Charlotte

Ted Szukalski

I wonder what you think about the lastest portrait additions to my gallery.

I have finally overcome my shyness and have taken a lot of portraits. While they are waiting to be processed here are the first three photographs.

Owen

Whatever skin adjustment technique you're using, it looks a bit fake, and sort of OOF, but the models are gorgeous and I like your use of DOF.

Owen

Ted Szukalski

Would you believe I had not used any softening of the skin in these shots at all. I do not know what kind of makeup the first 2 models had, but since the photos come from an organised show, including makeup sponsorship I can assume they had some professional makeup artist. Last girl is very young and simply had naturally clean skin. Never the less I will review the raw images tonight and see I can make them look more natural. I'm using Bibble so any one who has experience with this and skin tones and textures I'd like to hear from you.

Owen wrote:

Whatever skin adjustment technique you're using, it looks a bit fake, and sort of OOF, but the models are gorgeous and I like your use of DOF.

Owen

Nikolai

Ted,
With all due respect: ISO 800 and 1/1600 sec - what were you trying to achieve?

Ted Szukalski

I knew someone will ask about this.

These photos were taken in a dark shopping centre. The models were on catwalk which had no light to speak off. They moved fast - very fast and I'm there with a Sigma 70-200 2.8 hand held in a crowd. I could have used lower ISO like 400 but than I am not sure I would get all shots. In fact I had to push +1 to +2ev in postprocessing for many of them. I took 340 photos in just over an hour - all at F2.8 with AV priority. Time varied from 1/50 to 1/6000. I really had no time to change settings from shot to shot. This was "safe" setting. Last photo was taken with a 28-75 Tamron and I admit settings on that one were "less than desired" - to tell you honestly - it was a setting from a previous outdoor shot. Sometimes capturing the moment is more important than ideal settings.

Nikolai wrote:

With all due respect: ISO 800 and 1/1600 sec - what were you trying to achieve?

Nikolai

Ah, ok, gotcha, thanks!

Ted Szukalski wrote:

I knew someone will ask about this.
....
Sometimes capturing the moment is more important than ideal settings.

Can't argue with that:-)
Thanks for sharing!

Owen

Did you use any noise reduction software?

Ted Szukalski

Yes, these are ISO 800 shots in dark environment so there was some noise. I've used noiseninja profiling each picture individually.

Owen wrote:

Did you use any noise reduction software?

Owen

That explains the skin. I would prefer noise to the smoothed out look.

Owen