nina1

Thanks for the comments :)

Paul - I've attached a new version with less contrast in the hood.

:) Nina

Thanks!

Paul - this picture is 100% full frame.

Emilie (10 years old!) is really easy to work with, and here she's posing in her fake fur :)

/Nina

Thank you all so very much for your kind words :)

/Nina

You really have to stop now or I won't be able to get any sleep tonight :D I'll just be laying in bed with a silly grin on my face... hehehe

Seriously - I never thought so many would like it this much.

Ok - the new tutorial is here: http://www.eyesondesign.net/pshop/soft_colors/picturemanip_intro.htm

I'm too tired to proof read it now - so if you find spelling errors or other faults please let me know. I haven't published it on my site yet, so this is kind of a preview :)

Take care everybody!

:) Nina

I'm really overwhelmed by the positive feedback on this picture. This has been great fun :) I'm actually sitting here writing a tutorial for my site on how I achieved this effect for those who might be interested reading about that. I'll post the link here as soon as I'm done.

About the catch lights... hmmm... I guess others might have to answer that question. It doesn't bother me, but for all I know others have other views on that :)

And I suddenly realized I forgot to answer a question earlier about the light source; Yes - it's light from a window on the right side + a white reflecter to lighten up the shadows.

:) Nina

Thanks again to all of you!

Jean-Paul: The "dust" you're talking about are her freckles :) I've toned them down but I really want to keep them. It wouldn't be Emilie without them...

/Nina

Thank you all for your generous comments and ratings!!

I know a 9 year old girl that's going to be smiling pretty wide when her mom shows her this thread tomorrow :)

Take care everyone!

:) Nina

Ok - I haven't cut her eye this time, but I've been playing around

with it for a little while. Please let me know what you think :)

Thank you all for sharing your views!

Mark: Your suggestions are more than welcome :)

(Her left eye is much lighter from the light coming from a window on that side). I've attached a new version for you where I've burned in the lighter eye a little bit.

Thanks again - and wish you all a great weekend :)

/Nina

Happy to hear you liked it :)

What a charming capture!

I love the composition and the tilt of the cat's head :)

/Nina

Hehehe - thanks Ivar :)

Oh I'm sure you have friends that will let you borrow their kids as well. Most parents would love to get some extra shots of their loved ones.

:) Nina

Hiya Ivar!

Thank you so much for your kind words! Nice to hear some still appreciate my work ;) And of course I don't mind you adding my link! I really have to update that B&W tutorial some day soon as well - I'm using another method that's a lot quicker these days and that don't need much tweeking afterwards.

I visted your site - and enjoyed my stay :) I've grown up with dogs (Gordon setters), and had an Irish setter myself for 5 1/1 years (he got sick and we had to let him go poor thing), so I enjoyed your animal shots as well. They're just remarkable creatures.

Take care Ivar - and keep shooting :)

Best wishes Nina