PHOTOS: Before / After attempt.

[Maxxum5]

Friends - I am inspired by M Powered's amazing Photochop skills and although I am no where near his expertise, I am trying my hardest to capture his talent. But, I think this is a near-miss. I critiqued myself and see that I may have over-done the skin tones to a point that she don't look "real" in a way. More, un-natural maybe? Tell it like it is, but be gentle. I spent 3 hours trying to do it right.....and maybe I shouldn't be up from 2:30 am to 5:30 am doing this type of stuff, huh?

The second photo was touched up a bit less and looks more natural to me, but I still want that beach babe silky skin glow that M Powered seems to bring out in all his models.

What am I doing wrong?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/aliasid98498/PICT0024BeforeAfter.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/aliasid98498/PICT0044a.jpg



One more:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/aliasid98498/PICT0082after.jpg

[chauncey]

Lighting is terrible in the first set which I sure your mentor doesent use. What is wrong with her left eye?

Second two are better.

[Maxxum5]

Lighting is terrible in the first set which I sure your mentor doesent use. What is wrong with her left eye?

Second two are better.


I think I may have caught her getting ready to blink. Maybe her eyes are out of synch? Hahahaha..... As for lighting. I made the worst mistakes. Lighting was behind her, no reflectors, internal pop-up flash. I broke all the rules and adhered to none. It was spontaneous without any planning or "Wait, wait, wait" And well.....At least the second two got better. I think overall the 3rd is "best" of this lighting nightmare. And you are correct, my mentor may be embarrassed of my sad attempt. But hey, that's why I got to learn more and rather than pressing the shutter release, STOP and take a look at my surroundings and evaluate the outcome PRIOR to so maybe, I won't have to spend 3 hours trying to correct for lighting nightmares.

Well, thanks for the feedback.

[navy.wife_2004]

ok. so it doesn't fix your 'photographing errors' discussed or the eye issue mentioned, but here is an edit, that i did for fun and practice, playing around.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb48/webfrndz/Adjusted%20Photo%20Colors/lady1.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb48/webfrndz/Adjusted%20Photo%20Colors/lady2.jpg

[entrophy]

I like the edits you did navy, I suggest to the author of this thread to utilize the same post processing technique as well!

[Maxxum5]

I like the edits you did navy, I suggest to the author of this thread to utilize the same post processing technique as well!


Oh trust me, I am all for mentorship because I pick it up easily. I learn more by doing rather than reading. I have tried reading long winded techniques and I am always sidetracked. I need the down and dirty bulletized instructions.

But appreciate your support in my quest for flawless skin.

[entrophy]

Oh trust me, I am all for mentorship because I pick it up easily. I learn more by doing rather than reading. I have tried reading long winded techniques and I am always sidetracked. I need the down and dirty bulletized instructions.

But appreciate your support in my quest for flawless skin.

....the girl in the photo is good lookin' too. :oops:

[Maxxum5]

NAVY - How did you do that? I couldn't see your edits at work. Damn military computers.....

Looks better than mine. How are you laying the "skin" so it doesn't look like spray paint? I used the air brush tool set at 15%.

Any helpful technique or steps what you do 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.....?

Nice edits. Thanks

[navy.wife_2004]

okay, i might have did a bit of sharpening first.
i took the makeup tool, (the blemish tool) fixed a dark spot on the forehead, i think it was
then i think i did skin smoothing, prolly 50 or 70% percent, you don't want it too look 'fake'.
then i changed the brightness and contrast some, to add some pop to it. can't tell you exactly what i did, but some of that. just play around with it, until you get what you like.

i want to think that is all i did.... but that was yesterday, i've already forget, but i know those are my general steps...

[navy.wife_2004]

I did add a new duplicate layer, between each one or two steps.. not sure if that really has any importance or not...?