Just Me...again.

I look forward to the day when I can actually photograph someone other than myself. I knew what type of shots I wanted today, but I knew getting them would be rather hard...since I'm photographer and model.
Oh well. Inspired by some awesomeness in my life. Someone here on POTN is helping me build and set-up my website. I can say I'm geeked, and it really makes this whole business seem real! Its made me REALLY want to get out there and photograph people...I just don't know any people to photograph at this time. I'll figure something out in the near future.

Anyway, here is Week 12 of myself. Somewhat normal this week(compared to being abducted last week), but I'm pretty happy with them.(Even though I didn't want to go out and shoot. I'm glad I did, because today is gloomy as ever)

Shot with my Rebel and the 85mm I'm borrowing(thinking about buying it). Please CC anything. Comp(though I have to say that is SUPER hard to do.. haha), settings, lighting, PP whatever. Tear them apart.

Thanks for looking,
-Alex
as usual, there is some more on my flickr album


1)Used a flash. I have an OCF, but I have to use it on my camera for it in order to flash...not sure if this is a good or bad thing... ha.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …sphotographer/5​541739324/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …sphotographer/5​541741024/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …sphotographer/5​541161259/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …sphotographer/5​541818398/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …sphotographer/5​541159759/

I think the only problem is that your skin tone blends in a lot with the background, so you could play around with that a bit, but there are certainly no awkward shadows, so thumbs up to that.

Let me just say, you look BEAUTIFUL in #4.

MissCJ wrote in post #12055654
I think the only problem is that your skin tone blends in a lot with the background, so you could play around with that a bit, but there are certainly no awkward shadows, so thumbs up to that.

Let me just say, you look BEAUTIFUL in #4.

I use LR3 - how does one adjust skin tone in there? I haven't been able to figure it out yet. haha. I just need to get tan that's all. SUMMER PLEASE COME!

And thank you. (:

Hahaha, yes I see your predicament. I wouldn't change your skin tone, IMO, I'd fiddle with the background. That said, I haven't used LR in a million years, I use PS CS5, and if you ever have occasion to use that, you can mess around with layer masks and so on. It's a good time.

Use the adjustment brush in LR and brush over just the area that you want to adjust. After brushing over it you will see several options one of the options is color you can use this to add a tint to the area you want to change. Play with it but I generally only use a small amount it is like using a Hue Saturation brush on the image and you only need a little most of the time. I use this all the time to adjust color cast if they are in just one area of the photo from a reflected light in the scene. You could use this to give yourself a tan or change the color of the background slightly to add more separation to the scene. Since you have image editing OK on I took one of your photos into LR and did just that. I used three adjustment brushes on the image one on the background with a blue tint added to remove the yellow in it and add some separation to the subject. Then one on your skin with a touch of orange to give you a more tan look. And lastly one on the jeans coat to add more blue to it as well, not that it needed it just to show what can be done. All of this took me maybe three minutes if that it is rather simple to do and can go a long way in helping pull the focus to the subject. I will post them side by side so you can see the difference.

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Slaterza wrote in post #12056601
Use the adjustment brush in LR and brush over just the area that you want to adjust. After brushing over it you will see several options one of the options is color you can use this to add a tint to the area you want to change. Play with it but I generally only use a small amount it is like using a Hue Saturation brush on the image and you only need a little most of the time. I use this all the time to adjust color cast if they are in just one area of the photo from a reflected light in the scene. You could use this to give yourself a tan or change the color of the background slightly to add more separation to the scene. Since you have image editing OK on I took one of your photos into LR and did just that. I used three adjustment brushes on the image one on the background with a blue tint added to remove the yellow in it and add some separation to the subject. Then one on your skin with a touch of orange to give you a more tan look. And lastly one on the jeans coat to add more blue to it as well, not that it needed it just to show what can be done. All of this took me maybe three minutes if that it is rather simple to do and can go a long way in helping pull the focus to the subject. I will post them side by side so you can see the difference.

Oh wow! I just figured out the brushes for iris enhance and sin smoothing, but for some ODD reason I never thought about using them for the background and such. Haha. Thanks so much for explaining and showing an example! This is why I like this place so much - its great for learning!(And I figure its best to learn off of my self portraits rather than a paying clients. haha)
Thanks again.

Really like #4 Alex - love the B&W I'd say use a brush and dodge the eyes a little....but that's just me.

My $0.02 would be - when shooting portraits be careful to not cut off hands and arms. I always try and shoot wider than the subject and crop down to where I think it looks best - but always trying to leave the hands and arms in the shot when possible. I personally like to think if any part of the body is in the picture, that whole body part should be in the shot, not just a sliver of it. So, if you want to throw the legs in a shot, all of the legs should be in there. But, if not, then crop at the waste line. That, to me, is at least a good starting point. Of course, you can do WHATEVER you like with the picture....thats just my opinion. It has at least help me get a good starting point when snapping the picture. You can always crop things down.

