PS tweaked portraits with a single softbox (4 pics)

[toddb]

It's always cool when my daughter will sit long enough to pose. I got a couple shots in anyway. I'm really starting to like post processing photos but don't get allot of time to do it with work being so busy lately. Here our a few I've been working on. We do comb her hair if we can catch her, lol!

http://www.toddburke.net/dayshot/CRW_7696_2.jpg

http://www.toddburke.net/dayshot/CRW_7738_Tint.jpg

http://www.toddburke.net/dayshot/Iz_Hat_trio_old%20school%20tint.jpg

http://www.toddburke.net/dayshot/Iz_Hat_trio.jpg

These were all taken with the Canon EF 28-135IS lens in the f/11-f13 range at around 1/125sec shutter speeds at iso 100. This is what is called a antique tinting I believe. What you do is you set on top of your original layer a desaturation of the picture (here I used channel mixer and set it to monochrome and set red to 0, green 50, and blue 50 to make it pop a little more). Then dub the original layer ON TOP of that desaturation layer (you'll change the blending layer later). Gaus blur it allot (I used 10 for the setting, features should still be able to be made out). Then set the blending layer type to "soft light", and wallah! I then flatten and sharpened to post here. The second one is actually a color balance tweak but kind of the same as the first.

[Michaelmjc]

Very nice, I like the three pictures in sepia. Very nice.

[Kiernan]

They're all adorable, but the middle two are excellent. Gonna have to try that myself, I think.

[kawter2]

#2 and #3 Are Super!

[ayotnoms]

you do good work, sir
If your daughter grows up to be a model, she'll have one helluva portfolio LOL

[cactusclay]

Nice shots.

[flyfisher]

Very nice shots, #3 is my favorite.

[Wavy C]

Wow, that first shot is amazing. I really like the way her eyes are lit and the cool feel to it. One of the best portraits I've seen for a while.

Oh, and I seem to remember someone on here the other day saying that the 28-135mm wasn't a very sharp lens. Looks pretty good here!

[Pontio]

I'm with Wavy C. I like 'em all but love the feel of that first shot and the expression you captured. Very very nice.

[toddb]

Thanks for all your encouraging comments. You make me feel as if some day, just maybe I might be able to quit my day job and become a photographer (that makes money).

As far as the Canon EF28-135IS goes, you can get really good shots with it...it just takes a little more work I think to get it. I don't have any L series glass so I'm not going to pretend I know what the difference would be like, I'm currently living the American dream of being in debt to my eyeballs so I haven't been able to get rid of enough debt to add any more to it. The only other lens I have is the 50F1.8 and I'd use it more but I live in a small apartment and can't get back far enough to get the subject in frame.

I believe why some may not be getting good shots with this lens, and perhaps others, is that you kind of have to figure out where the sweet spot is. I have to tweak the contrast of every shot, contrast is kind of weak which is why I shoot RAW now exclusively to make these adjustments. As you can see, you can fix quite a bit with Photoshop, which is why I bought it before a L series lens, it's amazing what you can do with it. See THIS THREAD (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=38424) to see another post I posted on this subject. The problem with staying in auto mode is that the camera likes to be wide open (especially with flash) and that's not so sharp with allot of lens. The other big thing with these above shots is lighting. Being able to stop down the aperture means you need a healthy light source. One that isn't too harsh and controllable. I could only afford one light, so I got a softbox (see THIS THREAD (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=51658) to see which one I got). That really made a big difference with this lens...I can now get close, get the DOF I want and fill the frame. So this lens is really good if you have PS and light.

[shiningstardv]

WOW. These shots are wonderful. And your daughter is beautiful and very photogenic.

[vinnyveez]

not a big fan of the last 2, kinda cheesy. however the first 2 are awesome, with number 2 being my favorite. great shot there. the other 2 pictures might be good but there is too much too look at, would be interested in seeing the pictures posted like the first 2, solo. great work.

[cmM]

very nice. I actually like how her hair falls on her face in #1 and the side light. They're all good.

I've got a hat just like your daughter's :-P