Engagement shoot with new lens...CC welcomed

[missy_kay]

<p>Here is an engagement shoot I took with a new lens. For fun, can anyone guess the lens? :) CC is welcomed!<br>

<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JyC7pVbPZqE/ShPmM7oJHgI/AAAAAAAAAFk/7Nhkvd7fugo/s800/scott4.jpg" alt="" /><br>

<a href="http://kayenglish.blogspot.com/2009/05/blog-post_19.html">http://kayenglish.blogspot.com/2009/05/blog-post_19.html</a></p>

[luis_g]

<p> There's an unflattering blue-green color cast on the subjects (from uv/shade and all the foliage) that can be easily corrected.</p>

[savagesax]

<p>Don't like most of the skin tones. Maybe they are over processed.</p>

[chris_whitcomb1]

<p>There are some color issues, but that can be fixed in post. As far as the new mystery lens goes, looks like it's doing the job asked of it. I can't say I'm blown away by the sharpnes, contrast or color, nor do I think it did a very good job of giving you the flare I'm sure you were looking for. The big question here is do YOU like the lens?</p>

[art_tatum]

<p>50mm with fill flash. I like the photo despite the quirky color balance.</p>

[david_schilling___chicago_]

<p>Suggest that you fix Tami's skin on the B&W closeup.....also watch for lens flair and the sun light overpowering the image.</p>

[nishnishant]

<p>The bright glare in the background is kinda distracting. Hurts the eyes.</p>

[nishnishant]

<p>Lens is a 50mm 1.4 or 1.8 :-) (guess based on the other pictures on that link)</p>

[mgmphoto]

<p>Could be warmer...35 1.8?</p>

[betty_lowrey]

<p>Sunflare and sun-wash are really trendy and popular right now, so taking that into consideration I like the look. Maybe take a cue from Jessica Claire and make it a bit sharper and snappier, with a boost in the color.</p>

[peter_j2]

<p>It's a long shot. You may have used a Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro lens set at f/2.5? Photo could use some warmth. The distracting highlights need to be turned down. The faces need some sharpening. Unfortunately, it's hard to remove, but the lens flare ruins it. Nice poses, however.</p>

[missy_kay]

<p>hmm wow I'm surprised at the responses. I actually ADDED the lens flair lol. here's the original:<br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2426/3562157521_916a6e620e.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></p>

<p>Does anyone use Kubota sharpener? I wanted to see what that would look like and if it's better than TRA's sharpener. How would you have edited this differently?<br>

btw, the lens was the 70-200 IS 2.8 ;)</p>

[david_schilling___chicago_]

<p>Here's a good place to start for good outdoor lighting: <a href="http://www.photovisionvideo.com/store/shop.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=P&Product_Code=LLT028&Category_Code=DVD">http://www.photovisionvideo.com/store/shop.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=P&Product_Code=LLT028&Category_Code=DVD</a></p>

[chris_whitcomb1]

<p>Kay - the original looks much sharper but under exposed. "Adding" the flare is not something I would put into your bag of tricks, either you get it, then enhance it, or just live without it. Getting flare with a 70-200 is really next to impossible, maybe try the 50 1.2/1.4 or the 28 1.8. I get the fact you like to emulate J. Claire's work but I think even in this instance she would be like "girl, don't go there"...or would that be J*? I'm not hating, as I really luv flare shots, just practice on getting the real thing.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flarecompetition.blogspot.com/">The FLARE National Photography Contest</a> ...check it out.</p>

[chris_whitcomb1]

<p>Oh, about the sharpening: I currently use Kubota's Magic Sharp as that's what J. Claire and J* both swear by for anything that leaves their studio...I didn't even know TRA had one until just now. That being said, I just found out that a scaled back version of Dave Hill's sharpening technique is being used by a ton of photographers, including some of my "close" photographer buddies...yeah, so close I had to pry out of them why their images looked so tack sharp on their blogs while mine do not. Nobody will give me the recipie but I will find it, maybe post it up for everyone.</p>

[missy_kay]

<p>Is this one better?<br>

I'm starting to think I'm not very good at editing lol<br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3367/3562617915_62ee641985_o.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="552" /></p>

[kiva]

<p>I think you were on the right track with the flair idea Kay. Or, at least I can say I am amenable to that style of shooting and processing for a couple like this (I can say that because I looked at the other photos and observe the fun they had during your shoot: I am always encouraged when a couple will stick their tongue out and have a bit of fun.)</p>

<p>I took your original and added more flair to the sky but I used the corner opposite the couple for the blowout of the sky in order to balance the image file a bit. I worked the photo and made sure I kept masking with the intent to keep the couple prominent and planfully did not want to milk the couple over. I wanted the couple to be sharp and serious which is what they appear to be in the photo ... all this is my faraway interpretation and it's a locked guarantee that it does not fit for many photographers.</p>

<p>Note: I also cleaned up "clutter" from the background and removed the flowers near the guy: they were just a distraction imo.</p><div></div>

[missy_kay]

<p>I edited most of the pictures on my blog and added a warming filter, are they better? Or do the images still have weird skin tones?</p>

[think27]

<p>Your eye is always drawn to the brightest spot and in portraits the focus needs to be on the couple in most cases...</p>

<p>Excuse the horrible clone job - but just to show you how it looks when you try not to include sky in the shot... Backlit leaves are my favorite... </p>

<p>I think you got some - a tiny bit - of lens flare from what I see and instead of trying to fix it - you exaggerated it... Good thinking but it doesn't work in this case...</p>

<p>Also did some adjustments for skin etc... Rough and dirty - 3 min. job... but I think you'll get the idea.</p><div></div>

[david_schilling___chicago_]

<p>I rarely think that the flare shots work most of the time and I think the sun-wash images leads the eye away from the couple and is distracting.</p>

<p>Here's a quick fix on the skin for the B&W images which was probably my fav from the session.</p><div></div>