Senior Pic (Edited)

•3

written 5/21/08 8:44 PM, published 5/21/08 8:45 PM

Tags:

I posted some senior pics sometime last week. I received several comments about this one. The original was basically the raw photo. Based on the comment made, I did some editing and produced this result. I think this is a little better.

1389

PS. For those who made comments, the "indians" are no longer in the picture :>)

other Frontpage stories Digg Delicious Stumbleupon

VegasStan
•3
5/21/08 9:39 PM

I'm the one who suggested that you clone out the stick coming out of her back ... So I'm going to be the first to say what a beautiful image you know have!! ... (If you are realy good with PS just brighten up that catch light just a tad) ... Then print this, put it into a beautiful frame and give it to mom!! ... Well Done!!

- Out of Focus!!

Please sign in to rate.
MRQUACKERS
•5
5/21/08 11:40 PM

Excellent! Wonderful PS work.

- A quack with an camera

Please sign in to rate.
Penny
•7
5/22/08 3:36 AM

It is a nice pic but the shadows on the face really take away from her eyes. I would suggest a fill flash to get rid of the shadows.

- Smile

Please sign in to rate.
enigmaticfaerie
•6
5/22/08 5:30 AM

Ok, so the only comment I've read is penny's. And I think it's funny that you get rid of the BIGGEST distraction only to be left with another criticism (no offense penny. I see what you mean). But I think overall it is a very nice picture. I do agree with penny, fill-flash would have been nice, but the image you have here is very nice on it's own. Having the fill-flash just would have made it spectacular, imho.

- Film-Junkie 4 Life!

Please sign in to rate.
Photo Yaloo
•3
5/22/08 7:02 AM

Against my better judgement I agreed to do these for a friend of my daughter. They couldn't afford the $1,000 sitting fee for senior pics charged by the local photographers, so I relented.
This is why I quit doing portraits for people. I just don't have an eye for it. I'll just stick to what I know in the future.
All the comments are appreciated. Thanks. :>)

- In tune with the camera.

Please sign in to rate.
RobinG
•3
5/22/08 7:34 AM

Great shot! As long as they like it, that is all that matters! :o)

Please sign in to rate.
The Old Guy
•3
5/22/08 8:24 AM

The photo is a good photo. Penny's thoughts have a lot of merit and I cannot disagree. But before I read her comment I didn't notice the soft shadows. I kind of like them, but then I wasn't looking for the eyes, which have a powerful impact on a subject.
I personally would accept that photo from a friend with deep appreciation for a job nicely done. This just shows that when we are looking for something that could have a negative impact, we can generally find it. And that is what this site is about. But when you are like me, muddy minded, you don't see those things until someone points them out.
imho the photo is great. But every photo can benefit from some adjustment. Even the $1,000 shot, and I have seen some "professional" shots that I wouldn't pay $10 for. $1,000! Wow. I'm glad my daughter's were only a couple of hundred which I thought was a bunch then!

- So shoot already!!

Please sign in to rate.
Anonymous User
•1
5/22/08 8:41 AM

That's a beautiful portrait. The catch lights in her eyes, the natural light coming from the side creating depth. Well done. I couldn't agree less with the fill light idea. In a studio, perhaps.

Please sign in to rate.
Photo Yaloo
•3
5/22/08 9:26 AM

FYI - That is just the sitting fee. The photos are extra.
I too am muddy minded when it comes to portraits. I have very little knowledge of lighting and how to reduce shadows and other distracting things. I particularly have trouble getting a good portrait. Little things such as the tilt of the head, stray locks of hair, eyes, posture, lighting, and angle of the shot makes the difference between a decent shot and a stunning shot. Also, making the subject feel at ease is tricky. These things I just cannot seem to master (and doubt I ever will).
And again, thanks for the comments. I get so frustrated with my inability to figure this out.

- In tune with the camera.

Please sign in to rate.
enigmaticfaerie
•6
5/22/08 9:42 AM

Good lord. That's an expensive sitting fee for senior portraits. My school transformed the cafeteria for a week into a mini studio for a local portrait photography business to come in and take senior portraits. We would get a postcard saying around what time and what day to be at the school to start the session. Mostly because they used one of the formal shots for the yearbook I guess. We were allowed up to 3 or 4 wardrobe changes. Extra changes were like a couple bucks each. We'd take a few studio shots and then we could drive to a house just down the street where a field photographer would take outdoor shots. Just him and he had a reflector for when he put us into the shade. Then you would get a box with all the proofs. You could buy the proofs plus numerous different packages. If there were any sitting fees, my parents never informed me. But I know $1,000 would have been too much for them too.
And I'm with old guy, if they like them that's all that matters. And I still say that the fill-flash only would have enhanced the photo, not make it. It's nice as it stands.

- Film-Junkie 4 Life!

Please sign in to rate.
momof3pics
•3
5/22/08 11:11 AM

awesome portrait shot. Very pretty smile and love the waterfalls in the back ground. great choice.

- Beauty in all

Please sign in to rate.
The Old Guy
•3
5/22/08 12:29 PM

Photo Yaloo,
for all my rhetoric, I can't take a good portrait to save my life either. But I feel that I do know what is good when I see it. I see it above. Yet I agree with you on all the problems there are to overcome to get a good shot. I'll stick to nature. It sits in it's own studio.

- So shoot already!!

Please sign in to rate.
DSW
•4
5/22/08 8:23 PM

You only get better by doing. So your not an accomplishing portrait photographer, never the less you did great. I think you can be proud of this shot.
Blessings
DSW

- DSW

Please sign in to rate.
Fabulos
•3
5/23/08 7:00 AM

A stunning picture and I looked at your dashboard to see the original. The corrections had a big impact. I would still lose the small twig from the back of the upper arm. The other thing that could be tried is to clone out the dark line under her right eye. Other than that it is perfect.

- With the right bait...

Please sign in to rate.
Buckmiester
•3
5/23/08 1:06 PM

Now the the Indians have been erased I think your daughter's friend and her family will be quite satisfied with your portrait. I know I would. Very nice work on the PS edit. Wonderful shot.

- Ever vigilant

Please sign in to rate.
Penny
•7
5/24/08 2:31 PM

PY I am sorry if I hurt your feelings with my comment. My comment says it is a nice shot and that the fill light was a suggestion. I thought it might help for future shots. We learn by others giving info and ideas.

- Smile

Please sign in to rate.
smalltown05
•5
5/24/08 2:47 PM

I just pulled up both portraits side by side. I'm impressed with the composition and you've done a lovely job smoothing out her skin. Penny's right--some fill light would alleviate those deep shadows in future shots. I'm certainly not a portrait master but have found that the more I talk and laugh (and I talk the whole time I'm shooting, usually wasting at least the first 10 exposures), the more I relax and the more my subject relaxes. And if everybody has calmed down, it shows.

- blow.....hard

Please sign in to rate.