close-up face shot

[gail]

would like your comments on this photo.

http://members.aol.com/gail4ev/joe04.jpg

[G3]

It looks like there was a particular mood you were going for in this photograph. It very nearly succeeds, most of the problems can maybe be fixed in Photoshop. The shadow area on the subject's left ear and hair on the left side of the face needs to be lightened up just a tiny bit while maintaining background separation.

The other thing, which can't be fixed with Photoshop (unless this is a crop and the hair is there in the original) is that the top of the subject's head is cut off.

It would be helpful if you would post along with the photos some basic information on how the image was made...lighting, camera, lens, exposure info, any post processing done, etc.

[gail]

Again thanks G3, And how to I go about fixing that in Photoshop? I filled in the background with the black in Photoshop to take away some of the things just sticking out in the photo. That was taking the eye away from the subject.

I wanted it to be focus on the face only. So where do I go from here to fix it? I have the original if I post can you fix it for me? LOL maybe asking to much. And the top of the head, Is cut off a bit. :roll: :lol:

[gail]

here's the original...

http://members.aol.com/gail4ev/joecol.jpg

[G3]

OK...I'll give it a shot. Give me some time, though. I (pretending to be) working right now so it may be a bit before I can get to it...

I'll post the steps I used to correct it.

[gail]

Thanks I appreciate it much! Your so kind. :lol: :D

One reason it looks grainy I had the ISO up on 400, for another shot I was doing and forgot to put it back down. I was trying to get more light in the room. It was taken at night and I didn't have much light. And I tried the flash,, and it put to much light on the face the face, looked all washed out. But I hope you can fix it for me. Thank You,

[G3]

OK..I made some quick adjustments:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-4/166972/joecol1.jpg

Bear in mind that I did not take a lot of time with it...just to sort of show you what I was talking about.

1. Use lasso tool and select subject.
2. create layer via copy
3. invert selection
4. use brush tool to paint background with a medium blue-gray
5. invert selection again
6 use curves to adjust shadows (make them open up just a little)
7. convert to grayscale
8. flatten and save as jpeg.

I did not crop the image down to the size you had...all I did was lighten up the shadow areas on the left side of the head and lighten the background a little. The selection isn't perfect, you could take your time and do a lot better, but this just gives the idea of a little more (very little) shadow detail and little more separation from the background.

Before doing step 9, you could use an unsharp mask if you wanted to, if you want to sharpen the image a little. If you wanted to have the little bit of soft-focus, then it's fine as-is.

[stopbath]

Personally, I like the feel of the first posted version better. The black background works. The ear in the shadow is great as it is (oh maybe a bit darker could work too) and the top crop line is good.

We don't always need the full detail, or image for a photo to be complete.

Good job of fixing.

[timmyquest]

Personally, I like the feel of the first posted version better. The black background works. The ear in the shadow is great as it is (oh maybe a bit darker could work too) and the top crop line is good.

We don't always need the full detail, or image for a photo to be complete.

Good job of fixing.

Agreed

[gail]

Thank you G3, it looks good I see what you mean by the background separation and the shadows, thanks for giving it a try. I believe though I still like the first one something about the black b/g does it for me. but I like your version too it shows more detail, You did an excellent,, job thank you. :lol: :D :)

[G3]

Yeah, it's a matter of personal preference. There are lots of different ways to do anything.....

It's a nice portrait any way you decide to do it.