DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest
 
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Dramatic portraits in 30 seconds
Dramatic portraits in 30 seconds
Paul


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Photo Tutorial (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: People
Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
Date: Jul 16, 2011
Aperture: f/13
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/160
Galleries: Portraiture
Date Uploaded: Jul 17, 2011

Nik Software's Bleach Bypass filter in Color Efex Pro is perhaps my most used filter.

Here's a link on how to use it:

Link

I edited this image in about 30 seconds - mastering the local contrast slider and making sure you manipulate the highlight and shadow recovery sliders is the secret to getting the most out of this plug-in.

Lowering local contrast does a great job of skin softening, without having to use a separate filter.

Here are my settings:

Brightness +63%
Saturation 36%
Global contrast +23%
Local Contrast -47%

Shadows 90% recovered
Highlights Fully recovered

Effect removed with control points from hair and irises

Effect Partially removed from forearm

Constraining (positive) control points placed on cheek nose and forehead

Statistics
Place: 6 out of 65
Avg (all users): 7.2123
Avg (commenters): 8.4444
Avg (participants): 6.5185
Avg (non-participants): 7.3697
Views since voting: 3800
Views during voting: 395
Votes: 146
Comments: 13
Favorites: 11 (view)


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AuthorThread
07/31/2011 12:23:44 AM
Excellent lighting Paul.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2011 09:08:16 PM
I'm really glad this did as well as it deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2011 01:20:26 AM
Marvelous, Paul!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/25/2011 11:43:03 AM
Lovely, super, smashin' great shot, I like it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
07/22/2011 04:07:19 PM
Great shot. My top pick.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/22/2011 01:03:02 PM
Good portrait. Captured your subject's mood very well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/21/2011 09:12:06 PM
I really like that lighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/21/2011 01:33:13 AM
Reminds me of paulbtlw with the exception of the sharpening. Beautiful model and light.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/20/2011 01:49:18 PM
Striking eyes and lighting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/18/2011 11:56:39 PM
So 50's, so Drew Barrymore, playful, coy dramatic.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/18/2011 10:33:57 AM
Holy smokes, this is great. Wish the catch light in her left (our right) were the same, but that's just a nitpick observation. WOW - the use of shadow is delicious. I love it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/18/2011 07:58:22 AM
Took more than 30 seconds I bet. Great Mona Lisa smile. Nice pose. Good "Dramatic Portrait."
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/18/2011 12:37:54 AM
Excellent!
  Photographer found comment helpful.