Can anyone help here...

[brynze]

I love the attached picture and would like to use it professionally for something very specific in the entertainment industry. I love the lighting and do not want to lose the element of mystery it exudes. But can anyone tell me how to bring up the eyes in a clear crisp way in photoshop so that the essense of the picture isn't lost but the photo looks good, and professional enough, more clear, and not so shadowy around the eyes.

P&T for any advice.

[Baadil]

Welcome to POTN.

I am not sure if you can make this picture intoa 'Professional' photo. I think with all the PP, it will remain a picture, not a portrait.

You can sharpen the eyes a bit but evantually you will hit pp limit because of lack of details in the original.

[brynze]

Oh well, bummer.... Thanks so much...

[bckane]

There is really not much you can do with your photo, seem to be a bit on the noisey side to me. But I went ahead and removes some noise and used a bit of USM around the eye area.....
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a276/bckane/redone.jpg

[brynze]

Oh my Gosh - thank you so much - u rawk! I like it - it's cool. the one side still has the eye lash shadows, but is clearer underneath, and the other is still dark. It's a perfect touch - thank you very much!!!

[RedHot]

It looks like a simple self portrait at arm's length with a P&S camera. I'd try shooting it again, but for use as a "professional" portrait? I wouldn't suggest it.

It might be ok if you reduce this size as posted to a very small size for website use only, but not for printing it anything bigger than 1.5" x 1"

[poloman]

I would suggest trying again since you like it so much.
The next time, get a nice crisp, clear picture. You can then blur the areas you wish in photoshop to add an air of mystery.

[rammy]

I would suggest trying again since you like it so much.
The next time, get a nice crisp, clear picture. You can then blur the areas you wish in photoshop to add an air of mystery.

You could try the same pose again in a brighter light using your Rebel XTI and make sure there is a faster shutter speed so the image isn't that blurred. The Nikon Coolpix that took this shot took it at 1/30 sec at F3.5 with a low 50 ISO and the flash fired with auto white balance. If you can on the XTi (don't know it too well) dial down the power of the flash if you can (FEC = Flash Exposure Compensation) so it works close to the flash of the Coolpix.

So with your Rebel, try similar settings but make sure the shutter speed is faster.

Then, you can just mask in the eyes, or practice with different settings and you may like what the XTi comes up with.