C&C please... First time REALLY using the Bees!

Hello all!

Tonight is the first time I've actually gotten a chance to spend any significant amount of time shooting a PERSON (my patient and loving wife) with my bees. Which is horrible, considering how long I've had them! This is one I just got done converting and I hoped you would all have a look!

Granted, I know it's not Pulitzer prize winning material but I wasn't TOO dissatisfied with it, as a starting point! I would be thrilled to hear any comments or suggestions you may have to "nudge me" in a good direction from here!

Thanks for your time!

-Derek

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Personally, I think this is a great picture! The pose is creative and your use of lighting is well executed; nice contrast from the left side of the model to the right and you made a successful B&W conversion. You've done a respectable job of using your new lighting. To top it all off, your "patient" model is adorable. Hopefully pictures like this will encourage her to let you experiment with her further.

You've done a great job of collecting the picture and I think your next task would be a bit of post processing. For this shot, I'd suggest a bit of blemish removal and skin softening. I've posted a quick edit that I made. I hope this helps.

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sorry kaper, but i really like the original better than the one you edited... yours is just too blurry, you probably did just a quick job just to show your idea though, which i understand. you really need to go along the curves of the face when you try and fix up a face like that, your's just looks flat and uneven.

im usually big on fixing up the face and making them look really nice and smooth and intact, but in this case, i think the edges, imperfections, bumps and valleys in her skin really add to the character, and the overall look of the picture, making it a lot less boring... its kind of like adding a bunch of little subjects for your eye to look at and ponder.

First of all, Thanks to those who have taken the time to at least check out my thread, and an EXTRA thanks to those who have commented. I do agree that perhaps some smoothing is needed, though I think yours is a bit excessive. It did give me a good idea of what you meant though, thank you!

Here is one that I applied a BIT of smoothing to, along with some slight burning and dodging in areas. I also dropped the contrast a bit, though I just realized that I forgot to clone out the wooden trim on this one... D'oh! At least you can comment on my smoothing. More? Less? None? or is it good just like it is?

Thanks again!

-Derek

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i still like the original better than any of those blured, and the cropping in the first one is better, the background is just to empty, just takes away focus from the face without adding much to focus on...

metallicaxlxl wrote in post #4868380
i still like the original better than any of those blured, and the cropping in the first one is better, the background is just to empty, just takes away focus from the face without adding much to focus on...

Thank you, i have to agree... i prefer the first one as well.

Very nice shot, especially if this is your first attempt. Did you use just one light or both to do this? I only ask because if you did it with just one, I'd recommend pointing the other to the otherwise bland background with a colored filter attached to spice it up, or even plain just to create a natural silhouette around your lovely wife's face.

I do agree that a bit more PP was in order and offer an alternative take on the skin techniques used thus far. Also did some very minor curves and exposure. Crop is obvious as is the terribly fake vignette.

Keep working at it and hope to see more from you soon.

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This was indeed a first attempt and this one was done using only one light. I will definitely try out your suggestions. Thank you for your comments and direction!

-Derek

seanbaker wrote in post #4873630
Very nice shot, especially if this is your first attempt. Did you use just one light or both to do this? I only ask because if you did it with just one, I'd recommend pointing the other to the otherwise bland background with a colored filter attached to spice it up, or even plain just to create a natural silhouette around your lovely wife's face.

I do agree that a bit more PP was in order and offer an alternative take on the skin techniques used thus far. Also did some very minor curves and exposure. Crop is obvious as is the terribly fake vignette.

Keep working at it and hope to see more from you soon.

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Sean

Curious as to how you went about retouching the skin... Looks pretty good to me, there's actually texture to it... I've been trying to get that look for quite some time now

I am not a fan of the crop nor the background- I find the line coming out of her head distracting. I think the B&W conversion borders on "muddy"...
BUT I like the lighting- looks like there is a lot of potential here...

Mike -

I base my technique off of the tutorial below:

http://retouchpro.com/​tutorials/?m=show&id=2​13

It's a bit difficult to get used to doing it and understanding what will make for the best output, but once you get the hang of it it's wonderful. Between that and Mizuno's tutorial, I don't often find a shot that I can't get acceptable cleanup for (while keeping detail, or at least the appearance of it).

For speed, I use an action to automate part of the process (if you read the tutorial, you'll understand why it can't be a fully automated thing), albeit without any instructions on how to use it. You're welcome to it if you like. Spent ~ 1m on the skin retouching for this one.

Sean

seanbaker wrote in post #4878837
Mike -

I base my technique off of the tutorial below:

http://retouchpro.com/​tutorials/?m=show&id=2​13

It's a bit difficult to get used to doing it and understanding what will make for the best output, but once you get the hang of it it's wonderful. Between that and Mizuno's tutorial, I don't often find a shot that I can't get acceptable cleanup for (while keeping detail, or at least the appearance of it).

For speed, I use an action to automate part of the process (if you read the tutorial, you'll understand why it can't be a fully automated thing), albeit without any instructions on how to use it. You're welcome to it if you like. Spent ~ 1m on the skin retouching for this one.

Sean

That's a great tutorial! I'll definaly have to try it with my next batch of photos

I've been trying the patch tool method of skin softening, and while it gives me better results than just running a gaussian blur or dust/scratches layer, it takes quite a bit longer and I still haven't come close to perfecting it..

Thanks so much for the great reply Sean

Mike

Derek, I like your skin smoothing in your second edit, but prefer the crop in your first shot and the level of black vs. white... I find your second edit a little pale and lacking in contrast.