Isabella, Natural Take

[Karm Redland]

I wanted a natural looking picture of Isabella. She was preparing dinner when I took this picture. I didn't try to remove flaws on her face. Is it too plain?

Comments welcomed.



karm

[shreds]

I like the dresser with the kitchen stuff out of focus in the background, it tells the story, but the mirror/fireplace? behind her head doesn't work too well.

Would have been good to have caught some catch lights in the eyes though.

Oh and not every picture should be Photoshopped to within an inch of its life. Real people do have flaws. We are not all movie stars, and even they have the flaws, you should see them off camera or off guard!

[Geoff F]

Starting with the easy bit - I would clone out that darker 'spot' in the top left corner.

Overall not too bad but possibly a fraction on the 'flat side'. Could you manage to add a little extra highlight brightness? Maybe a fraction more saturation or 'colour contrast' as well?

Not too much though.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Karm,

I find her appealing/attractive as she is.

I would not disagree with either Ian or Geoff's comments/suggestions, but after "No it isn't too plain", the second thing I thought was "it needs a bit more exposure" - and that was confirmed for me by looking at the histogram.

Following that, I'd suggest the shadows on her cheek below her eyes are perhaps a little too deep(?), so a bit of reflected frontal fill (or dodging in PP) would not have harmed the shot.

Finally; as you're quite close (head and shoulders shot at 55mm), perspective has led to her nearest shoulder becoming quite large, so I'd suggest cropping off the left edge, coming down from where the mirror exits the top edge of frame (so it goes into the corner). This also moves her left in shot and balances it better.

However, do bear in mind I don't shoot portraits myself, so this is just observational - and I bet if I tried I couldn't take one half this good myself.

The rest of the EXIF: Nikon D5100, 55mm, 1/60s at f/4 and iso1000.

Hope that helps,

[Shadowman]

Looks very natural and very good capture.

[Karm Redland]

I got rid of the left shoulder and eliminated a blob that was present in the first posted picture. Made some additional corrections. Further comments welcomed.



karm

[Digital]

Is it my eyes, are does she look a little soft in the second photo? Also, I LIKE informal portraits (as natural as can be).
In keeping with the above tirade, I vote for the first photo.

Bruce

[Mito]

I'm with Bruce. Informality brings out the character of the subject. The lack of catch lights in the eyes gives the impression of depth. A very attractive girl, even better without make-up.

[Karm Redland]

Bruce, I probably overdid the softening effect. I'll bring a bit more detail back to her face.

karm

[Karm Redland]

Brian, thanks.

karm

[Karm Redland]

This is my last attempt at making this picture better on Cambridge's dime. I can make her look pretty and I can make her look ugly. What I'm struggling with is making her look real in an attractive manner. Comments welcomed. (For me this is a learning exercise -- really, like everything i post, but even more so with this picture -- so please feel free to comment.)



karm

[nimitzbenedicto]

This is my last attempt on making this picture better on Cambridge's dime. I can make her look pretty and I can make her look ugly. What I'm struggling with is making her look real in an attractive manner. Comments welcomed. (For me this is a learning exercise -- really, like everything i post, but this even more so with this picture -- so please feel free to comment.)



karm

Hi ,

Just like Dave, I'd make this a little brighter.

Then, I'd crop it close. In "portrait orientation" .
Too much space on the left. And we don't need that cupboard.

Meaning total focus/attention to her.
After all, it's her we want to project.

No need to clone, etc.

Cheers..........................

[kdoc856]

Karm,

I think you've gotten some good advice here and applied it well. Last nudges you might try: she has lovely eyes, but the overhead light has recessed them- I think you could add about .7 EV to her eyes with some LCE over the iris to make them more natural, and I think overall a touch more vibrance or colour temp would warm her skin tones, as would applying a touch of saturation to her lips.