juliet_sequeira___san_jose Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 Hello, I completed my first wedding about two weeks ago. I'm working on scanning negatives to be printed for my own portfolio book. Here's a sample of one photo, but something seems off to me.. the color or contrast.. i'm not sure. Just looking for some opinions and suggestions. Nikon F100 50mm 1.8 Fuji NPS 160 Thanks in advance. Juliet<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicola_grimshaw_mitchell Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 Hi Juliet! Its a lovely photo - well done! There are some deep shadows under her eyes and his shirt is blown, did you use fill flash? I would try the highlight/shadows action in PS CS and then increase sat. If this still looks off try a few conversions to B&W to see which looks best. Good luck! Nicola x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliet_sequeira___san_jose Posted July 26, 2005 Author Share Posted July 26, 2005 Hello Nicola, Thank you. I did not use any fill flash, this is natural light, sitting under a very tall gazebo. I took your suggestions and made some corrections. I burned in her under eye shadows, using the healing brush to clean up some blemishes, and upped the saturation, while lowering the greens/yellows. I think this version looks a bit better.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zapped Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 It's too bad the focus isn't a little better, but overall it's a nice capture.<br> <br> My first suggestion would be to crop this image a bit. To me, the bottom third of the image is extraneous. Since your original image is already tightly framed on the left, right, and top - and on the top, the bride's hair is even chopped off - I would mimic that in the framing by also chopping the bride's elbow intentionally in the crop:<br> <img src="http://www.pbase.com/pricklypear/image/46762712/original.jpg"><br> <br> With this crop, all sides are in balance & framed tightly.<br> <br> Next, it's unfortunate that the highlights on both the groom's shirt and the background are all blown. I'd de-emphasize that with a bit of a vignette around the image, and also increase contrast a bit to bring out some skin tones in the couple's fair complexions. I also de-focussed a bit in the vignette to focus more on the couple's embrace. A slight mask of the bride's eyes & lips also adds a little punch to the image. I also masked the eye sockets and brightened 'em just a tad. Hopefully this quick edit isn't too heavy-handed:<br> <br> <img src="http://www.pbase.com/pricklypear/image/46762711/original.jpg"><br> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliet_sequeira___san_jose Posted July 26, 2005 Author Share Posted July 26, 2005 the shirt and bg aren't so blown out on the second photo i submitted. i don't really like the crop suggestion, i think it looks too choppy. But i'll play around with it a bit and see what comes up. thanks for you help. ps. where can i find info about the masks you did for her lips and eyes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zapped Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 Hi, Juliet, yes I see now that you posted your 2nd image while I was editing the original. Regarding masks, you can look at any basic Photoshop book in the bookstore. Basically the technique is this - I create a selection of eyes or lips using the lasso tool. I add a Curves or Saturation adjustment layer (and adjust settings), and a mask is automatically added based on my selection (the selection is now cleared). I then click on the mask icon in the Layers palette so that I'll be drawing on the mask, not the image, and either blur it or refine it with a brush tool set to white or black. Now I have a new layer that I can click on or off to view before/after, or change the overall opacity to soften the effect if necessary. There are probably about a dozen adjustment layers in the edit I posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_yuhas Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 Perhaps you know the bride well, but her expression is what bothers me. She looks bored to tears. I don't see any joy or love. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliet_sequeira___san_jose Posted July 26, 2005 Author Share Posted July 26, 2005 i disagree dave. thanks for the comment tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliet_sequeira___san_jose Posted July 26, 2005 Author Share Posted July 26, 2005 i've decided that in order to do any justice to this, i need to get the negatives drum scanned at my lab. i'll repost later with more photos and examples. thanks for the imput everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_m.___portland__or. Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 Congratulations on your first wedding, it's all downhill from here. I would have to agree with Dave though, her expression makes me think that she's merely tolerating this situation, although maybe there is a little hint of a smile there. You know best, just thought I'd give another perspective. Cheers and good luck, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliet_sequeira___san_jose Posted July 26, 2005 Author Share Posted July 26, 2005 Rob, I appreciate the feedback. Though, I tend to disagree, which I think is okay. The reason I disagree, is because the overall effect of this photo, along with the other formals, brings the story together. The history between these two is significant, and her look to the camera tells us that she's proud to be married to this man, and wants people to know it. So, though it may be a weak smile, her eyes say a lot more. Here's the other shot from this moment that some may like a bit more. ps. thank you David. I'm excited to share in more weddings.