Desaturated Portrait

[Gina]

Here's something a bit different for me. Using the 70-300mm lens that was already fixed to my camera, my daughter Kim who was just recovering from being poorly asked me to take a few shots by the window. I took the camera off auto for a change and it was worth it. Please let me know what you think.

[kennykodak]

Re: Desaturated Portrait

Gina, why did you decide to use split light? notice how its texture creates attention to a scar over her eye? the partial light on the hand is my biggest problem. none of this has anything to do with desaturation, i don't have any problem with that.

[jojo]

Re: Desaturated Portrait

Hi Gina, my biggest issue here is not with the desaturation or a with the tiny scar (probably wouldn't have noticed it without KennyK's comment) but really, really don't think the "cyclops" look does this shot any favours - sorry Gina

jo

[Gina]

Re: Desaturated Portrait

Gina, why did you decide to use split light? notice how its texture creates attention to a scar over her eye? the partial light on the hand is my biggest problem. none of this has anything to do with desaturation, i don't have any problem with that.

I was trying to achieve a less orange/red colour but now seeing the image again, I can see what you mean, it looks odd with partial/ split lighting. My problem is pressing the shutter too soon without totally looking at where the shadows are with this kind of portrait. Next time I will take more time and try to incorporate a reflector to light up the dark. I guess this is ironic since you have just written a piece about light.

Must try harder.

It's a chicken pox scar incidentally. The issue with this kind of blemish, like moles etc is that these blemishes ARE THERE. I don't know how much you should take away from a person's face sometimes if you know what I mean. I just left it there this time but realise it does stand out because of the lighting.

[kennykodak]

Re: Desaturated Portrait

do this,
have her stand by the window and look towards you, full face.
hold the camera framing her but not showing the window.
shot 1, standing with the window in front of her
shot 2, standing beside window
shot 3, still standing beside window face turned towards window but showing 2/3's view of face (you can see the eye on the far side with a little skin to hold it in)
shot 4, repeat shot 3 using an reflector
shot 5, advance in front of the window and turn her face into it for a profile (must be able to see eye lash on far side of face or you're shooting into the back of the head).
shot 6, repeat shot 5 using a reflector.

extra credit.
shot 7, repeat shot i, close up with reflector below face (about belly button) aiming up but out of view.

[Gina]

Re: Desaturated Portrait

Thank you John and jojo,

I will take all the steps described and post the results - watch this space.

[kennykodak]

Re: Desaturated Portrait

It's a chicken pox scar incidentally. The issue with this kind of blemish, like moles etc is that these blemishes ARE THERE. I don't know how much you should take away from a person's face sometimes if you know what I mean. I just left it there this time but realise it does stand out because of the lighting.

our job is to minimize life's imperfections. that doesn't mean photoshop everything. i was pointing out how cross lighting brings out texture which i wrote about recently in my blog. i use this type of light from a hard source for drama when photographing accident/injury victims for court. those photos can not be retouched but with lighting i can make about anything look horrid.

[Gina]

Re: Desaturated Portrait

our job is to minimize life's imperfections. that doesn't mean photoshop everything. i was pointing out how cross lighting brings out texture which i wrote about recently in my blog. i use this type of light from a hard source for drama when photographing accident/injury victims for court. those photos can not be retouched but with lighting i can make about anything look horrid.

I hear ya! Yes I understand what you're saying but now I have a goal and something to work with, I'm very grateful for your help.

[vlarcombe]

Re: Desaturated Portrait

Hi Gina,

Dare to be different!

I couldn't disagree more with John and JoJo. My first impression on seeing this was what a stunning picture. My second impression was perhaps a reflector to bring up some detail on the left side of the Kim's face would make this better. Then I just sat and looked at it for 5 minutes and decided that, yes, it may not be textbook, but I feel it adds some mystery and for me (and perhaps just me) gives more beauty to the right eye (which again, from a textbook standpoint may not be well lit). Then I read the comments and I'm sure if you follow John's advice you'll get some great portrait shots and I'm sure they'll be beautiful but they'll also be the same as you could see in any magazine.

As to the scar, it's our blemishes and imperfections that make us who we are and for me this also helps not hinders as it shows we're looking at a real person and not an airbrushed celebrity.

Vernon.

P.S. None of this is in anyway a reflection (pun intended ) on John's shot suggestions which are an excellent way of learning about lighting, which is, at the end of the day key to our hobby (or profession for some).

