mike_bisom

Thanks!

 

The more I look at it, the more I am thinking the light should have been camera right.

This image was actually shot yesterday by my wife. Quantum flash off to the left of the

camera. f/5.6, 1/250th, ISO 200, 135mm, D90. This is the image as shot, no manipulation. We had a breeze coming off the lake that added some lift to the hair-

which is both good (bottom) and bad (top). But overall I think this is a great shot. What

does everyone here think?

Stunning is the word that comes to mind. In terms of personal preference, I would have softened the hair in some way. I did a quick Noise Ninja and preferred that. I like the disheveled hair- but it seems over sharp compared to the silky skin tone.

Focal length was 350mm with a shutter of 1/200th. A sure fire recipe for a less than sharp image.

It's a nice shot. In terms of improvement, I am from the always light the eyes camp. The first thing you will notice in the image (we hope) are the eyes. These a fabulous eyes, but they lack life. Looks like a bit of a natural light, backlit situation, so a simple reflector to bounce some light on the face would have worked wonders. I think the skin tones should be warmed up some (could have used a warming reflector!) but it's simply enough to warm it up in PS. I would probably smooth the skin just a little bit as well- kind of even it out. I do like the composition, but if an 8x10 headshot is required, then I think it's just a little too tight (personal preference). Finally, when opened in PS the image had a Camera RGB profile- should be sRGB for the web (and for many print labs). Again, overall nice. But if I am sifting through head shots, those eyes need to jump out at me.

 

Mike

First off, I certainly like the image. If I were to offer my tweaks....

 

When I looked at it in PS, the color space was Adobe RGB. Should be sRGB for the web. Image looked a bit better when I brought it into PS. I would have liked to seen less DOF. I would have really liked to have seen some balanced fill flash or a reflector, camera left. I am from the ALWAYS light the eyes camp! With her body squared left eye is too hidden, at least IMHO. I think a few strands of hair would have done the trick. I'm not so sure about the scarf. Might like it better with fill. For me the face and then neck have to different colors separated by the scarf- and the chest color isn't pleasant. Might clone the few strands of hair on our left that are more or less sticking straight out. And I would the branch in the bottom right of the frame- the one that looks like a claw entering from the right! Just my take. It's a nice shot no matter!