Family session - studio: Here are just two from a studio session. The three year old did a great job for about an hour then started to fade. These are from his "fading" moments when he...

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

Here are just two from a studio session. The three year old did a great job for about an hour then started to fade. These are from his "fading" moments when he just wanted mom and dad.

Worked for me. Don't put the camera down until they leave the set!

The "Straight from the Camera" crowd could never get this. Cropping, multiple layers, toning...etc.

Post edited to add showing the set. Although I would raise of lower the lights to fit the height of the subject, this was the lighting setup.

hlmichel Loc: New Hope, Minnesota

Glad to see your work again.

I love both of them, but the first one with his look of contentment and that eye contact...

Just great.

Pierre H.J. Dumais Loc: Mississippi Mills, Ont.

Excellent Cliff. Thanks for sharing these.

Pierre

waltchilds Loc: Central Florida

Cliff, these are very nice shots, I especially like the first one because you really captured him perfectly here. Also, thanks for showing how you set up your lights for this work. Thanks again for sharing.

trc Loc: Logan, OH

CaptainC wrote:

Here are just two from a studio session. The three... (show quote)

Hi Cliff,

Hope you are doing well . . . and very nice shooting, as usual. I do like the separation of the background as well as the slight vignetting in the four corners - was that accomplished during the shoot or was that in PP'ing?

Eyes are sharp (exceptional minor contrast with the slight softness of the facial skin - I assume that was all planned) and the B&W looks excellent, especially with the quietness and peacefulness mood exemplified by the expression and look on the boys face. Do I see a hint of a slight sepia tone in your images - very nice.

Best Regards,
Tom

Toby

CaptainC wrote:

Here are just two from a studio session. The three... (show quote)

Excellent

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

CaptainC wrote:

Here are just two from a studio session. The three... (show quote)

:thumbup: :thumbup:

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

trc wrote:

Hi Cliff, br br Hope you are doing well . . . and... (show quote)

Tom - it is all about the processing. The vignette was applied in the Darken/Lighten Center filter in Nix Color Efex, the monochrome conversion in NIK Silver Efex, his skin adjusted with a dodge & burn layer in PS, the toning in not really sepia, but a brownish kinda sorta tone, and his eyes sharpened only a small amount with Photokit Creative Sharpener2.

There are some other things too. :-)

For comparison sake, here is the out of the camera image.

trc Loc: Logan, OH

CaptainC wrote:

Tom - it is all about the processing. The vignette was applied in the Darken/Lighten Center filter in Nix Color Efex, the monochrome conversion in NIK Silver Efex, his skin adjusted with a dodge & burn layer in PS, the toning in not really sepia, but a brownish kinda sorta tone, and his eyes sharpened only a small amount with Photokit Creative Sharpener2.

There are some other things too. :-)

For comparison sake, here is the out of the camera image.

Cliff,

Hey, thanks for all the info on your PP'ing. You utilized several different programs/plugins which is really using your resources. I guess there is no sense having numerous programs if they aren't used - that a way, Cliff. Thanks very much for your time in responding - appreciated very much. Another time example of excellent photography as the base image and excellent PP'ing to develop the shot the way you want it to be (or your client).

Best Regards,
Tom

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

trc wrote:

Cliff,

Hey, thanks for all the info on your PP'ing. You utilized several different programs/plugins which is really using your resources. I guess there is no sense having numerous programs if they aren't used - that a way, Cliff. Thanks very much for your time in responding - appreciated very much. Another time example of excellent photography as the base image and excellent PP'ing to develop the shot the way you want it to be (or your client).

Best Regards,
Tom

Thanks Tom.

With respect to your last sentence: I am fortunate that I do not do what the client wantsthe client wants what I do.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

CaptainC wrote:

Thanks Tom.

With respect to your last sentence: I am fortunate that I do not do what the client wantsthe client wants what I do.

That is a most profound statement. I really wish that I personally would think more that way. Most times, there is no issue, but once people realize just how far I can go with Photoshop, they start with more and more requests until the entire image is a composite, and not what I had worked so hard to put together in the camera.

alissaspieces Loc: New York

I am blown away by those black and whites...just spectacular! Nice job!

Dave Chinn

CaptainC wrote:

Here are just two from a studio session. The three... (show quote)

Cliff, #1 has got to be a favorite by many !!! Nice capture and love the skin tone.
Dave

jonsommer Loc: Usually, somewhere on the U.S. west coast.

Hi Cliff, I've got an infant/toddler shoot coming up in two weeks and have been working on a shoot card - a 'looking over mom's shoulder at camera' and a 'looking over dad's shoulder at the camera' just got added.

Was your original intent to convert these to b/w or did you start in color and do a "I wonder how these would look if I . . . ."

As usual, your work just blows me away, good to see you around.

Jon

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

jonsommer wrote:

Hi Cliff, I've got an infant/toddler shoot coming up in two weeks and have been working on a shoot card - a 'looking over mom's shoulder at camera' and a 'looking over dad's shoulder at the camera' just got added.

Was your original intent to convert these to b/w or did you start in color and do a "I wonder how these would look if I . . . ."

As usual, your work just blows me away, good to see you around.

Jon

Jon,

In most cases it is a situation of, "I wonder how...," but in this situation I knew monochrome was going to be the way to go as soon as I saw them. The color is fine, but there is something about isolating the child's face without the distraction of color that just seems to work here.

BTW, these are not really Black & White, but more to the brown and cream - a very light brown tone that does not come across here as it does in the print.