ConverseMan wrote in post #12057476
Really like #4 Alex - love the B&W I'd say use a brush and dodge the eyes a little....but that's just me.

My $0.02 would be - when shooting portraits be careful to not cut off hands and arms. I always try and shoot wider than the subject and crop down to where I think it looks best - but always trying to leave the hands and arms in the shot when possible. I personally like to think if any part of the body is in the picture, that whole body part should be in the shot, not just a sliver of it. So, if you want to throw the legs in a shot, all of the legs should be in there. But, if not, then crop at the waste line. That, to me, is at least a good starting point. Of course, you can do WHATEVER you like with the picture....thats just my opinion. It has at least help me get a good starting point when snapping the picture. You can always crop things down.

Ah yes, my eyes. I was wondering if they looked a little funny to anyone else... haha.

And thank you for your two cents. It is appreciated, and I am one who isn't a fan of chopping limbs off... I'll make the excuse that doing a selfy its so hard NOT to. haha. I used the 85mm, which is tight anyhow(and the space back there is slightly small), plus I'm never 100% sure where I should stand(even though my trusty stand gives me a good guess) I know, I know, excuses are lame. I'll try and do better next time. haha.
If only I could clone myself....

Do yourself a favor and definitely pick up the 85. Money well-spent.

CBownPhoto wrote in post #12057968
Do yourself a favor and definitely pick up the 85. Money well-spent.

So far I'm loving it. Probably this week I'll exchange it and play with the 50. But something tells me I'll get the 85. Haha.

Alex.K wrote in post #12058307
So far I'm loving it. Probably this week I'll exchange it and play with the 50. But something tells me I'll get the 85. Haha.

The 50 is also a very excellent lens for the price. I guess it all depends on preference.

Yeah, the flash really didn't do anything for the one shot. Set it up again, (maybe the next time the sun shines again!!!) and UNDERexpose the BG between 1-2 stops natural light. Then use the flash and see what you get. It's kind of trial and error knowing how much or little flash to use. And by underexposing the BG, you would have been separated nicely from the BG!

Like your stuff. Keep shooting, experimenting and posting.

dave

Number two and four rock.

Alex, #4 literally made me stop and gaze for some time. I got a chuckle out of the last photo too - Light Stands are unsung heroes and deserve recognition for their unyielding efforts!!

As Snyderman said, try it again and intentionally underexpose the background while using flash to light your exposure a bit. This may be easier to do in marginal hours, rather than around noon. Be prepared to kill a set of batteries.

Out of curiousity, what flash do you have? Just one? Perhaps consider investing in some Cactus triggers. Wicked cheap and very reliable.

CBownPhoto wrote in post #12058390
The 50 is also a very excellent lens for the price. I guess it all depends on preference.

Yeah, if I get the 50, it'll be the 1.4. I just want to compare the focal length side by side. I know that's ALL opinion, so I figure its best to make my own opinion before I spend $400 on a lens. haha.

snyderman wrote in post #12058434
Yeah, the flash really didn't do anything for the one shot. Set it up again, (maybe the next time the sun shines again!!!) and UNDERexpose the BG between 1-2 stops natural light. Then use the flash and see what you get. It's kind of trial and error knowing how much or little flash to use. And by underexposing the BG, you would have been separated nicely from the BG!

Like your stuff. Keep shooting, experimenting and posting.

dave

Oh really? This is great! Next time its sunny, I'll go back out and do that and really mess with it! Thanks so much.

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #12058681
Number two and four rock.

Thank you!

CiM_Photography wrote in post #12058736
Alex, #4 literally made me stop and gaze for some time. I got a chuckle out of the last photo too - Light Stands are unsung heroes and deserve recognition for their unyielding efforts!!

As Snyderman said, try it again and intentionally underexpose the background while using flash to light your exposure a bit. This may be easier to do in marginal hours, rather than around noon. Be prepared to kill a set of batteries.

Out of curiousity, what flash do you have? Just one? Perhaps consider investing in some Cactus triggers. Wicked cheap and very reliable.

Thank you very much. (: I'm SO happy with #4. I think my self portraits would be pretty bad without that light stand! haha.
I'm not sure(its a friend they let me barrow...been barrowing it for about a year now. haha) I'll have to check. Yeah just one, but I've checked, and there is no place where I can plug in tiggers... maybe I'm just missing it.
I do have strobes(booya), but don't have a portable battery.