My Recent Work - Please Critique

[Miss Kelly]

I just love this photograph even though I should have placed a reflector under his nose and besides the fact that the hat is blown out a bit.

On this last photograph, I used Photoblast's action - Rustic Charm. I love it!

 

[Miss Kelly]

LOL He looks like he's going to fall out of the photograph in #2. I'll straighten him up for printing.

 

[deletedpenguin]

These photos aren't bad at all. Have you tried using photoshop/lightroom (or whatever you use) to recover some of the info in the blown out areas? Also on the last one there looks like there is a tad green tint to it.

 

[photo_chick]

He's a cutie. I do think the hat is a bit blown out, and agree on the reflector like you said.

Only one thing I would really change... The colors on his clothes are very saturated, and I like it... but I might go in and boost his eye color just a tad. Not so much that it looks fake, but just a touch to compete with the red in his shirt. That is just what I would do though.

I love the horse! We have one of those and DS always sings "Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy" when he is on it. (Thanks to my DH for teaching him that song!)

 

[Miss Kelly]

Thanks for the comments. Yes, I know the hat is blown out in places. And the reflector should have been closer. Live and Learn.

The saturation is due to a color pop action. I have the original photographs too. The last one has a Rustic Charm action applied. I guess its suppose to be a bit yellow/green? lol

Oh, and I did pop the eyes. Some better than others.

I only have Elements 4.0 but I'm looking into getting the big version (CS2).

Thanks for looking!

 

[fitzperry]

Only one thing I would really change... The colors on his clothes are very saturated, and I like it... but I might go in and boost his eye color just a tad. Not so much that it looks fake, but just a touch to compete with the red in his shirt. That is just what I would do though.

Would you do that by selecting his eyes and boosting the saturation, or is there some other method that would work better?

Cute pictures Miss Kelly!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Would you do that by selecting his eyes and boosting the saturation, or is there some other method that would work better?

I'd do a feathered selection of the eyes and put them on a new layer. Then I would adjust the luminance and saturation of the blue channel on that layer. I'm inclined to believe that slightly lightening his eyes would make them pop more than boosting the saturation.

 

[fitzperry]

I'd do a feathered selection of the eyes and put them on a new layer. Then I would adjust the luminance and saturation of the blue channel on that layer. I'm inclined to believe that slightly lightening his eyes would make them pop more than boosting the saturation.

Thanks!

 

[photo_chick]

I'd do a feathered selection of the eyes and put them on a new layer. Then I would adjust the luminance and saturation of the blue channel on that layer. I'm inclined to believe that slightly lightening his eyes would make them pop more than boosting the saturation.

You are probably right about just lightening the eyes. My kids both have brown eyes so I don't really get to do a lot besides maybe play with the highlights in their eyes!

If I were doing it I would copy the image into a new layer, adjust that layer, then use a layer mask on it to bring in only as much as I wanted.

Gotta love Photoshop. 20 different ways to get one thing done!

 

[DVC Jen]

Good job. I like them a lot - I prefer the one with the dark background. I think you can see him better in that one.. but it is all just personal preference.

 

[steery1]

You are probably right about just lightening the eyes. My kids both have brown eyes so I don't really get to do a lot besides maybe play with the highlights in their eyes!

If I were doing it I would copy the image into a new layer, adjust that layer, then use a layer mask on it to bring in only as much as I wanted.

Gotta love Photoshop. 20 different ways to get one thing done!

I wish someone would do a tutorial on how this is done or post a link to one. I'd really like to try this myself.
The photos are beautiful. An adorable little boy.

 

[Miss Kelly]

Good job. I like them a lot - I prefer the one with the dark background. I think you can see him better in that one.. but it is all just personal preference.

Thanks. I only got a fews shots of him on the black background unfortunately. He was getting really tired by then (and I ran out of treats LOL). I did get some good shots on my All Natural background too. I'm especially proud of the white background because I've worked so hard on perfecting this look. Whites are difficult because the background needs to be blown out, but the subject needs to be perfectly exposed.

If anyone was wondering, I had 2 Alien Bee 800s with umbrellas attached on the backdrop(white seamless paper), 1 Alien Bee 800 with a Giant Softbox in the front, and a reflector opposite the softbox. For the black, I had only the Giant Softbox and the reflector up front.

 

[woodlandsparty]

Thanks. I only got a fews shots of him on the black background unfortunately. He was getting really tired by then (and I ran out of treats LOL). I did get some good shots on my All Natural background too. I'm especially proud of the white background because I've worked so hard on perfecting this look. Whites are difficult because the background needs to be blown out, but the subject needs to be perfectly exposed.

If anyone was wondering, I had 2 Alien Bee 800s with umbrellas attached on the backdrop(white seamless paper), 1 Alien Bee 800 with a Giant Softbox in the front, and a reflector opposite the softbox. For the black, I had only the Giant Softbox and the reflector up front.

I was going to guess Alien Bees....they always seem to give such a distinct look with the High Key photographs. Your coloring turned out great....the skin tones are spot on. Great job....and cute little boy! What are you using for the backdrop....seamless paper?? Plexi on the bottom?

 

[Miss Kelly]

I was going to guess Alien Bees....they always seem to give such a distinct look with the High Key photographs. Your coloring turned out great....the skin tones are spot on. Great job....and cute little boy! What are you using for the backdrop....seamless paper?? Plexi on the bottom?

Yes, I love my Bees. They are fantastic and easy to adjust.

Thank you for your comments. I feel like my coloring has improved dramatically since buying the Expodisc, especially for high key shots.

The backdrop is white seamless paper, although anything white would do. I plan on using fabric when my paper runs out. That is tileboard on the floor. It was $12 from Lowes. The black is also seamless paper.

This backdrop is a Silverlake: All Natural. I it too.

And I just have to show you my cute teacup! A Mother's Day project that I'm working on.

 

[photo_chick]

Did you get the giant tea cup at Wal-Mart? They had them here and I am kicking myself now after seeing your shot for not getting the Texas flag one they had at my store!

 

[Miss Kelly]

Did you get the giant tea cup at Wal-Mart? They had them here and I am kicking myself now after seeing your shot for not getting the Texas flag one they had at my store!

Yes! They are all the rage at other photography forums. I think they are cute but I don't know how much use I'll get out of it.

 

[Sha]

Love the teacup shot! would be good for animals too hmmmm
and your like rustler... reminded me of my grandfather with the red bandana hangin out his back pocket. Very nice shots!