Selfie

divamum

aka "time for the cobbler to have some shoes".

(PS Michaelglenn if you see this, note how this one - which has had a lot LESS done to skin tone/retouch- doesn't look all crumbly like the one on FB? NO idea what that was, bit it looked *weird*, which is why I re-did it).

michaelglenn

Like I mentioned before, I really like this image a lot! I'm drawn right to your eyes - it's at the best DOF for what you've achieved here IMO.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by crumbly? Is this a different version of the image on FB? It looks further retouched on the skin and you have more of a glow as opposed to the one FB. By crumbly did you mean more noise? I know sometimes FB has a tendency to make my images look more noisy due to the sharpness. When I upload to facebook, I get good results downsizing to 1200x800 and making sure the color profile is set to sRGB.

divamum

Yes, different version. And this one had way less done to it, even though it looks like thesres been more! No softening or frequency separation, but instead playing with the channel mixture and some curves. Sooo pleased with this as a method ; will be using it a lot

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troopers

Superb...'nuff said!

Mitchell

Lovely portrait! You know I love the crop.

I think it would be a bit stronger with your head tilted up about 3-5 degrees. Minor nit.

Hackbone

I like it but I'm just not used to looking down on subjects at such a great angle.

divamum

Hackbone wrote: »

I like it but I'm just not used to looking down on subjects at such a great angle.

That's so funny - that's what I like best about it!

Mitchell, agreed - tripod wouldn't go upl any higher or seat any lower, so I wound up having to crouch a little lol

As always with SP's it was quite a bit of guesswork involved to frame it - I wasn't tethered, so it required good ole trial and error. I got TWO shots out of the whole set that were in the frame, appropriately focused, and that had some expression!



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jmphotocraft

Is that Sela Ward?

divamum

Dang you're good for my ego! To say the least, I do not have her figure, but I'll take the compliment and say thank you!

Qarik

scrumptious!

kombizz

good shot

divamum

Thanks, Qarik and Kombizz!

jpc

I like the angle and the shallow DOF, but the focus appears to be on your eyebrows and the bridge of your nose - not your eyes. Very important with a shot like this.

divamum

Good catch, JPC. Because the leading eye is completely sharp (visible on the original) I think for its intended purpose it will be fine so I'm not worried in this particular case, but you're right that the super-skinny DOF landed on lashes/brows on camera left.

divamum

SINCE this subject came up in PP's other thread, I worked up one of the other shots from this mini-session I did for myself. Lower camera angle. Deeper depth of field. Meh.

While some might find this a better, more classic "portrait" than the earlier shot, I look at it and think, "1998 called and would like its headshot back".... As a headshot for my market, in the US, in 2014, this would read as old-fashioned and rather dull, and would not reflect my "brand" as a singer (or a photographer, for that matter). A more cinematic background (eg outdoors, urbanscape, loft, rehearsal room) would make it work, but against a plain grey background, it's just too vanilla. Also, the "smiley suburban mom" expression may be warmer and more welcoming, perhaps, but it doesn't reflect the roles in which I am often cast, and isn't what I project as an artist (which is intensity - thus why the shot in the original post is EXACTLY what is needed.). I might consider using it if I ever need a shot for myself as a teacher, but as a performer it doesn't do what I need/want it to.

FWIW, no changes to the make-up (other than a slightly darker lip colour in the red shirt), and NEITHER of these shots has had any warping/liquifying done (except to some stray hairs) - the perceived difference in face shape is entirely due to lighting and posing. As before, pp to deal with the dark, dark, shadows under my eyes (curves adjustments, and channel mixing), healing brush to zap a couple of blemishes, clean up stray hairs etc, but no significant skin smoothing. This shot also demonstrates why typically I don't use "smiley" pictures - I'm one of those folks whose eyes disappear.............