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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> First Business Portrait c/c
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Showing posts 1 - 11 of 11, (reverse)
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12/31/2007 04:21:30 PM · #1
These two ladies needed a quick and professional shot of them to send out to their clients for the new year. I know one of them very well, so it wasn't anything super detailed. Just a favor for a friend. Let me know what you think? What could I have done better? Thanks!
Used a B800 to light with a large soft box. Weather made it look like a fake background almost.

12/31/2007 04:28:22 PM · #2
I was wondering about the b/g ... glad you said something!

I think you did great. There is some nice/soft directional lighting from the side which gives them form and features. I think I'd crop a little more off the top (so that the ladies eyes are quite so vertically centered). The only trouble is, doing so tends to crop the b/g and I don't know how important the b/g is to the subject. (does it mean anything to them ... or to the clients they serve? if not, crop away)

12/31/2007 04:35:08 PM · #3
Looks good but the colours seem a bit dull and on the dark side on my monitor. BTW, my monitor is freshly calibrated.
12/31/2007 04:47:15 PM · #4
[thumb]627825[/thumb]

Just a real quick edit, if you like it: I did a little bit to each of the following:

Boost contrast overall just a tad
Shadow/highlight tool (if you have CS2 or equivalent function - shadows 3%, highlights 1%)
Boost overall saturation a little bit
Layer mask to get rid of red nose on right side lady (I selected hue/saturation -> red and lightened it a bit, and moved the hue a tiny bit to the right)

but that's just my little bit of input
12/31/2007 04:57:30 PM · #5
Hey... Amanda is back. You've been gone for awhile!

12/31/2007 04:59:04 PM · #6
Originally posted by dwterry:

Hey... Amanda is back. You've been gone for awhile!


lol... yes - I've been logging on and looking at the ribbon winners, but haven't really been motivated to enter in challenges or post in the forums. One of these days though : )
12/31/2007 05:07:27 PM · #7
Thanks everyone for the replies!
I had a modified one uploaded, but then I read Amanda's comments and saw her adjustments, so I added a few more.

David, cropping does make the composition much stronger, thank you! The background is the Portland, OR skyline (part of it), which sort of represents where their clients are based...but it's still recognizable. However, some may be bothered by the skyline being cut-off. I can't decide if it bothers me or not yet...

I boosted the overall lightness using curves
I added a bit more contrast (didn't notice I'd needed it until Amanda commented:) using a curves overlay and then backing the opacity down.
I added a selective shadow/highlight over the left woman's face as well as a general on for the whole image.
Added a bit more saturation as well to make it a less brooding and dark image!

Wonderful help



forgot the red nose! oops

Message edited by author 2007-12-31 17:08:13.
12/31/2007 05:12:32 PM · #8
much better. I don't even notice the cropped skyline - my eye is drawn toward the women - which is good. Looks great
12/31/2007 05:15:05 PM · #9
Yup, I like it better. Both the crop and the processing.
12/31/2007 05:17:21 PM · #10
Originally posted by amandalore:

[thumb]627825[/thumb]

Just a real quick edit, if you like it: I did a little bit to each of the following:

Boost contrast overall just a tad
Shadow/highlight tool (if you have CS2 or equivalent function - shadows 3%, highlights 1%)
Boost overall saturation a little bit
Layer mask to get rid of red nose on right side lady (I selected hue/saturation -> red and lightened it a bit, and moved the hue a tiny bit to the right)

but that's just my little bit of input


Yep, I concur. The brightness boost really works well. Good job!
12/31/2007 05:18:22 PM · #11
Thanks! I don't utilize this community enough! You all are wonderful.

Message edited by author 2007-12-31 17:18:32.
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