Portrait du Jour

[Dzerzhinski46]

A little digital manipulation. Tell me what you think.

Dzerzhinski

[almo]

One word: blury.


almo

[Dzerzhinski46]

One word: blury.


almo

almo, that was partially my intention. The soft portrait look.

Dzerzhinski

[Lara]

Would like to see a sharper photo. This your Dad? Has wonderful character in his face.

[JK_Photo]

I hope you don't mind Dz but I've taken the libertty...
When I first saw this shot I thought "There's a serious problem here" but it was salvageable.
What was your softening method?

I applied a contrast enhancement
- Unsharp mask with the following settings:
- amount: 20%
- radius: 50 pixels
-threshold: 0
I run this on any shot that needs a contrast boost. It only effects area of dark and light bordering each other.
Next: Duplicate layer
- gaussian blur: 20 pixels
- change layer blend mode to: overlay
Then I converted to grayscale.

It's a nice shot it just needs a bit of tweaking. I thought I'd go at it and explain later.
I don't know if it's everyones idea of a good "look" but I think it helps.

If you applied these techniques to your original I'd be curious to see the result.

[Dzerzhinski46]

I hope you don't mind Dz but I've taken the libertty...
When I first saw this shot I thought "There's a serious problem here" but it was salvageable.
What was your softening method?

I applied a contrast enhancement
- Unsharp mask with the following settings:
- amount: 20%
- radius: 50 pixels
-threshold: 0
I run this on any shot that needs a contrast boost. It only effects area of dark and light bordering each other.
Next: Duplicate layer
- gaussian blur: 20 pixels
- change layer blend mode to: overlay
Then I converted to grayscale.

It's a nice shot it just needs a bit of tweaking. I thought I'd go at it and explain later.
I don't know if it's everyones idea of a good "look" but I think it helps.

If you applied these techniques to your original I'd be curious to see the result.

Maybe I should just start this thread all over . I seem to have confused people pretty badly, and I appologize for the inconvenience. The photo I posted is a manipulated version of the original. Their was no focus problem. I duplicated the layer, applied Gauss blur, masked, then painted away the blur around the face. And converted it to grayscale from the original color. I just don't want people laboring under the false impression that I made some gross error (no offense intended).

JK, no problem. I have no qualms with other people messing with my photos (if they tell me of course ). Here is the original. Make your comparisons.

Dzerzhinski

[JK_Photo]

Hi Dz,
I applaud your efforts but I think I see where you went wrong here. You said "then painted away the blur around the face". It might just be the way you're explaining it here but what you need to do for this technique is only paint over the parts you want to remove softness. These are key areas; lips, eyes, maybe jewelry. I think maybe, correct me if I'm wrong, you hit other areas as well because it looks blotchy and I can see sharpness in the chin crease.
One other thing, when I played with the image I converted to grayscale 'cause yours was in RGB. That is something that was definitely affecting the original image you posted.
I hope I don't sound like I'm coming down hard 'cause that''s the last thing I want. I'm really only trying to help and I'm sorry if I went overboard here.

[Dzerzhinski46]

Hi Dz,
I applaud your efforts but I think I see where you went wrong here. You said "then painted away the blur around the face". It might just be the way you're explaining it here but what you need to do for this technique is only paint over the parts you want to remove softness. These are key areas; lips, eyes, maybe jewelry. I think maybe, correct me if I'm wrong, you hit other areas as well because it looks blotchy and I can see sharpness in the chin crease.
One other thing, when I played with the image I converted to grayscale 'cause yours was in RGB. That is something that was definitely affecting the original image you posted.
I hope I don't sound like I'm coming down hard 'cause that''s the last thing I want. I'm really only trying to help and I'm sorry if I went overboard here.

Dear JK,

Don't take it hard, you were just expressing your honest opinion, and I appreciate that. As for the blotches, they were present before I manipulated it. Trying to sharpen it only brings them out it seems. The color photo had my dad's face a bit too red. I wonder if that was the problem.

As for removing the softness, I wanted to remove it from around the face, like I had f 1 lens, extremely limited DOF. I got the idea from an article about the Speed Graphic camera, and how it has an extrememly limited DOF. Check out David Burnett's later photos. The shallow DOF, the richness of color. Kind of what I was shooting (no pun intended ). Hope this explains my photo.

Dzerzhinski

[JK_Photo]

I checked David Burnett's site. He's definitely been around. Nice work. There was a pic of him with the camera. That is one honkin' lens!
I've got an old Speed Graphic but it's only got a max. aperture of 4.7. I've never used it but would like to try. Seen better days but I'm sure it still works.
Also have a century graphic with a "23" graphic 120 back which I would like to try. It's in very good condition.
Picked them up at an auction last year.
Good luck with what you're trying to accomplish.