[kennykodak]

Re: Desaturated Portrait

once again, my comment about the scar was to illustrate the concept of texture created by light direction. in the list of shots that i mentioned, shot 1 will create lighting more fashion like and the scar will not be very noticable.

i think i'm going sit out a bit.

[Gina]

Re: Desaturated Portrait

John please don't back off from critiquing, this is exactly what is needed here. I don't have an issue with my daughter's scar neither does she. I am not upset or offended and your advice is priceless to me and I'm sure other people. We are all learning new things from you and are very fortunate to have such professional, qualified people here, so if you stop giving advice and guidance, how will I learn the right way?

Thanks Vernon, I knew that I was in for some meaty critique when I posted this image but that's the whole point. I get fed up with other sites where I just get the ... nice shot, good capture comments, it doesn't satisfy me any more and regard DP Now as my Holy Grail of learning and the community that have seen my work improve since joining the site a few years ago know how difficult it can be sometimes.

Forget about the scar on this image for now, lesson learned. If 99 people like any one photograph, 1 would not whether it was technically perfect or not. You can't please all of the people all of the time, but you can please yourself!

Forever grateful for all critique ...

Gina

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: Desaturated Portrait

The scar is not an issue for me! I was just wondering if you had used a program of sorts to soften or automatically retouch the skin? The reason I ask is that there seems to be a few areas that appear blue & lacking detail! (Middle of forehead & centre of arm) Similar to the effect blurring would have! Then some areas look over sharpened in darker side of forehead! This pertains to the larger version! I like the graininess or texture, but think it would be better if texture or film grain were used on overall portrait, not just darkened areas! I guess also the effect of lighting! Looking forward to seeing posts of your pics using method/steps kindly offered by forum member!

[vlarcombe]

Re: Desaturated Portrait

Hi,

once again, my comment about the scar was to illustrate the concept of texture created by light direction. in the list of shots that i mentioned, shot 1 will create lighting more fashion like and the scar will not be very noticable.

i think i'm going sit out a bit.

I think it would be a shame if you sat out, I enjoy reading your comments and have just enjoyed reading your blog entries (I'm not here as often as I like which is why I was just catching up).

I realise that you probably don't care but I took you comment on the scar to be more than just an example of what happens with strong side light, particularly when coupled with your response of "our job is to minimize life's imperfections". As a professional photographer I'm sure your customers appreciate your efforts however I personally prefer a more "raw" style of portrait, at the end of the day it's just my preference and as I said in my original post I thought this was a stunning picture. It touched
me emotionally in a way that none of the other pictures I looked at on Friday night did. I did not originally post a response, I logged out and started getting ready for bed. I came back because I felt that I should let Gina know what I thought of the picture.

As I said originally, I'm sure Gina will learn a lot if she follows your shot suggestions, there's nothing like playing with light to see the effects.

Vernon

[kennykodak]

Re: Desaturated Portrait

Vernon.
i am a full time professional photographer who has spent a lifetime of trying to make people look better than they really are. personally, i have very photos that include myself and have a difficult time looking into a mirror trying to shave (that's why i have a beard). after receiving my masters of photography degree i attended a week long course for masters on judging professional photographs in national and international print competitions, i served two years at the internationals with your countrymen Peter Dywer and Charles Green of whom i still consider friends. since then i received my masters in electronic imaging. i teach basic photography and photoshop at the University of Cincinnati in the evenings. my intent was and is to offer basic instruction and advanced critic (where requested). i will never say anything hurtful to anyone in a critique. however, i must be honest and not blow sunshine either.
if i come on too strong, i'm sorry, it's not intended.

it seemed that this was a good forum and needed a little infusion of enthusiasm.

john

[vlarcombe]

Re: Desaturated Portrait

Hi John,

I'm not a professional photographer or professional communicator and I'd have hated it if a comment of mine might have contributed to your loss from the forum.

I've been more active in the past but, for my sins, I'm a professional software developer and after spending 60+ hours a week at the keyboard working I often don't want to spend too much time on it for fun (I'm getting a backlog of pictures waiting attention).

Like you I try to be honest and never set out to offend, I always try to consider my responses (which is one reason why I don't post as much as I'd like, I agonise over words).

Vernon.

P.S. Not really the place for this comment but I look forward to reading more of you blogs - how about something on how colour can effect the mood of an image - you touch on it in your fast food example but I'm sure you could enlarge.