Stepping outside of my processing comfort zone...

[AndreaBFS]

I've been kind of bored with my processing lately, so I've been trying to mix it up. The first few have some alternate processing. Well, I guess most of them are a little bit of a departure, just some more than others. All just snapshots -- nothing posed or set up. My studio stuff should arrive tomorrow from B&H -- I am SO excited I won't be able to sleep tonight!

1.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/2902479429_dfa382654a_o.jpg

2.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2900629789_f0131938b1_o.jpg

3.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/2890524690_a71fb2fd8e_o.jpg

4.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/2903322134_b269762256_o.jpg

5.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/2900629875_19a4e5d527_o.jpg

6.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/2900767292_02aeb72c31_o.jpg

7.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/2884508224_87e1f8caf1_o.jpg

8. Can't resist putting this one in there... this whole post focuses on my daughter because I have bee focusing on her more lately, trying to help her image count catch up with my son's! This is just a simple 11x14 storyboard because I couldn't choose!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/2900629969_24c5254226_o.jpg

[NSG40D]

The first looks a tad light, but that may be your intent. I love the rest.

[shannyD]

im not a huge fan of 1. but that is just me.. it makes everything look flat..

all of the other ones are bright.. detailed, and very crisp.. excellent. wanna share what you did?

shan

[AndreaBFS]

Something about the first one works for me, and something doesn't. I am not sure. It actually looked different to me in Photoshop, so I'm wondering if I just need to tweak it a little more for web display.

I don't remember most of what I did on these, but just looking for more color to pull out and really going beyond my general feeling of where the brightness should be. When I think I had them bright enough, I selected the highlights (ctrl-alt-`) and masked them off, then pushed the brightness up at least another 20 or so points or used a screen layer over everything. I've also been adding more contrast with a luminosity blend mode, to protect the skin tones.What else? Just experimental changes in curves, but as you can tell they aren't consistent because I haven't really developed a repeatable process yet.

[FocalPrincess]

I like them, including the first one. Can't wait till you're able to share what you did. ;)

Sleep tonight though, because you're not going to want to after your stuff gets here. Heehee. Enjoy "playing" with it!

[Kauaicrazed]

Love #4 and #7! But all very nice. You always do nice work! And your kiddos are so cute!

[Meeshee]

Yep, not crazy about #1, but really enjoyed looking at the rest. you have some beautiful color in them, and nice eyes.

[AndreaBFS]

OK, I give! Thanks for the feedback on that one. I processed an alternate version in the same style as the other one from today. :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/2903143853_a8bee38724_o.jpg

[shannyD]

i like that way better. its cleaner looking to me.

[milorad]

I think I get the idea with #1... but I think everyone just instinctively reacts to there being no blackpoint.

Images with no blackpoint look like the gamma is all wrong. If you washed out the background and the shadows in the first, but were careful to keep things like the eyelashes dark enough, I think even something that small in detail would sit better with people.

Just a thought...

Anyway, your work is great... but you don't need me to tell you. Top stuff.

[mamato3]

very, very nice.

#7 is my favorite. Your kids are adorable!

[adysko]

I like all of them. Second attempt on No1 is much better. In fact, it has possibly become my favourite in terms of processing. The rest are really fantastic but personally I feel they are a bit overdone. Just a personal taste.
I also had a peep at you website to see your 'comfort zone'. If I was there, I would probably not leave it for a looong time :)... but perhaps for you it has been long enough.

[mamabravo]

what ate you camera settings for these

there very sharp

[conrad_voldo7]

Number 5 is excellent! Shows the action very well. Great job :)

[Flo]

Marvelous series!! Love the processing.

[Tee Why]

Looks very nice and stylized.
:)

[AndreaBFS]

Thanks for the comments, all. I really need to figure out how to repeat the stuff I've tried. I'm sitting here on the edge of my seat waiting for my B&H delivery!

what ate you camera settings for these

there very sharp

Exif is intact on most of them. They were taken on different days, different times. For me, shutter speed is the biggest factor in sharpness. I have come to terms with the fact that I really can't go below 1/160 at 50mm if I want a sharp picture.

[Kristy]

The sharpness looks really great. I'm partial to the B&W images... Really strong work here! :) Great job!

[NSG40D]

OK, I give! Thanks for the feedback on that one. I processed an alternate version in the same style as the other one from today. :)



I like this one much better

[Kauaicrazed]

I really love your work and want to ask you a newbie question. How do you determine what settings you are going to use? Do you use a light meter?

[AndreaBFS]

I really love your work and want to ask you a newbie question. How do you determine what settings you are going to use? Do you use a light meter?

Oooh. I wish I had a light meter. I really, really want a light meter. So many things on my wish list. I just spot meter on the most important part (the skin). I used to just point the camera there and set, but now I've found that walking up nice and close to the subject so there isn't a lot of other light interfering really works better for me.

I take a reading, push it up by about a 1 1/3 - 2 stops (because my kids and most people here in the tundra have pretty fair skin), then take a test shot and adjust from there. It's been working pretty well for me. When I use off camera flash, all of this goes right out the window, of course... which is why I really want a light meter!!

I had time to take exactly 3 test shots with my new seamless before I had to send my son to bed, so I'm working on processing those now. :)