New studio setup

Trying something different. Feedback appreciated.

Her shirt and hair are out of focus, so you could increase the DOF if that wasn't your attention. As far as the lighting, I would move the source just a bit higher to add some more light to her hair.

Prefer to see the hair and shirt in focus. x2 on the increase of DOF.

I like it as-is.

It's not as easy using Nikon as it is with Canon but, I would like to see you shoot "Live View Tethered".
It would give you unending opportunities to fiddle and adjust to your heart's content.

Agree with the DOF comments.

First priority, eyes in focus which you nailed. After that it's artistic choice.

I don't mind the shallow DOF. I might have added a kicker light to her rear left to create some separation from the background, but it's still nice as it is.

DOF bothers me as well. Apart of that - gutt! Love the colours.

seems to me you are trying some post processing that isn't quite working.

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #18240041
seems to me you are trying some post processing that isn't quite working.

Yes, experimenting. And having computer issues too.

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #18240041
seems to me you are trying some post processing that isn't quite working.

atsilverstein wrote in post #18240068
Yes, experimenting. And having computer issues too.

I'm slightly confused...did you add the bokeh in post?

mannetti21 wrote in post #18240251

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #18240041
seems to me you are trying some post processing that isn't quite working.

atsilverstein wrote in post #18240068
Yes, experimenting. And having computer issues too.

I'm slightly confused...did you add the bokeh in post?

No, but I was experimenting with curves and there is a slight matte effect on the image.

I like the lighting, although a hair light opposite the key light would help separate her more. I don't mind the shallow DOF, but the white blouse bothers me. Too much contrast against the black background.

I LOVE her smile!

One more thing - and this is just me being picky - I'd like to see her head vertically straight. It's tilting just a bit. Or, make the tilt more pronounced.

So were you adding to the OOF/bokeh?

I see concentric banding circles on the background that look like you were using a gradient of some sort to maybe brighten up and/or add blur around the face. You have to be very careful when making selections with the gradient tool and some other tools ... adding noise to the channel is one way to keep it from showing up.

The photo looks really good, kinda wonder what it looks like with "normal" processing.

Edit: thought I refreshed the page but it didn't load some posts before I typed that in. Somehow some of the OOF areas look like they were done in post, and the banding still leaves a question in my mind.

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #18240304
So were you adding to the OOF/bokeh?

I see concentric banding circles on the background that look like you were using a gradient of some sort to maybe brighten up and/or add blur around the face. You have to be very careful when making selections with the gradient tool and some other tools ... adding noise to the channel is one way to keep it from showing up.

The photo looks really good, kinda wonder what it looks like with "normal" processing.

Edit: thought I refreshed the page but it didn't load some posts before I typed that in. Somehow some of the OOF areas look like they were done in post, and the banding still leaves a question in my mind.

To answer your question, there is no added bokeh or vignette, or much of anything TBH. It's my base edit with bringing up the blacks and adjusting highlights for a slight matte effect. The banding is a problem with device compression or something to that affect if I'm not mistaken. I've read in can minimize or eliminate the banding by adding noise.

I've actually ordered 3 different canvases of this image to use as studio samples, so I'm looking forward to getting two of them tomorrow.

It really is a good photo, I think you know I can be picky with certain things and at certain times.

I doubt the banding will show up in a print. Another nit, I wish her eyes were slightly above the middle of the frame. The viewer's eye tends to pull things in the middle of the page down a bit anyway so they kinda look below the middle.

It's great seeing how you have progressed and continue to work on the craft. Keep it up!