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  1. #1
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    First portrait attempt

    This is my first time posting and would love to hear any commets
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails First portrait attempt-kate-kinder1.jpg  

  2. #2
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    Re: First portrait attempt

    Quote Originally Posted by cnevill
    This is my first time posting and would love to hear any commets
    Details? what kind of camera, lens, filters, lighting, film. I would love to know

  3. #3
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    Re: First portrait attempt

    Quote Originally Posted by April Does Photography
    Details? what kind of camera, lens, filters, lighting, film. I would love to know
    Cannon Rebol SLR, 2 strobe set-up, edited in photoshop

  4. #4
    Member CarbonTerry's Avatar
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    Re: First portrait attempt

    Nice use of colors, well exposed, good contrast/saturation. Great pose and expressions. Super make up. Good choice of lighting for youngsters but I would have liked a “wee bit” more modeling in the face.
    For my taste the soft focus is slightly over done and/or the eyes are “too” sharp. A little compromise between the two. (but that’s just me!!). My biggest thing would be that the b/g is lit too flat. A nice soft glow around the shoulders would have separated them from the b/g.
    A slight hair light will make a big difference.
    Given all of that….any parent would be glad to have this pic on their wall/mantle.
    Keep up the good work.

  5. #5
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    Re: First portrait attempt

    Quote Originally Posted by CarbonTerry
    Nice use of colors, well exposed, good contrast/saturation. Great pose and expressions. Super make up. Good choice of lighting for youngsters but I would have liked a “wee bit” more modeling in the face.
    For my taste the soft focus is slightly over done and/or the eyes are “too” sharp. A little compromise between the two. (but that’s just me!!). My biggest thing would be that the b/g is lit too flat. A nice soft glow around the shoulders would have separated them from the b/g.
    A slight hair light will make a big difference.
    Given all of that….any parent would be glad to have this pic on their wall/mantle.
    Keep up the good work.
    Thanks for the commet, I'm very new to this so when you say that the background is lit too flat what do you mean and what would be a correction to that. Thanks Again

  6. #6
    Member CarbonTerry's Avatar
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    Re: First portrait attempt

    I have crudely cut out the subjects for the example
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails First portrait attempt-kate-kinder2.jpg  

  7. #7
    Member CarbonTerry's Avatar
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    Re: First portrait attempt

    A hair light will add a nice sheen/glow. the blondes hair is looking a little "mousey" as my wife calls it. If you do not have enough lights to add a hair light you can make one out of a large card covered with aluminum foil and suspended overhead and slightly behind where the models will sit. Angle the foil so that ot reflects your main light 'spill" onto the hair. make sure that NO LIGHT falls on the face from the hair light. you may have to have some kind of horizontal pole arrangement to clamp the card to hold it in place. That's a lot cheaper than buying another light.

  8. #8
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    Re: First portrait attempt

    Quote Originally Posted by cnevill
    Cannon Rebol SLR, 2 strobe set-up, edited in photoshop
    What about background? I am truly impressed. Can you explain a little more about photoshop? I have several editing programs but none with the capability you are showing in this protrait. Well Done!!

  9. #9
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    Re: First portrait attempt

    Quote Originally Posted by cnevill
    Cannon Rebol SLR, 2 strobe set-up, edited in photoshop
    What about background? I am truly impressed. Can you explain a little more about photoshop? I have several editing programs but none with the capability you are showing in this protrait. Well Done!! And what type/make of strobes were used. And Price?....

  10. #10
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    Re: First portrait attempt

    Quote Originally Posted by April Does Photography
    What about background? I am truly impressed. Can you explain a little more about photoshop? I have several editing programs but none with the capability you are showing in this protrait. Well Done!! And what type/make of strobes were used. And Price?....
    The background is just blue paper drop, the editing program I use is adobe, and the strobes are just inexpensive 45 watt into umbrella's. I am unsure of the actual cost cause it was equipment that my sister had from years ago. Thanks again for the commets

  11. #11
    Member CarbonTerry's Avatar
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    Re: First portrait attempt

    You have done well with minimum equipment. Have you had any formal training?

  12. #12
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    Re: First portrait attempt

    Quote Originally Posted by CarbonTerry
    You have done well with minimum equipment. Have you had any formal training?
    No formal training just alot of research and trial and error

  13. #13
    Member CarbonTerry's Avatar
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    Re: First portrait attempt

    fantastic!!!!! you have a great eye for composition!!!! You notice that I cropped a little different than you had. That put the eyes of both girls close to the intersections of the rule of thirds.
    Keep on submitting

  14. #14
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    Re: First portrait attempt

    Quote Originally Posted by CarbonTerry
    fantastic!!!!! you have a great eye for composition!!!! You notice that I cropped a little different than you had. That put the eyes of both girls close to the intersections of the rule of thirds.
    Keep on submitting
    Thanks again for the review and advice, more to come

  15. #15
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    Re: First portrait attempt

    Very nice colors and a nice composition here. Though I'm not usually a big fan on soft focusing, this one is alright, though the eyes do seem a tad sharp!

    Great shot though regardless,

    Jared

  16. #16
    sharpen your image JK_Photo's Avatar
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    Re: First portrait attempt

    I love the composition here and the colour contrast.
    I'd say that for my taste it is oversoftened. IMO softening is not really necessary on subjects of this age. They have flawless skin to begin with.
    If you were going for a dreamy effect I guess it's OK but I still think less is more in this case.
    If you could add a gradient to the BG so it glows light to dark maybe it would have a more appeal (the BG that is, as Carbon Terry mentioned).
    The hairlight is a good idea, too.
    Great start for a newbie!
    cheers.
    Jon

    "shoot wide, shoot close"

  17. #17
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    Re: First portrait attempt

    I think this is a great portrait but I don't like the bright blue background. Did you have other options for a background?

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