"School of Portraiture" - Lesson 03 - "Positioning - Lighting - Taking the Shot"

[Colin Southern]

So, having tweaked it in ARC so that it's not overblown how can you tell if it's overexposed slightly? Would having a calibrated monitor help? There are just so many adjustment you could make its mind boggling But I guess thats a basic one I've missed!

A calibrated and profiled monitor is ESSENTIAL for quality portraiture. End of story.

Levels are just one of the things that come with experience ... you need to push them to get "pop", but push them too far and you start deteriorating the image. Often with skintones the midtones slider (on a levels layer) or the brightness slider (in ACR) make a big difference; I always suggest moving them and watching for the effect ... but having said that ... if you're not working from a calibrated and profiled screen then in essence you're flying blind.

[Colin Southern]

Thank you all for the feedback, as a novice photographer it is much appreciated and needed to help me improve. I value your opinions greatly!

Once again the "Colin 5 Minute Makeover" has worked wonders!!!It's amazing how your PP takes an average shot and makes it look GREAT!! PP that would be another course in its own right. I mostly shoot in RAW, due to the fact it gives me more control if I've fluffed it up. Still a lot learn but heading in the right direction with all the help at CiC.

I didnt know if the background in shot 2 looked too busy, but if you say it's ok I'll go with that !

Ahem, it's a 30-Second makeover! In all seriousness, that's about how long it too to correct the skin tones and sharpness.

With regards to the background, I think it looks great; possibly the only thing I'd do is wipe a burn tool over it (on midtones) and/or apply a vignette; probably start with a vignette as it lowers the tones on the arm as well (the hair too, but that's OK), with the net result being tht the eye is drawn to the face, which is in the centre.

[Ricko]

Agreed - this is really excellent compared to the first shots, well done.

Thanks, I found it a lot easier when shooting on a location with plenty of room to move about.

Comparing WB between the two, my inexperienced eye would have said 'gold' for the reflector, explaining the apparently large colour temp difference between Megan (I have one of those too ) and the background. Just shows how much I have to learn.

The refelctor was white for both shot if i remember right, I did use the gold once or twice but it turned out too gold and the exposure was total out, blowing the skin tones.

Example

As shot with some sharpening applied.


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[Crovean]

Here's my try for this lesson.

[Loose Canon]

I would imagine we are all getting a bit weary of me posting this shot. But I need to keep going until I get it right. Or at least a reasonable facsimile thereof.

That plus the new software is giving me a nice learning curve to enjoy, but between the hours stacked upon hours of research(hours), trial(hours), and error(days), I’m still enjoying myself!

This is my latest attempt at retouching this photo. If anyone would like to comment, or have any tips, please feel free! They always help. I still don’t think I am there yet.



Meanwhile I think I am going to go do something else for a day or so. Rubbing my bald head with a cheese grater while chewing on some tin foil comes to mind!

[Ricko]

Keep posting, this is one of my favourite photos by far in this thread so far. Great work

Only thing I can see is it looks slighty soft around the edges.

[Crovean]

I would imagine we are all getting a bit weary of me posting this shot. But I need to keep going until I get it right. Or at least a reasonable facsimile thereof.

That plus the new software is giving me a nice learning curve to enjoy, but between the hours stacked upon hours of research(hours), trial(hours), and error(days), I’m still enjoying myself!

This is my latest attempt at retouching this photo. If anyone would like to comment, or have any tips, please feel free! They always help. I still don’t think I am there yet.



Meanwhile I think I am going to go do something else for a day or so. Rubbing my bald head with a cheese grater while chewing on some tin foil comes to mind!

I love how the eyes look very very sharp! Excellent portraiture.

[Colin Southern]

Looks pretty good to me Terry, and by the way, yes everyone ...

... I'm feeling guilty about not getting lesson 4 (on post-processing) written yet (real soon, I promise!).

[Loose Canon]

Thanks for commenting, guys.

I think I barfed it by shooting at too wide an aperture, Richard. Have to watch that next time.

And no worries here, Colin. That you would do this at all speaks volumes. Besides, I’m enjoying learning how to fish! I don’t catch one every time, but at least I think I can bait a hook! Looks like you have a plateful with 400 shots anyway!

[Ricko]

Thanks for commenting, guys.

I think I barfed it by shooting at too wide an aperture, Richard. Have to watch that next time.

I didnt know whether it was part of the processing that had been applied? As I didnt notice it in the orginal shot. The last PP of the image is a great improvement over the original one.
I dont think you could have improved upon the actual technique of the shot and I wouldnt dream of advising anyone on that aspect their photography, as most people are far more skilled than I.

