Zarina

[GB1]

From an Oct model shoot. After an initial look at the images after the shoot, just getting around to looking at the rest.

C&Cs are welcome.

[jetrim]

Nice shot! Love the composition and the lighting. Good separation from the BG. Good choice of accessories, though a wee bit more processing on the cheeks might be in order as the hottest portion is a bit bumpy. Over all, great shot, and much prefer the color version to the B&W.

[GB1]

Jim - Thanks for input. I agree, her cheek seems to catch the light very easily, as I believe she has very pronounced cheekbones (Armenian heritage).

Here's another version in B&W. I think it works better than the zoomed in one (?)

G

[MarcusK]

I too prefer the color version... and short of skin touch up (personal preference) I don't necessarily find anything to nit-pick.... lighting works, expression works.... colors work....

Nice image... oh and for the skin touch ups, I use Portraiture plug in for Photoshop.... works wonders!

[GB1]

Thanks Marc .. Just downloaded and played around with the Portraiture plug-in (15 day trial). Not bad, but like a sledge hammer you have to be careful not to overdo it. I'll have to play with it some more and see if it's really worth $200.

G

[jetrim]

B & W does work better on the second shot, perhaps because of the extra background - dunno but I like it more than the first.

[draymorton]

Very nice shot, as usual, GB. She definitely needs retouching, though, all of which I'd probably do manually.

I like the third post best, far and away.

[MarcusK]

Is it worth it? that's exactly what I am still thinking about

[draymorton]

I guess it depends on what you're doing. For basic skin smoothing, Portraiture looks great, kind of like Portrait Professional, but much better.

If you want to get into advanced skin stuff where you have a lot of control, sample and paint may still be the best option...

[MarcusK]

I have a book called "Skin" for retouching skin obviously... as far as I am concerned, for advanced stuff, it covers pretty much everything... and the examples are clear and detailed enough for one to understand what to do without having to memorize too much!

But portraiture offers some interesting ways to alter a photo, without too much hassle... these are clear through their tutorials...

Back to the critique, I too would say the third is the most interesting!

[GB1]

I guess it depends on what you're doing. For basic skin smoothing, Portraiture looks great, kind of like Portrait Professional, but much better.

If you want to get into advanced skin stuff where you have a lot of control, sample and paint may still be the best option...

Thanks Dray, but by "sample and paint", do you mean manually edit ..? Seems like an incredible amt of work, but that's coming from a beginner with this stuff... I think if I sat in on a MUA class that maybe I'd know better what to do.

Thanks too Marcus. Maybe I will check out that book.

G

[GB1]

Did some editing using Marcus' suggested PS plug-in Portraiture ...

Is this believable?

[GB1]

I toned it down a bit and converted to b&w ..

[Frog]

I guess I'm going to go against the flow and say the first is my favorite. Love the eyes.
If you can get the bright stuff around eyebrow, cheek, and nose it might be better but I barely noticed it.

[MarcusK]

Believable indeed... it's a soft application of the effect....

[draymorton]

The last edit is perfect, IMO. Very restrained and skilled use of the plug-in. Great work!

[Anbesol]

Damn, so this model - is she single?


But seriously though, I'll agree about the cheekbones. I'd also like to see her overall complexion softened a bit as well, Id also like to see the stray hair by her neck eliminated.

[Shebang]

Okay, I'm guessing none of you will agree with me -- and that's okay, but I think the cleavage in this instance detracts from the photo. Her face and eyes are beautiful and, IMHO, the cleavage only serves as a negative distraction...

[GB1]

Frog - So, you think the first image, the color one of the original posting, is the best? If so, this is definitely different than how others feel. But I guess every one of these shots have a slightly different feeling (as Paula has pointed out).

Marc, Dray - This is interesting, for it definitely shows that everyone has a different 'threshold' of how much post processing they're OK with or think is additive, esp with models. I have never been a fan of that heavily post-processed, smoothed out skin look on models, though I have seen applications of that which really look great, IMO. I guess I am a member of the group that says "edit, but just below the point where you can tell it's edited." Thks for the comments - very appreciated.

Anbesol - so, you don't think that her complexion is not softened enough here..? And nope, she's not single and mentioned that she has a child, but she is a college student and is soon off to medical school.. smokes too. I think she's doing this for fun.

I see what you mean about the hair. I guess there are many levels of PP that one could take this. It could really become a work of art, if one wanted it to be.

Paula - Well actually, I agree with you. Showing her cleavage in the shot, with her strong eye contact, may be too much, perhaps .. warm / intellectual and sexy. Getting both in a photograph is to me a great achievement; however, in this photo I am not sure the two are playing nice with each other .. it instead seems like this is two different photos spliced together. Hmm.

It is amazing here how each crop reveals a different mood, person and overall impression...

gb

[Shebang]

What if you cropped it leaving enough of a peek of cleavage to give a hint of her sexy side? That would leave her face "in your face" rather than her cleavage competing with her cleavage.

[jetrim]

...rather than her cleavage competing with her cleavage.

And you say WE have one track minds! :lol:

[Grandpaw]

I prefer the color version. I have a nit pick about whatever that is on her arm, for me it would have to disappear in either version, Jeff

[Shebang]

And you say WE have one track minds! :lol:

LOL...........:blush2:.............see, what I mean. It creates confusion........LOL