White on White

Toby Changed to B&W added some adjustment layers with layer masks and sharpened. Not real complicated because after you look at a face for over 30 years you know every little wrinkle, spot, hair folicle and especially the eyes!

Jayme, I'd say this IS high key! Sure didn't take long for you to figure out the PS part of the equation. ^_^

Wilson- actually, not very long, I was playing, and I'm not real sure I can do it again! :) Fair complexed, partially balding guys in light clothing are a lot easier to use the high-key lighting ratio on than dark haired, dark complexed little boys! :)

 

I had to learn to believe the light meter and histogram amd not look at the image on the screen. When I see the image on the screen, I think, oh my gosh I've really over exposed this. But then if you look at the image on the screen from another angle and then then another, it looks totally different. So I learned a lesson. Believe the light meter and read the histogram, use the viewing screen only for composition.:)

I really like this one, Jayme. It's very striking and seems like a good character shot that doesn't seem too "posed".

 

Reading your new bio - you are where I want to be in a few years. Just learning portrait and glamour photography, although I've always done candids.

Kim- Thanks, but I don't think I'm even in your league yet. You are the master of DOF. With people, I want to capture the same things you see in your animal images. I think the eyes are truly "the window to the soul". When I take images of the kids and Toby, I take lots of them to satisfy them that they are not just wasting their time. But actually, I'm waiting for that one glimpse, that one sparkle, that one light that I see in their eyes that gives away their inner soul. Consequently I have a lot of shots leading up to the light. But eventually, if I make them sit in front of the camera long enough they drop their guard and WOW- there it is!

I like this. You did a great job in keeping the details. How did you do that? Did you burn them back in?

I see a good number of these "drawing-like" images [does this style have an official genre?], and I never get board with them! I love the look and feel of them. This is no exception. Very nice! If you've looked at the few of this type that I've attempted, you'll notice that I like them just a little sharper, but that in NO way detracts from my enjoyment of this shot! Not a better/worse thing, just a difference in taste. I love it. Can I have a cookie now? :) 7/7

 

db

~

 

Thanks Don, e-mailing you a cookie!:) Julie, I wish I could be specific, but this was shot a little over-exposed. I changed it to B&W- desaturated. Then I applied the "find edges" filter and changed the opacity and the mode (I think "Overlay". I did some dodging and burning, but not a lot. Actually because the image was so high-key in the first place it lended it'self to this kind of "drawing" like image. I think they call this "White on White" White background almost the same as color of the skin. One positive thing, the glare off his old "chrome dome" was alieviated by this white on white image! :) It's almost impossible to shoot a bald or partially bald man on a white background without getting a huge glare on their head (he absolutely refused powdering:) He photographs much better on black!

Taken with High-key lighting set up then changed to B&W

(desaturated), "Find Edges" filter, Overlay Mode, Opacity decreased

and some dodge and burning! Comments and critiques welcome. Thanks.

Very good

very very nice

I like the portrait, and the composition, but I'm not a fan of the excessive post production manipulation. It now looks too much like a pencil drawing for my liking.

 

It is however exceedingly well done, and a very acomplished piece of art!

 

6/6

 

Regards, Nick.

looks like a sketch!...great effect!

Very great bw picture

Is it me, or you tried to make it to look as a Van Gogh self portrait?

Very good and nice portrait!

nice potrait jayme

yes, Jayme... this is a real high key... and its a great one, too! The beauty is that you kept all the details of the face, and with that, you really made the final product fantastic.

 

Its true, that you have to intentionally overexpose to have a high-key. That's what they told me :)

 

Love this shot. Will look at other new ones now ;)

Great treatment to produce a striking image. Too much processing? Nah, its just an extension of the image producing process. Great job!

Thanks for the comments. I personally, do not believe it's that terrific. I'm not a fan of extreme post processing, but this one is really not that extreme. Take a look at the original B&W next to the final image. I actually like the original B&W better, however, I just found the final accented his deep set eyes a little better and I thought it was fun. I'm posting it small and large so you can see the details. Here's the large.

Here's the small. You can see the small amount of processing. I changed the original to B&W (I desaturated, I think). Then added a "find edges" adjustment layer in "overlay mode" I think. Then decreased the opacity of this layer to please me, and I think I dodged and burned a little. I may even have used a layer mask to erase some, I just can't remember. I'd use the action record, but I change my mind so much and start over it just isn't worth it to me. It's kind of like an artist trying to recreate an exact copy of their work. Impossible. Styles are one thing, but each time it's different. When I saw the results of this in B&W it just lended itself to this treatment, at least that's what I thought.

This is really professional work, an excellent high-key. It starts with the lighting, background color, filtering, PS work... Nothing to improve, IMO. I`ve tried high-key just recently myself, and it`s nice to hear the same experience from you - it is almost impossible to get the same result twice ;-)

Thanks for the hint with the "find edges" layer !

BTW: I would like to know your judgment on my first try with this technique http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=3036180;

Regards; Carsten

Thanks Carsten- I looked, I like! really wonderfully dramatic image, beautiful daughter!

Thanks Jayme. I appreciate you sharing the details of how you created this.

i like the high key; could you please read this to him the next time he sits for you, after you're all set up and everything?

 

Dear Mr.Hall,

 

I am a photo buddy of jayme's. I have looked at her impressive renderings of your image and have one request. I don't necessarily want you to smile, just show a something in your eyes, maybe a touch of mirth or something. in your photos you look a little wary. i don't blame you, i hate having my pic taken, but durn it, you are working with one of the best. would you look at matthew brady this way? no! (okay, you look like a tough nut, maybe yes.) well, this is a jayme hall for goodness sakes!

 

Let's try a joke: did you ever hear the one about the guy who calls up his lawyer and says, "Can I ask you a question?" The lawyer says, "Sure, that will be $50 dollars."

 

aw come on, it was a little funny.

 

sincerely,

 

Ben S.

 

(the S. is NOT for smile, i swear.)