Square cropped portraits (SCPs) - please post them here

[Klickit]

Myra - in case you haven't come across this one before. You take a picture as above. When you're processing from that shoot, click on that card and you get your accurate white balance reading. Depending on your RAW processing software, you can then store that reading and apply it to other images shot in the same conditions. Or if your RAW converter doesn't store the reading, make a note of it and dial it into the White Balance for each of the subsequent images you process.

This is one thing that Canon's own DPP software is very good for. It's really easy to store a reading and use it for other images in the set.

Ahhh!!! I see the light! I have looked at so much on the web about this blasted grey card and have never clicked. I truly thought you had to store this in the camera settings somewhere and could never figure out how to do it. How blonde can you get?

Mwah, mwah, to Donald!!

[Donald]

Mwah, mwah, to Donald!!

Glad to be of help. I feel suitably mwah'd.

[Maritimer1]

Kit, I thought you had to set a custom white balance "in" the camera, too, so never got around to fiddling with it. Thank goodness these guys keep nudging us in the right directions:0

Colin, Scott Kelby is a great resource. I have the three books in his "The Digital Photography" series and have gone over them many times. I find the first and second issues to be particularly useful. His site is also good, but I haven't subscribed to his tutorials. I do find many on Youtube to watch, but don't get to watch and practice as many as I'd like due to time. I have dozens of site marked on my favourites bar that I hope to explore one of these days.

Speaking of books and magazines, I recently inherited (by way of someone moving and cleaning house) am almost entire set of "The Photo: Your Guide to Taking Better Pictures". This is a magazine (published in London) that came out in weekly parts for a couple of years back in the early 80s. Although geared towards film, the articles are very interesting and each issues features assignments and photographer profiles that are still interesting. When I scan the articles about darkroom techniques, I am amazed all over again at how post processing programs have changed the whole game.

Myra

[Maritimer1]

What a lovely photo. I expect the baby to turn his head and look at me with those huge eyes as I'm sure he really did just after you pressed the shutter.

Myra

[Ashwin]

Kit, I thought you had to set a custom white balance "in" the camera

Hi Myra

Just to sort out your confusion
And help you sort out problem of WHITE BALANCING.

Here is Card for you, get it printed on Photographic colour paper. Paste it on thick card board,
and next time when you plan to take Photograph, include this card in the photograph as demonstrated by Colin

50 % gray - 100 % white is just to find out if there is colour cast
Tonal range in upper part of the card ( 100 % White to 100 % Black in step ) is to determine Tonal range of the photograph.
and for SKIN COLOUR matching I have included one of your photograph corrected by COLIN.

Hope this will help you.

[Ashwin]

Hi Antonio,

You will not mind of my posting this White Balancing card for MYRA here.

This is neither Square cropped nor this is Photograph.

I took this liberty as you have on previous occassion mentioned that in continuation of dialogue for the photographs posted
here, if necessary this is allowed.

[Maritimer1]

Thank you, Ashwin! I just printed it off and will certainly put it to use. Thank you, Antonio, for this great forum, too!


Myra

[Antonio Correia]

Hi Antonio, ... You will not mind of my posting this White Balancing card for MYRA here...

Please Ashwin, be my guest
Well done, well done
It makes this thread richer and richer.
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... Thank you, Antonio, for this great forum... Myra

Please Myra, don't thank me. The forum is not mine and I have done nothing but to start a thread which was indeed a success thanks to the hole community and certain persons more "dedicated" to it.
Thank you all for your magnificent participation.
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[Antonio Correia]

Also posted here

[arith]

I'm worried about the orange line up the back, must be deliberate but I don't know why.

[Antonio Correia]

I'm worried about the orange line up the back, must be deliberate but I don't know why.

If I understand you correctly Steve the orange is from the dress itself.
So, I couldn't help.
That was what I had in front of me

The colors of the tissue from a sari are very strong

[Klickit]

The orange line is just a seam.

This photo has a lot of emotional resonance. There is the sleeping baby, without a care in the world except that it is clean, dry and has a full tummy and there is the grandmother, holding her precious grandchild and wondering what perils life might bring him. She knows the ways of the world - you see it on her face and on the way she holds him protectively close, while he is new and oblivious.

Very nice capture, Antonio.

[Maritimer1]

Look at the love. You've captured that emotion beautifully, Antonio. Do you ever do black and white portraits? I think that particular capture would lend itself well to a conversion to harmonize the emotion and the tones.

Myra
Sitting in the middle of a Maritime heatwave

[peterb533]

Another Lightroom 3 / FocalBlade processed shot.

[Antonio Correia]

The orange line is just a seam. This photo has a lot of emotional resonance. There is the sleeping baby, without a care in the world except that it is clean, dry and has a full tummy and there is the grandmother, holding her precious grandchild and wondering what perils life might bring him. She knows the ways of the world - you see it on her face and on the way she holds him protectively close, while he is new and oblivious. Very nice capture, Antonio.

Thank you for the comment Kit
I asked my wife to place herself and the baby in a precise position near the window while having a pleasant background. I told her to slowly turnaround while I was shooting from the distance looking to avoid some ceramic dishes on the wall.
I then imported the image in LR and worked on it.

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Look at the love. You've captured that emotion beautifully, Antonio. Do you ever do black and white portraits? I think that particular capture would lend itself well to a conversion to harmonize the emotion and the tones. Myra
Sitting in the middle of a Maritime heatwave

Thank you Myra
I rarely do black and white. Maybe you are right and this work on the image would work well...
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...

Thank you for posting Peter
Here we have Pauline very nice as usual with a clear and bright smile.
I suppose that the Focal Blade is some kind of software that enhances the point of focus. Yes it is. I have been there.
I would rather a softer flash on her face, perhaps with the light produced by a flash bounced somewhere.
It's well done the light above her. Isn't she a little flipped/bended/twisted/rotated to our left ?

[Antonio Correia]

The orange line is just a seam. This photo has a lot of emotional resonance. There is the sleeping baby, without a care in the world except that it is clean, dry and has a full tummy and there is the grandmother, holding her precious grandchild and wondering what perils life might bring him. She knows the ways of the world - you see it on her face and on the way she holds him protectively close, while he is new and oblivious. Very nice capture, Antonio.

Thank you for commenting Kit
I told my wife to turn around while I was shooting a few pictures. I placed her near a window taking care of the background avoiding the canvas on the wall.
Natural harsh light outside
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Look at the love. You've captured that emotion beautifully, Antonio. Do you ever do black and white portraits? I think that particular capture would lend itself well to a conversion to harmonize the emotion and the tones. Myra Sitting in the middle of a Maritime heatwave

Thank you Myra I rarely do B&W indeed. I feel that I don't master the way to do it correctly. It looks easy but I think there is many parameters to master.
I hope to be able to try some day.
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Why FocalBlade if you can master the same stuff with CS, Peter ?
I like the portrait of Pauline, a clear and honest smile . May be the flash could be a little softer...

[Alis]

Can a pose be more natural than this?

[Colin Southern]

Just for you Antonio!

[Antonio Correia]

Indeed... Very natural It's a nice portrait from Alis that's what it is...
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Just for you Antonio!

And I thank you Colin, for posting this fine portrait in this fine thread

[Maritimer1]

Just for you Antonio!

Stunning. Colin, if you start photographing horses, I might just give up. No, I'll just bug you with even more questions

Myra