.

steps:

1. Duplicate layer
2. on the top layer, apply 'diffuse glow' filter, settings graininess: 0 Glow amount: 10, Clear amount: 14.
3. set blending mode to 'soft light' and drop the opacity to about 70%
4. flatten image.
5. dodged the highlights in her irises a little (very little)

i think that's about it. I use that technique on portraits a lot - in fact i have an action set up to do most of it with one click. it works wonderfully on darker skin to give it rich hues. on lighter skin like this it has the effect of filling in a few shadows and softening things up a little.

I don't think I improved on your version any - just a different approach.

P

rossbilly

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

07/18/2007 02:09:44 PM · #16

Quick & Dirty...

Levels, contrast, USM, copy to new layer, gaussian blur, erase back new layer to reveal eyes/lips/nose ring, dodge/burn eyes & lashes, select lips & remove blue color on lips, and a new layer with 'screen' applied @ 40-60%.

Hope this helps in some way (though I like Brad & Robert's versions too...)

Message edited by author 2007-07-18 14:11:27.

bassbone

Nikon Df

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

07/18/2007 02:29:10 PM · #17

Probably not where you are heading especially with that very pretty color hair, but...

Minor levels, diffuse glow on dup layer, flatten, dup layer for eyes - USM at small radius, dup layer for lips at small radius, flatten dodge eyes a touch, burn background out more

07/18/2007 02:42:08 PM · #18

These are all looking really Nice!!

Nald

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

07/18/2007 03:34:09 PM · #19

Hey Steve,

Beautiful model and the photo ain't bad either! ;)

Here's my hand at your shot, hope I do it some justice against all who have posted.

Color version:

and B/W version:

Message edited by author 2007-07-18 15:34:41.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G

07/18/2007 03:37:05 PM · #20

In retrospect, I think her skin tones are quite nice and not too hard to deal with, in terms of eveness etc.

I've had a few tough ones to deal with in the past, that I couldn't get a handle on and after seeing so many "before and after", PS Guru jobs, I was getting annoyed that I had no idea how it was done. Still don't but I'm far closer today than I was yesterday.

I like the slightly brighter takes on this image in particular. My stuff normally tends to brood but for head shot work that's a no go.

Time to lighten up.

I'm sad I didn't enter this one. booo hooo.

Message edited by author 2007-07-18 15:47:13.

kashi

Nikon D60

07/18/2007 03:47:46 PM · #21

07/18/2007 03:59:02 PM · #22

I think Brad nailed it with this final edit...

Your check is in the mail.

07/18/2007 04:02:53 PM · #23

Originally posted by pawdrix:

What about some Gothic Glow?

Kidding...kidding...kidding

Whaddaya mean "kidding"? Mine used a Gothic Glow layer superimposed and faded... I do that a LOT in my processing...

R.