Another Final Feedback, Please.

<p>Hello Again Members!<br>

Wow, I had an overwhelming response to my morning post. Thanks everyone for all your help. Here is my latest photo.<br>

Thanks, Trish</p>

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<p>The Eyes...</p><div></div>

<p>In the Eyes shot, there is one eye visible and the other one hidden in the darkness. Is that how you <em>intend </em> that it should look?</p>

<p>The grey background doesn't work for me....too bland...I'd darken it down some, and change the color too.</p>

<p>The skin tone is too cold in tone to really work with the green, probably from scatter <em>from </em> the green....and why green anyway?</p>

<p>These are some thoughts as I look at this image......All of the above can be changed if that's what you want to do....but I'd rather re-shoot it, rather than do a software fix.<br /> Regards, Robert</p>

<p>Did you use the continuous lights again, or window lighting. It looks better than the first pics of the boyfriend. I don't like the second shot as much, one eye is only partially visible, the other is almost completely in shadow. If you don't have any way to light up the background som more, you might consider going outside and getting some pics with a natural background, or shoot upwards and use the sky/clouds.</p>

<p>I think it would help to work a little more with lighting and shadow on the face as well, since the light appears pretty flat. You want to make sure that you have a main and then fill light, whether it be natural light and a reflector or studio lighting with one powered higher than the other. And I also agree that the gray background isn't the best color for the shot. But you're working on it and learning, and that's what's important!</p>

<p>Hello Trish,<br /> I'm assuming you are letting the camera decide on exposure. It does a great job ..but ...if you spot meter on the face..the camera will capture the skin in these images (average caucasian) and reproduce them for you..as mid gray. Exactly as the camera meter is designed to do. It's not all about equipment..this photography thingy. :-)<br /> I adjusted these two ..eg; to make f8 look like f5.6<br /> I think both images have a lot going for them. You are doing very well indeed.<br /> Do a search for photographing skin. There's lots to read out there.</p><div></div>

<p>Anthony, you made them come alive! :) You are correct about the skin, another learning tool for me. Did you us PS to achieve this?<br>

Thanks you so much!</p>

 

<p>I have to give Corel a wrap for ease of use Trish. (..but many..if not most users of PS ..will argue!;-)<br>

I placed a mask over a portion of each face..then read the histogram for that marked area. It told me the skin was underexposed (accepting the faces were roughly caucasian). I removed the mask ..adjusted and remeasured the faces, in new masks. Following that ...an adjustment for contrast..making it ready for the web. From that point it's all subjective. We all have our own view on life..and what we consider is "best" for the purpose of the image. Some blur..and the job is done.<br>

The strength in these two images...the exposures you made...allows them to "come alive!" with a little adjustment.<br>

A correct (subjective) exposure...will make any colour issues a far smaller problem.</p>

<p>colour = exposure<br>

exposure = colour<br>

You can't have one without the other.</p>

<p>Portraits are all about light. Sometimes you can just fake it. Here is an idea, not a finished product.</p><div></div>

<p>Neat! Thanks, Howard.</p>