[CarbonTerry]

How did you convert to b/w?
Start with your RGB image>>>Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Channel Mixer>Monochrome
You can adjust the RGB channels individually and that may get rid of some of the blotchiness in the face.
Adjust each channel and use the Constant slider to adjust overall density.
I think a b/g that wasn't so close in tonality to his face may also help.

[mjs1973]

I like this shot and I think it has a lot of potential. Seems a little flat to me, but you can fix that easy enuf. I agree with Terry about how to convert to b&w too. There are some quick and easy ways of doing it, bu the results are rarely the best. Keep them coming!

[Dzerzhinski46]

How did you convert to b/w?
Start with your RGB image>>>Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Channel Mixer>Monochrome
You can adjust the RGB channels individually and that may get rid of some of the blotchiness in the face.
Adjust each channel and use the Constant slider to adjust overall density.
I think a b/g that wasn't so close in tonality to his face may also help.

Terry, I did use the channel mixer on Monochrome. Maybe I should mess around some more. Thanks for the suggestion.

Dzerzhinski

[Dzerzhinski46]

Here it is, in all its glory. I manipulated the channels and contrast. Your opinions are welcome.

Dzerzhinski

[JK_Photo]

I think you've found a good compromise between the last one you posted and the one before that which I b****red up
keep at it.

[CarbonTerry]

Wayyyyy better

[BamaFru]

Ok, I'm not reading the other responses (I'm sure they are full of technical jargon. Therefore, I am unqualified)...gotta go, I did want to say...get him a little further away from the "backdrop". But wow what a subject...I so hope you can work with him again. I can think of lots of possibilities. What character. Oh 3 quarter view...profile...

Reminds me of "Cancer Man". (X files) And no offense is meant by that...so please don't take it that way.

I will come back and see what the comments were later...hope I'm not totally out of context.

[Dzerzhinski46]

Ok, I'm not reading the other responses (I'm sure they are full of technical jargon. Therefore, I am unqualified)...gotta go, I did want to say...get him a little further away from the "backdrop". But wow what a subject...I so hope you can work with him again. I can think of lots of possibilities. What character. Oh 3 quarter view...profile...

Reminds me of "Cancer Man". (X files) And no offense is meant by that...so please don't take it that way.

I will come back and see what the comments were later...hope I'm not totally out of context.

Dear BamaFru,

I shouldn't keep you in the dark, this is my dad. So the possibility of working with him again is pretty high . Oh, and he has been mistaken for the "Cigarette Man" before, so this is nothing new. Glad you like it. I have busted myself to get this picture where I like it. Thanks everyone for the help (especially CarbonTerry, your vast experience has been valuable).

Dzerzhinski

[CarbonTerry]

Thanks,
Flattery and $1.00 will get a cup of coffee (not at Starbucks!!)

It's easier to control the b/g if its FAR away from the subject. You can add or subtract light as you choose and texture becomes less of a problem.

The lighting on your fathers face is uneven from his forehead to his chin making my attention go to that spot rather than to his eyes.
Aim your light to the center (or so) of his face or if you have a small light source move it farther away. It's better the have slightly flat lighting because you can modify that much easier than uneven lighting. Of course maving the light farther away makes it essentiall smaller and causing harsher shadows which can be ok on male subjects.

[Dzerzhinski46]

Thanks,
Flattery and $1.00 will get a cup of coffee (not at Starbucks!!)

It's easier to control the b/g if its FAR away from the subject. You can add or subtract light as you choose and texture becomes less of a problem.

The lighting on your fathers face is uneven from his forehead to his chin making my attention go to that spot rather than to his eyes.
Aim your light to the center (or so) of his face or if you have a small light source move it farther away. It's better the have slightly flat lighting because you can modify that much easier than uneven lighting. Of course maving the light farther away makes it essentiall smaller and causing harsher shadows which can be ok on male subjects.

Dear Terry,

Don't take my flattery (which it is) as a bribe (which it isn't) . The lighting was from above, a chandaler like fixture. What kind of lighting would you suggest for next time? Not that my budget will allow it, but I might be able to cobble something together, you never know.

Dzerzhinski

[mdmc]

Dear Terry,

Don't take my flattery (which it is) as a bribe (which it isn't) . The lighting was from above, a chandaler like fixture. What kind of lighting would you suggest for next time? Not that my budget will allow it, but I might be able to cobble something together, you never know.

Dzerzhinski

To soften the image on the cheap, try stretchinng a nylon stocking over the lens.
I used to know what a white or black one would have. Or put a cheap filter on lens and smear w/vasaline.
AS for lighting on the cheap, use a piece of cardboard, white or painted white as a reflector. Please put a catchlight in his eyes!

What color are they ? His eyes I mean? been thinking about a portrait (B/W of my father W/ colored eyes).( btw, blue)

I used to be into the x-files and remember the character as " The smoking Man".
There is a resemblance, however you're father looks like one of the nicest guys in the world!
Good work, Mark