Elle - A Multi-layer Photoshop Edit
Oct 12, 2019 10:45:25 #
This has taken a disproportionate amount of time to process. That seems to often be the way for me! The secret would be to take a better shot in the first place, I know that. On the other hand I've enjoyed getting it to where I like it. Most of my problems were due to high ISO (not allowed tripods on the shoot), deep shadows and burned-out highlights. I think I felt a bit rushed at the time of taking - unnecessarily so. Any thoughts on the end result and general critique would be appreciated as I'd like to enter it in our club monthly portrait competition. No thumbnail again - its a simple 10x8 jpeg so I don't know why. Please download.
Oct 12, 2019 10:51:53 #
I like it. It's well-composed and sharp. It does seem that the light on the models face is on the wrong side according to the light from the window. Just a minor point. Nice subtle colors, too. Well worth submitting in my opinion.
Oct 12, 2019 11:11:51 #
I love the subject and the somber, wistful treatment. I do agree that the light on the model's face may appear to be on the wrong side absent an incoming light source from the right. In any event, your effort has paid off well...
Oct 12, 2019 11:47:04 #
kpmac wrote:
I like it. It's well-composed and sharp. It does seem that the light on the models face is on the wrong side according to the light from the window. Just a minor point. Nice subtle colors, too. Well worth submitting in my opinion.
Many thanks for your comments. The light is as taken, a double source, but yours is a criticism I expect as the right hand source is not obvious - it will go against it in the competition I’m sure.
Oct 12, 2019 11:48:53 #
tommystrat wrote:
I love the subject and the somber, wistful treatment. I do agree that the light on the model's face may appear to be on the wrong side absent an incoming light source from the right. In any event, your effort has paid off well...
Thanks Tommy, glad you like it. As I’ve said in an earlier reply, the light was just as you see it, but I accept it will be marked down as the source isn’t obvious.
Oct 12, 2019 12:16:52 #
Very fine-tuned is all aspects of photographic Form. That there is a second light source is evident from the shadows on the wall and lighting on other parts of her. What seems strange is how bright her face is, reminiscent of movie lighting where a spot is put on the features.
Oct 12, 2019 12:33:10 #
artBob wrote:
Very fine-tuned is all aspects of photographic Form. That there is a second light source is evident from the shadows on the wall and lighting on other parts of her. What seems strange is how bright her face is, reminiscent of movie lighting where a spot is put on the features.
Had trouble keeping that brightness down whilst processing Bob. You’re right, the shadows are the clue - will the judge see them - who knows?
Many thanks for commenting.
Oct 12, 2019 13:01:18 #
Inconsistent lighting is what jumps out at me. And there's no discernible story to the shot.
Oct 12, 2019 13:43:43 #
R.G. wrote:
Inconsistent lighting is what jumps out at me. And there's no discernible story to the shot.
It’s not nicely illuminated but I was stuck with that. The lighting is true (i.e. it’s not a composite) and, as Bob mentioned, the clues to that are there. As to story, do portraits have to tell one? What about the pp RG, any views on it?
Oct 12, 2019 13:58:37 #
magnetoman wrote:
It’s not nicely illuminated but I was stuck with that. The lighting is true (i.e. it’s not a composite) and, as Bob mentioned, the clues to that are there. As to story, do portraits have to tell one? What about the pp RG, any views on it?
Considering you had ISO noise to worry about I think you've done a good job of holding on to detail and sharpness. There's only a suggestion of noise and you have to zoom in on it before it becomes noticeable.
Perhaps the light around her feet is a bit harsh compared to what's on her body, and if it was mine I'd try to warm up the light on the right side (our right) of her face because it's a bit bluer than what's on the left side. You're probably going to mention reality, but where the points I mentioned are concerned, reality wasn't doing you any favours (sometimes reality needs a severe talking to
).Oct 12, 2019 14:19:13 #
R.G. wrote:
Considering you had ISO noise to worry about I thi... (show quote)
I decided not to denoise the image as I felt it would harm the facial details - so I’ve used frequency separation on the face and cloning on the other skin areas to try to keep detail. I could mask the figure and denoise the background, but I didn’t feel it would contribute anything - it’s a grungy sort of place anyway. I agree with you on warming her left face, I’ll give it a go. Thanks for you’re thoughts on it, they are very helpful. Taking another look, I just noticed the apparent white area on her lower right cheek - that’s not obvious in the tiff, I’ll look at that too as were required to submit in jpeg form.
Oct 12, 2019 14:28:13 #
magnetoman wrote:
....I just noticed the apparent white area on her lower right cheek - that’s not obvious in the tiff, I’ll look at that too as were required to submit in jpeg form.
The sharp transition from bright to dark doesn't help.
Oct 12, 2019 14:58:44 #
Oct 12, 2019 15:30:56 #
R.G. wrote:
Here's the shot being referred to, for anybody that's interested.
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Thanks RG - any idea why my 10x8 RGB jpeg causes thumbnail problems?
Oct 12, 2019 15:33:48 #
magnetoman wrote:
Thanks RG - any idea why my 10x8 RGB jpeg causes thumbnail problems?
I don't know. When I tried to upload your original the same thing happened, even after I'd renamed it. The thumbnail didn't appear until after I'd reduced the file size a bit (to ~2.2MB).
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