Wasnt very clear in my post really, sorry

[Loose Canon]

Richard, maybe it was me that was unclear.

I noticed what you did and mentioned it in my self-critique. I think you are right about the softness in the edges. What I meant to say and should have said was "I" have to watch that next time. And I appreciate you noticing that and pointing it out to me. At least I'm not the only one who thinks so and I think you have confirmed that for me.

I apologize if I didn't come across right. I truly appreciate your eye.

[Ricko]

Sunny today, so off I went again! Can't really tell if the tone is correct or not?!?!? Image looks ok on my screen.

Overall I like the shot, but am not really happy with the stray hair across her face, next time I'll have to take some hairspray and a brush!!!

Don't know what happened but during the downsizing it has gone a bit grainy? Could be the sharpening applied?

Also, I'm getting a bit bored of that wall! So I'll be looking for a new location

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Richard,

Don't know what happened but during the downsizing it has gone a bit grainy? Could be the sharpening applied?

That depends what you did - what exactly did you do?
Downsizing should make it less grainy!

That's a VERY nice picture Richard.

Tone is ok and her hair looks natural and fine to me.

One suggestion I would make is that her arm folded across looks a little odd in the lower left corner, so me being me; I would clone the right arm down into the corner of the picture (and the wall behind).

A second minor point is that her left arm is quite bright from the reflector, so toning that down a bit in PP would also help make a good image great.

38, indeed, that's rubbish man!

Cheers,

[Colin Southern]

Hi Richard,

I agree with Dave - very nice.

One suggestion - apply a vignette around the image prior to adding the border. In CS5 go into Filter -> Lens Correction -> manual tab -> and whack vignette all the way to the left (or close to it) - it'll draw the eye into the face, and away from the arm.

Sorry, typing this on iPad, so a bit restricted!

[Alis]

Sunny today, so off I went again! Can't really tell if the tone is correct or not?!?!? Image looks ok on my screen.

Overall I like the shot, but am not really happy with the stray hair across her face, next time I'll have to take some hairspray and a brush!!!

Don't know what happened but during the downsizing it has gone a bit grainy? Could be the sharpening applied?

Also, I'm getting a bit bored of that wall! So I'll be looking for a new location

Richard, I think you are getting very close... Well done! This one is excellent.

One comment I have (now that you have almost mastered the technique) is to pay attention to the facial expression of the subject. In this one, I can see the tension of the photoshoot process in her face, a tiny bit uneasy.

When you get the setting right, I suggest taking a lot of shots and try to be funny to make her smile. I know you know all of this, just a reminder

[Colin Southern]

OK - back in the office ...

eg ... (over-done a bit for emphasis)

[Ricko]

Hi Richard,



That depends what you did - what exactly did you do?
Downsizing should make it less grainy!

That's a VERY nice picture Richard.

Tone is ok and her hair looks natural and fine to me.

One suggestion I would make is that her arm folded across looks a little odd in the lower left corner, so me being me; I would clone the right arm down into the corner of the picture (and the wall behind).

A second minor point is that her left arm is quite bright from the reflector, so toning that down a bit in PP would also help make a good image great.

38, indeed, that's rubbish man!

Cheers,

Yup you are right about the arms.

I did use the burn tool (on 10%) around the edges of the picture and front arm, difficult to know how far to go sometimes.

38, I would have score myself higher but my lack of actual experience taking photos made it hard to score myself any higher I need to get up and get out there more often!

[Ricko]

Hi Richard,

I agree with Dave - very nice.

One suggestion - apply a vignette around the image prior to adding the border. In CS5 go into Filter -> Lens Correction -> manual tab -> and whack vignette all the way to the left (or close to it) - it'll draw the eye into the face, and away from the arm.

Sorry, typing this on iPad, so a bit restricted!

I have another photo that I'll give that a go on. Thanks for the info.

[Ricko]

Richard, I think you are getting very close... Well done! This one is excellent.

One comment I have (now that you have almost mastered the technique) is to pay attention to the facial expression of the subject. In this one, I can see the tension of the photoshoot process in her face, a tiny bit uneasy.

When you get the setting right, I suggest taking a lot of shots and try to be funny to make her smile. I know you know all of this, just a reminder

Thank you, I'm getting there. The course that Colin so kindly offered to do has got me thinking more about the photos I'm taking. Cant wait for the next part!!!

I'll post some other shot to show you what mood she was in, the saying "Never work with children or animals" comes to mind!

[Ricko]

Vignette effect, as suggested by Colin.

Too much? I used almost full vignette effect and adjusted the midpoint to bring it in.



The tight crop was due to the postion of her arms at the time.