high key sp?

Elaine

OK...really putting myself out there with this one! This is a departure for me, but it's fun to try new things, right? I was going for high-key here...did I even hit the target, or are there still too many black tones?

kombizz

Nice portrait image.
Would be nice to use a diffuser.

urbanaries

I loooooove this. the conversion is really nice to the awesome texture of your hair. The shadows are a tad crushed, but you are very very close. The lights in the eyes are amazing.

My only wish is that you had a more compelling expression....you look pretty bored and/or self conscious.

But the technique and overall effect I like, and its cool that you're trying new and different things!

Elaine

urbanaries wrote:

I loooooove this. the conversion is really nice to the awesome texture of your hair. The shadows are a tad crushed, but you are very very close. The lights in the eyes are amazing.

My only wish is that you had a more compelling expression....you look pretty bored and/or self conscious.

But the technique and overall effect I like, and its cool that you're trying new and different things!

Thanks, Lynne, for the encouraging words!!! As far as expression goes...this was for yesterday's self-portrait-a-day...and I was stumped about what to shoot. I had just done that photo shoot for my friend and I was out of brain cells, so I figured I would take one of my self...not knowing what to shoot! Hah! Anyhoo, glad to hear the approach wasn't far off.

Elaine

kombizz wrote:

Nice portrait image.
Would be nice to use a diffuser.

Thanks! I do not have a diffuser...maybe something to try in post? I'm not even sure what affect a diffuser would have on an image like this??

Swartzy

Elaine
Great job....a couple suggestions: and realize it's maybe a matter of preferrence....When I think of high key, the background is blown and maybe the hair edge leading into it.....I try not to blow facial features and skin.....it comes down to art at that point I suppose. I like the eyes here and think that toning the entire face down a bit will make the eyes pop even more with clarity...like glass.

It's fun to watch all these new techniques, the presets with Lightroom...the coolest stuff in CS3...oh my, I watched a video on the CS3 black & white conversion...all I can say is "NO FAIR!".

Really nice work here Elaine...will watch for some addendum versions

Elaine

Swartzy wrote:

Great job....a couple suggestions: and realize it's maybe a matter of preferrence....When I think of high key, the background is blown and maybe the hair edge leading into it.....I try not to blow facial features and skin.....it comes down to art at that point I suppose. I like the eyes here and think that toning the entire face down a bit will make the eyes pop even more with clarity...like glass.

It's fun to watch all these new techniques, the presets with Lightroom...the coolest stuff in CS3...oh my, I watched a video on the CS3 black & white conversion...all I can say is "NO FAIR!".

Really nice work here Elaine...will watch for some addendum versions

Thanks, Swartzy! It's good to hear other's perspectives on high-key. I guess I always thought the skin was supposed to be a bit blown in this effect.
It's pretty difficult for me to recreate what I did, but then only change certain things (like tone down the face) because of my workflow with this one, but I did do some very minor things...tried to "uncrush" some of the shadows and bring more texture to the hair and tried to brighten the eyes a bit...a little dodging here and there. I think I'd better quit on this one...it's taking up toooo much time. It's so easy to get sucked into a pic and just fiddle, fiddle, fiddle!

saurora

Nice job Elaine! I really like all that you have done to this one. And I don't mind the expression as it looks like you were in a very contemplative mood!

Elaine

saurora wrote:

Nice job Elaine! I really like all that you have done to this one. And I don't mind the expression as it looks like you were in a very contemplative mood!

Thanks a bunch!!

LiquidAir

Nicely done, but I would suggest a step further: wear a white shirt. The dark shirt against the white draws too much attention away from the face.

System

I guess I wouldn't know a high key even if mariah carey did it-

but I definitely like your sp-

urbanaries

gefillmore wrote:

I guess I wouldn't know a high key even if mariah carey did it-