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd frederick Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 I like that photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwang_lee Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 What scanner are you using? It doesn't seem like it has enough dynamic range to pick up much detail in the blacks/dark browns while retaining info in the bright highlights. Drum scans are expensive - but it makes sense if you're only going to do a few. Getting a Nikon or Konica film scanner might be an interesting alternative. Her expression is ambiguous given the context of the single image. We don't have access to the 'narrative' of their union. If you're putting together a printed portfolio book, you should heed people's first reactions. However, I think there is something quite artful and honest about her expression. It seems to evoke a kind of serenity and peace - with maybe a hint of fatigue. But again, I get that after spending more than ten seconds looking at it and thinking about it. How many potential clients will look at any single image with that kind of patience and appreciation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliet_sequeira___san_jose Posted July 26, 2005 Author Share Posted July 26, 2005 I'm using a canoscan 8400f. The first two images were scanned using VueScan software, the last image was scanned using the import feature in PS. The drum scans are going to be 0.50cents each, for very high res, to be printed up to 11x14. i'm only getting about 10-15 done. I want to get a Nikon dedicated 35mm scanner, but right now is not a good time for me. Thank you for your detailed comment. I appreciate your viewpoint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_myers4 Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 Second shot is much better. She looks annoyed in the first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zapped Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 Absolutely agree about the 2nd shot. I didn't want to mention it when I posted me edit, but there is no question that in the first shot the bride's expression said "You're not going to follow us to the bridal suite with that danged camera, ARE YOU?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon jacobson Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 A couple of posts here commented that the expression here is unfavorable, specifically, the bride looks bored to tears. Though comments like this are "eye of the beholder" type stuff, I think a survey would reveal most would agree. Please Juliet, bear with me here! The first thought I had was exactly "bored to tears." I won't comment on the smile or eyes, but if/when you get a studio, I HIGHLY recommend not enlarging this image to 20x30 nor displaying it at all. You can have every little technical aspect of this image perfect, but the expression, in my strongly voiced opinion, does not work. Just like the title of your post, "one photo critique," this image does not work alone. You do however, and thankfully, understand something vitally important. In the context of the bride and groom during their big day, this is a nicely captured image. And as it is one image within a whole story, it adds to the story. Frankly, this look could very well have been "haven't you taken enough already?" That's okay. Is this the same couple you posted a few weeks ago for engagement? You did after all admit they had a challenge connecting with the camera. For the purposes of telling a story, this is an important image. When it comes to wedding images, often, one image doesn't say enough. The image you posted, clearly, says the wrong thing. You were there. You remember the specific moment. Your recollection overrides what is actually in this image. This viewing audience was not there; therefore, we have a negative connection with this image. Put it in an album, or coffee-table-book style layout, we'd most likely connect with it differently. What I mostly wanted to say here was that you do see that such an image is important in "the big picture." Quite a few other I-just-shot-my-first-wedding shooters do not see the big picture of telling a story. With a little more wedding experience, you will learn to filter a little better, and learn to look at your work with fresh eyes. You're definitely on the right track! For your next assignment, a.) let us know what the B&G think if the image, and b.) we'd like to see more from this wedding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliet_sequeira___san_jose Posted July 28, 2005 Author Share Posted July 28, 2005 This is the same couple from the engagement photos. They did have issues connecting with the camera, as pointed out by someone else. I just don?t see the whole "bored to tears" look, but that doesn?t mean it can?t be perceived. The bride and groom have seen the photos, and they love them. They didn?t tell me anything specific about this one, except to say that it looked like the groom was eating her neck, in a playful way. The couple is really gracious about the entire set of photos, knowing that this was my first wedding, and on top of that, just being really close to them, I think they felt I could get some great shots, which I think I did. This image won't be displayed anywhere, except in the couples personal album. The photo also, hardly defines my style, or the entire day. Its not an all encompassing photo, which I think people are having a difficult time with. Yes, she looks a bit bored, to some, but she also looks content and relaxed. I really think people are taking a cynical look at her expression, but that is everyone's choice. I can't really argue with opinion, especially when so many are saying the same thing, but I just disagree. I learned a lot from this one photo critique and will use it in the future. I will be posting more photos from this series later this weekend. I also just made a post about my first wedding experience. I appreciate your feedback. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lukas_kisiel Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 Juliet, I agree too, she does look relaxed. And to me she does seem at ease with you being with them in that moment. A great and very intimage photo! I just browsed over to your website and, wow, your portfolio is just beautiful. Very sensual and enlighting! Whatever you're charging for your weddings today I can see you charging way more than average prices very soon... :) Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliet_sequeira___san_jose Posted July 29, 2005 Author Share Posted July 29, 2005 Pawel, thank you very much. i appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now