Experimenting with Fiance using new 30D

[csm328]

All comments and recommendations greatly appreciated.

[hijinks]

There is too much hair in her face. It looks like it was a windy day.

[csm328]

I was trying to gain some sort of symetry with the grass behind her so i wanted her hair messy, grassy and moving. if it's too busy then, point well taken.

[csm328]

Here's another varient. Only very slight PS adjustments.

[ABrownPhoto]

Nice shot above this post! much better without the hair all over :)

I like the B&W conversion and her squint! It's a really nice shot!

[hijinks]

I am just saying that she is a pretty and the hair is covering that up. To tell you the truth I did not notice the grass in the background. Oh yea don't take anything I say to heart I don't know what I am talking about.

[hijinks]

You posted the B&W while I was posting my last message. The last one is great, nice conversion, and expression. It looks like she is in deep thought.

[rowdyred94]

It's a beautiful shot. I thought it was too dark, though.

[csm328]

Yeah, she's thinking that I'm an idiot for making her let her hair go messy and then straighten it out again...lol. It's all good. Nothing taken to heart. Just explaining my thought process.

[csm328]

Thanks Rowdy. Nice edit. It does look better and emphasises the point that i need a 580EX flash with a little diffuser. Good thing about RAW is that I can edit it. Bad thing about editing is that I'm not very good at it yet. Thanks again!

[GyRob]

she has lovly feature's and i like the way you caught her in the first shot with the hair blowing as it looks so natural.
Rob.

[wagonwheel]

I like the first one--the wind blown look works for me. The second one is also nice. I think the adjusted b & w (by rowdyred) is better.

[Broncosaurus]

I like the color shot. The hair across her face doesn't bother me at all. IMO, there isn't enough contrast in these to make a good B&W. Your B&W is still nice to look at, but I credit that more to the model than to the technique.

[White_Marten]

I like all of them! Lovely lady, you are one lucky cat!Congrats on new camera - enjoy!!

[csm328]

Chris, how would I improve the contrast of the shot pre-editing? Need some help with my technique.

[Miniflash]

Very pretty subject ..congrads on that edit well done

[PhotoMonger]

Lovely shots, I really like the composition in the BW shot, great face shape. I agree with Broncosaurus, it needs more contrast. Possibly an orange or red filter. I don't know if people use filters with digital but I used to use them alot with 35mm and loved it.

[krazziecliff]

I like the first shot, with a little PP, its a keeper...and ur one lucky bum!! hehehe, enjoy the camera!!

[Broncosaurus]

When shooting B&W film, like PhotoMonger mentioned, you use colored filters to ad contrast. The color of the filter depends on the color you want to bring out. In PS I've been using Image>Adjument>Channel Mixer to change colors and and convert to Monochrome. I know there are numerous other ways to do it and get better results, but I'm still a noob at digital PP.
Here's a good tutorial: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/color-black-white.htm

[csm328]

thanks mate. really appreciate your knowledge sharing.

[Jaime]

I think both shots are well done. I for one do not mind the messy hair in front of her face because i can see precisely your point about the symmetry you were looking for. Sometimes it is hard when things are posted and critiques requested because 1) for one not everyone is ever going to like everything you do no matter how perfect it may be, so consequently everyone will have an opinion one way or the other just as I have with this point, and 2) we have to learn to stick to our guns if we intended for a shot to come out how it did, because the long and the short of it is that no matter what the rest think, if you the author like it then that should be enough. I am not trying to be critical of anyone here just stating a point or two.

[squashed]

I like them both !! You are one lucky guy,she is quite lovely.

[joegolf68]

Oh yea don't take anything I say to heart I don't know what I am talking about.

I think you just made my signature! I will see if I can add that after I make this post. lol

She is very pretty. Reminds me of the Joey Heatherton look (got to be old to know that name, but she was hot.) I like the first pic a lot. In the second, I would pp her blemishes out. She is beautiful with them, but take them out and it would be better unless that would upset her.

If she is half as nice as she is beautiful, you will be a happy man for many years to come. Congrats. (edited to remove my error.)

[Boxlock]

I kinda like your first pic with the hair in her face...

kinda has an "pop artist" record cover look.

[csm328]

umm...ok joegold. i didn't spell it 'finance'. i spelt it 'fiance' without the inflection obove the 'e'. ok, here it is: Fiancé; happy? thanks for the spelling lesson though but, back at ya, it is not spelt with a double 'e'. ;)

[hijinks]

I think you just made my signature! I will see if I can add that after I make this post. lol

She is very pretty. Reminds me of the Joey Heatherton look (got to be old to know that name, but she was hot.) I like the first pic a lot. In the second, I would pp her blemishes out. She is beautiful with them, but take them out and it would be better unless that would upset her.

Oh, small point for the future, she is your fiancee not finance, which is how you buy a car on credit. :) Who cares, if she is half as nice as she is beautiful, you will be a happy man for many years to come. Congrats.
I am told that all of the time you can feel free to use it.

[joegolf68]

You are correct, I misread and said finance, instead of fiance, my apologies.

Your fiancee/fiance is beautiful and I prefer the first shot and agree the hair is not an issue.

Again, my apologies for my error. :oops:

Joe

[njnightsky]

Great image I took a try at it too.

[rowdyred94]

Bah. Those aren't flaws, they're character.

[csm328]

ok, need some help making smooth skin textures in PS. anyone point me in the right direction? my photographic eyes is good. my PS and editing skills suck!

[Rafromak]

Even with all the hair the photo looks good, but her face and eyes need a little more light. She is a gorgeous!

[Rafromak]

Lovely shots, I really like the composition in the BW shot, great face shape. I agree with Broncosaurus, it needs more contrast. Possibly an orange or red filter. I don't know if people use filters with digital but I used to use them alot with 35mm and loved it.

The camera software can be used to set filters, as well as PhotoShop. Filters work great, but I forget to use them :)

[csm328]

just playing with some filters now. also, using the little 'band aid' thing in PS to fix spots etc. we're doing a magazine cover this weekend so i'll have a new product early next week.

[rowdyred94]

Yup, the healing brush and the spot healing brush are your best bet unless you need a total skin fix. Us them as small and sparingly as possible to avoid artifacts.

[njnightsky]

ok, need some help making smooth skin textures in PS. anyone point me in the right direction? my photographic eyes is good. my PS and editing skills suck!

Yup the healing brush thats what I used.

[coreypolis]

Need a photographer for your wedding? ;)

[csm328]

yeah, my other photography pulled out. if you were in miami, i'd consider it. at this stage, i'm doing most of it myself and my best man (he's flying in from Australia) will be doing some more of it. everyone at the wedding is getting those disposable cams to play with and I pretty much know the shots I want. I can set the cam and he can 'point and shoot'. He's a Nikkon user so I might need to explain things to him twice ;)

[coreypolis]

yeah, my other photography pulled out. if you were in miami, i'd consider it. at this stage, i'm doing most of it myself and my best man (he's flying in from Australia) will be doing some more of it. everyone at the wedding is getting those disposable cams to play with and I pretty much know the shots I want. I can set the cam and he can 'point and shoot'. He's a Nikkon user so I might need to explain things to him twice ;)
no no no, you need someone who can put in some effort and let you relax, theres no way you'll have the time or energy to do that. Trust me.

In all seriousness, I can reccommend you someone in that area if you give me the details. Your fiance and you will be much happier after the fact, photos are all you have once its over, and disposeables and some candids are nice, but a beautiful album will let her relive it all over again.

I know quite a few pros int hat area, so PM if you want some good leads