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Re: Portrait
Hi,Originally posted by bored_stupid View PostHi to all in the forum, would like your thoughts on this portrait.
Taken with D200, SB800 & Sigma 17-70. any tips will be welcome as well as any critique.
Thanks.
I think it is a nice shot, but personally, I believe it needs softening, one way to do this, is to add a little gaussian blurr, and maybe even a very slight hint of diffuse glow. then use the history brush to bring back the sharpness in key areas such as the lips and the eyes.
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Re: Portrait
I'd agree with Ben. The trouble with such close up work is that it shows every skin blemish, freckle and makeup smudge. Models don't thank you for showing all that stuff, and of course the purpose of good makeup was to hide many of the skin blemishes etc.
Its possible now to do something about it and in the example below I used a Kodak plugin filter Digital Gem.
Now some people may not agree with me, but I think its a whole lot better, there is a little use of the healing brush too in Photoshop but essentially the whole thing takes a couple of minutes.

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Re: Portrait
Thanks Ron. With regard to the lighting, single on camera flash is not usually ideal. I suspect with this image that the photo has been rotated and cropped. The camera was probably in the portrait position and therefore the flash coming in from the side. You can see the shadow on the right of the nose pointing downwards, which also lends evidence to my theory. Still its not too obtrusive.Originally posted by lumix View PostExactly as Stephen has said. Yes it is a great improvement. I was about to wright the same, then see you had already covered it. Nice work Stephen.
That's a nice portrait you have there. I like the tight crop and the lighting has been well handled.
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Re: Portrait
It was exactly this that made me comment on the lighting. Us amateurs have to make the best of what we have and I think this has been done very well in this instance. I get more pleasure from achieving acceptable results, like this portrait, with little or no gear, than I ever did when I had a studio to work in. It's a challenge me lad.Originally posted by Stephen View PostThanks Ron. With regard to the lighting, single on camera flash is not usually ideal. I suspect with this image that the photo has been rotated and cropped. The camera was probably in the portrait position and therefore the flash coming in from the side. You can see the shadow on the right of the nose pointing downwards, which also lends evidence to my theory. Still its not too obtrusive.
And dam good fun.
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Re: Portrait
Originally posted by lumix View PostI get more pleasure from achieving acceptable results, like this portrait, with little or no gear .... It's a challenge me lad.
And dam good fun.
Amen to that!!
Very nice job with the plugin, Stephen ....... and kudos to 'bored_stupid' and the model too for a worthy effort imho.
Pol
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Re: Portrait
I think the rotation has been well done and something I will keep in mind for the future.
Stephen your results after using your plugin are excellent and turn the lady into a professional model but...it's a trifle to expensive for me.
Playing with Paint Shop Pro may not produce the same professional look but I think it would be acceptable for any personal album.
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Re: Portrait
Pops you made a good job of that. There are a few demo progs that do the same as Stephen's plugin. 30 days free use is ok by me so just download them when really needed.Originally posted by Pops View PostI think the rotation has been well done and something I will keep in mind for the future.
Stephen your results after using your plugin are excellent and turn the lady into a professional model but...it's a trifle to expensive for me.
Playing with Paint Shop Pro may not produce the same professional look but I think it would be acceptable for any personal album.
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Re: Portrait
Thats a good plan Ron, if it works. Often the plugins work OK until you come to save the file, then either it won't let you, or they put their watermark across the image.Originally posted by lumix View PostPops you made a good job of that. There are a few demo progs that do the same as Stephen's plugin. 30 days free use is ok by me so just download them when really needed.
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Re: Portrait
Does it do "Nips and tucks and face lifts" Stephen?
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Re: Portrait
Your not wrong there Stephen. I tried one a few months ago and it saved with the word 'Trial' blazed across it. Haven't bothered with any others.Originally posted by Stephen View PostThats a good plan Ron, if it works. Often the plugins work OK until you come to save the file, then either it won't let you, or they put their watermark across the image.
I now find that Paint Shop Pro X1 features a new tool that caters for skin smoothing. With that, and the makeover tools, I can manage to get most portraits to an acceptable standard.
It also now caters for raw images from the Canon 400D-------------------------
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