The first image is great and it is right on the money in pretty much the typical portrait aspects, I would say. I really like the rim light of the hair; it is effective against the darkish background.
The second one is also a fine portrait but because of the glare, it was slightly underexposed. You compensated it and that shifted the tonality some. Less so in the face area but more noticeable in the arm and the visible hand; they took on a little bit of bluish hue. Not bad though just slightly.
AGeoJO wrote:
The first image is great and it is right on the money in pretty much the typical portrait aspects, I would say. I really like the rim light of the hair; it is effective against the darkish background.
The second one is also a fine portrait but because of the glare, it was slightly underexposed. You compensated it and that shifted the tonality some. Less so in the face area but more noticeable in the arm and the visible hand; they took on a little bit of bluish hue. Not bad though just slightly.
Joshua
Thanks. The 2nd one represents the first time in probably 15 years that I shared a RAW file with a colleague for processing feedback. I totally agree with you. Took a lot of variations to get where I landed.
I gotta complain about the awkward and less-than-flattering interlocking arms in the first image. Her forearms are foreshortened, distorted, and she's buried her hands deep into her inner arm.
I do like that you left her laugh wrinkles. She has beautiful eyes and smile.
I love the first portrait! I absolutely love backlight on subjects when I can get it in a natural way. Very awesome effect! I like the second as well but not as much. I think the background is of much better use bokehed out. IMO of course. Great work though. Model has beautiful eyes!
gheller wrote:
I agree that (1) is in a totally different league than (2).
However, a quick brush thru the hair would have taken both of these to another level.
HTH
g
There’s probably 3 or 4 different adjustments brushed in the top half of the 2nd one. One of the more difficult files I’ve produced. Should have turned the strobe up (or used a reflector but no assistant)
The first one is a simple process with no layers.
Panorascal wrote:
There’s probably 3 or 4 different adjustments brushed in the top half of the 2nd one. One of the more difficult files I’ve produced. Should have turned the strobe up (or used a reflector but no assistant)
The first one is a simple process with no layers.
Weird. Looks more like motion blur, rather than processing.
gheller wrote:
Weird. Looks more like motion blur, rather than processing.
And don't forget that brush next time
Ha! I didn’t know that’s what you were referring to. Yeah there’s motion blur. I expect it with the 300 hand held but not the 85. You guys see them way bigger than most.
I’m resigned to the fact I need to figure out the high speed sync with my phottix unit.
gheller wrote:
Weird. Looks more like motion blur, rather than processing.
And don't forget that brush next time
Ha! I didn’t know that’s what you were referring to. Yeah there’s motion blur. I expect it with the 300 hand held but not the 85. You guys see them way bigger than most.
I’m resigned to the fact I need to figure out the high speed sync with my phottix unit.
One more potential correction. In #1 ff you would have brought her right arm over her left, she could have placed her right hand at her left elbow or hidden it flat against her body That would have brought her left shoulder back a bit, provided a straight line across her arm. It would have also brought the arms more in line with the plane of the face. You would have also eliminated the lone thumb at the bottom of the photo.
Try it yourself. When you put your fist under your opposite elbow, it pushes the arm away from the body. and brings it closer to the camera. This will make it larger to the viewer.
In general, I always bring the far arm over the near arm and have them grab the arm or hide it flat underneath. It makes the subject look more relaxed and provides a clean line across the arm. In #1 if she felt more comfortable with the arms as they are, I would have rotated her more flat to the camera in order to get the shoulder more in line with the plane of the face. That would have reduced its prominence in the photo.
