Post Processing: Critique me

Trying out this whole "post processing" thing because taking good pictures isn't enough in today's world. Please let me know what you think, or if you have any good advice.

OK, honest critique here...

It isn't a flattering natural light photo. The shadows are too dark under the eyes and with the high contrast treatment, it isn't what one would normally consider an attractive result. Also the highlights are blown (pure white on the jacket collar and sleeve?).

With the noise, it looks like what you used to get if you shot Tmax 400 and pushed it a few stops or the plain result from the old 3200. I like that kind of look actually but it doesn't work well for a portrait of a pretty girl.

The better the shot, the less PP is needed.

chauncey wrote in post #4899748
The better the shot, the less PP is needed.

I second that. Depending on which direction you're going pp is usually necessary when complimenting the image's quality. Otherwise you can go full blown on pp to make the images more of an art rather than a photo.

Reduce the noise, convert to RGB and add a warming filter. Looks good here with those changes.... Allow Image editing and I'll upload it.

Kevin

kmorgan wrote in post #4899861
Reduce the noise, convert to RGB and add a warming filter. Looks good here with those changes.... Allow Image editing and I'll upload it.

Kevin

Alright, i changed it. (I didn't realize i needed to do that for people to be able to edit my stuff). I'm interested to see what you did differently.

It's hard (for me) to judge how successful your PP was when we don't have a copy of the original unedited image for comparison. It might have been perfect as it was - or people may be able to suggest alternative PP that may have worked better.

TheLetterQ wrote in post #4901387
Alright, i changed it. (I didn't realize i needed to do that for people to be able to edit my stuff). I'm interested to see what you did differently.

Ok, just got home from work, here it is...

Kevin

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OK, how about the unedited version.

chauncey wrote in post #4903927
OK, how about the unedited version.

Ok this is the picture as it was straight out of the camera.

Watch your focus. Right now your focus is on the tip of her nose. Focus for the eyes! Otherwise I like the original best.

The original is much better than the b/w. Very pretty girl. I took the liberty of some quick retouching (mostly around the eyes) and added some more saturation.

Kevin

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my try

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setcode, You ROCK!

Your colored edit is a wall hanger.

The original post has very much going for it except for as already mentioned.

The composition is A-1. The axis of the eyes being placed on the diagonal is always a plus. The pose, the model, the raport, the model's expression are A-1 portraiture. All that was needed to transform the image into a nice portrait was the PP.

kmorgan wrote in post #4899861
Reduce the noise, convert to RGB and add a warming filter. Looks good here with those changes.... Allow Image editing and I'll upload it.

Kevin

What does this mean, allow image editing?