manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Once more, I've posted the color version with changes many have noted in their critiques. I think I'm learning, but don't know how long I'll retain anything.

I toned down the sweater, removed the spot in the upper left, darkened the background above her, brightened the eyes a bit and tried to give a little color to her face while not overdoing the saturation.

See what you think and feel free to say what you don't like. I got my big boy pants on.

(Download)

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I like what you did. Here's a suggestion. I just tried this quickly and it did make an improvement. Brightening her face a bit.

At the moment, her face does have a dark tone to it with a lot of contrast. This combination accentuates wrinkles. If you, and she, are OK with that, then things are fine.

If you wish to reduce her age just slightly, brightening her face and diminishing the contrast of her facial features will improve her appearance, but not unrealistically.

I tried it quickly and somewhat liked the results. However, I don't know her, or you, and your taste with respect to age and appearance.
--Bob

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I agree with rmalarz. But I have to say that I love this portrait just as it is. I like the accentuated wrinkles. It tells me this woman has lived a long full life. The way you have photographed her I bet she still has a lot of spunk.
I don't want you to photograph me and accentuate my wrinkles and she may very well feel the same, but I really like her wrinkles and the story they tell.

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Thank you Malarz and Country's Mama for viewing and commenting.

The wrinkles to me add for a very old person. At 96, it doesn't really matter to her very much. I showed her several versions after PP and she couldn't tell the difference anyway. Despite that, she is very sharp with a good memory and glad she was a willing subject. I've done the same with my mother, but need to try again since the location and lighting were not as good.

As far as lightening the face, this is a little lighter than the original post. I mainly added more light to the right side. Someone mentioned that if I were to shoot it again, have her face the window more to better light her face fully. I'm afraid to lighten the existing photo too much otherwise I'll just end up with places that overblown.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Have you compared this to the very first image that you posted? Do you think it's an improvement? My guess is that most recipients of portrait shots would prefer this type of shot to the first one. Despite what some people might claim, we all like flattering portrayals of ourselves. I suspect that your mother-in-law inwardly likes these improvements and would also quite like to have the wrinkles diminished, but doesn't want to appear vain.

I agree with Bob that something lighter would probably be better, but I also agree with your concerns about blowing highlights. In fact even without them getting blown, I think they're plenty bright already. My answer would be to lift the shadows somewhat and not worry about the loss of contrast that doing so would cause. Another possibility is to use the adjustments brush to reduce the contrast of the wrinkles and to lighten the darkest of the shadowy bits on her face. You could do that without an overall loss of contrast or sharpness.

I'm not sure what your previous resistance to reducing contrast was due to. With portraits, more contrasty doesn't always equate to more pleasing.

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

I look at this portrait and I see a beautiful older woman that I would love to sit with, hear the story of her life and ask her questions. The look on her face has just the beginning of a Moma Lisa smile that seems to say: "I know an important secret . . . that you don't know, and I'm not sure yet if I'm going to tell you, or not."

I love the wrinkles, they are the remains of experience and wisdom. Personally, I think the contrast helps give shape to her head and face, so I wouldn't monkey around with it. I bet that she has lived a good life, and is ready to meet her maker with no regrets, and I bet she has lots of opinions about what she sees going on around her. It's really quite amazing how much this portrait tells us about her, talk about the 1,000 word value statement, lots more than a 1,000 words could be written about her. Technically, this portrait is close enough to perfect, and subjectively, the look, the expression, the wrinkles, the tilt of her head, etc. all combine to make this portrait one that I would say is extremely well done. Congratulations!

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Thank you R.G. and jonsommer for your comments and suggestions.

She isn't really bothered by the wrinkles since they aren't really something expected to be hidden for someone her age. Yes, she has the stories which she does tell when asked.

Several times, I've compared looking at the image I shot and then looking at her to see if the tones and colors are correct and I've done what I thought to correct as needed.

I may try again sometime if she will allow, but for now, this is all I have to work with.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

I appreciate her (and jonsommer's) attitude towards the wrinkles, but realistically I would say that your mother-in-law is in a minority. Most people would prefer a slightly flattering portrait ( "slightly" in order to be believable).

I think your (very commendable) attempts draw attention to the need for ideal lighting. With less directional lighting the wrinkles would be less accentuated and you could quite happily maintain high levels of contrast without the unflattering side effects.

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

I agree that a different lighting set up would have helped. Someone suggested having her face the window more (where the light was coming from) and that would have more evenly lit her face and as a result "remove" more of the wrinkles.