Playing around with soft effect techniques and blend modes today (Senior Pics)

SitterS

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Cold outside here in Denver with some snow today. Great day to play around in CS3. Messing around with some blending modes and soft effects. Is it too much color???:dunno Kind of like it and wanted to see what you guys think. A senior I took photos of a couple of weeks ago. She has a beautiful smile and great skin.




Love the tones you get in the BW when you convert it after using the different blending modes and soft effect.








Shane

urbanaries

Wow Shane these are really gorgeous!

1. I like the composition and perspective of this one, and she has a very relaxed, easy smile. The red/orange in the upper right hand corner is a little distracting.

2. Much prefer the BW version of this! Love the texture of the grass and her skin tone. Very very nice!!!

3. Absolutely LOVE this one, the colors/background and her pose work very well! I am not sure she'd be thrilled about her expression, but it's a flattering photograph and has a very modern, fresh feel to it.

4. My favorite expression of the bunch, but I'm not sure the blur/soft focus is working for me here. The background looks like it has some motion blur as well as out of focus? Can't quite put my finger on it.

Great to see you posting again, and that you're doing some client work! Your images never disappoint.

Happy TG!

Lynne

SitterS

Thanks Lynne. Your comments are always appreciated.

I am glad to say that my business has taken off in the past month. Mostly sports and custom sports posters. It has also brought alot of other sessions my way as well. Yippee as the cash was needed to pay for my new toys.

I see what you are saying about the last one. I quickly did this one and don't think I reduced the opacity enough on the soft effect layer. When adding a mask to paint back in the areas I didn't do a very good job. Going to redo this one as I love her smile.

Shane

susanbudge

A lovely set of images of a very pretty girl. I like the way she has connected with you and it shows through in the shots.
I also like the black and white version of the first..the tones and textures are very pleasing.
I agree that her expression in the third isn't the best of the series, but I do so like the colour and dynamics of the photo. It is young and vibrant so I still think she will like it.
Just a little thing, but when you do your framing, it may help to put a tiny dark stroked edge to the image to prevent it "bleeding" out into the border as it does at the top of the last.
Great set of images that you must be very pleased with.
Susan

susanbudge

I meant to ask, what blending modes/techniques did you use...if ou don't mind sharing that is

SitterS

Susan...I see what you mean about the borders. I only use them when I post and not to print. As for the blending stuff, I don't mind sharing at all. I get a magazine "Rangefinder" and in this issue they had some of the steps that a photographer uses for blending. Check out the magazine (lots of good articles) and it is free.

In the article she duplicates the background several times, each time changing the layers blending mode to hard light, multiply, etc. Also she uses masks to paint back in areas on each layer. All in all a final picture adjusting the lightness, darkness and contrast of the image.

As for the soft effect, you duplicate the layer. Go to filter>Other>High Pass. I choose pixels 10 or over. Click ok. Change the layers mode to Soft LIght. Ctrl-I and add a mask to that layer. Set color to black and use a soft brush to paint areas that you do not want the blur. Reduce opacity of that layer as needed.

After that for the senior pics I duplicated the background layer again and placed it on top of the layer palette. Changed the mode to overlay and reduced opacity.

Usually I just play around with them until I get something that I like. Hope this helps.


Shane

susanbudge

Thanks for the link to Rangefinder magazine. I'm going to be kept busy for months going through them! Thanks for sharing!
Susan

Skippy

SitterS wrote:

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Cold outside here in Denver with some snow today. Great day to play around in CS3. Messing around with some blending modes and soft effects. Is it too much color??? Kind of like it and wanted to see what you guys think. A senior I took photos of a couple of weeks ago. She has a beautiful smile and great skin.

Love the tones you get in the BW when you convert it after using the different blending modes and soft effect.
Shane

Hi Shane,
Your model is very very attractive,
I suck a people pictures, this series looks great
Thanks for sharing..... Skippy
.

Elaine

You seem to have this process nailed down! I love the effects on these, and your pics are beautiful to begin with. The B&W is fabulous, but I really like the color shots, too. You are very talented and creative!

Mitchell

I really like #1. I've read that article in Rangefinder and can't get results anywhere like this. Kudos to you!!

SitterS

Thanks Skippy, Elaine and Mitch.

Shane

gubbs

Lovely set!

Mrs F

SitterS wrote:

I get a magazine "Rangefinder" and in this issue they had some of the steps that a photographer uses for blending. Check out the magazine (lots of good articles) and it is free...

As far as critique, I agree with everything that Lynne said. Plus I wanted to say this: your images are sublime. As soon as I read the word "Rangefinder", I left my computer, sprinted up the stairs two at a time to the magazine rack and grabbed my copy of Rangefinder so I could find that article. I can't wait to mess around with those blending modes.

Elaine

Mrs F wrote:

As far as critique, I agree with everything that Lynne said. Plus I wanted to say this: your images are sublime. As soon as I read the word "Rangefinder", I left my computer, sprinted up the stairs two at a time to the magazine rack and grabbed my copy of Rangefinder so I could find that article. I can't wait to mess around with those blending modes.

And to piggy back on this sentiment...I'm thinking of asking for a Rangefinder subscription for Christmas!

SitterS

Mrs F wrote:

As far as critique, I agree with everything that Lynne said. Plus I wanted to say this: your images are sublime. As soon as I read the word "Rangefinder", I left my computer, sprinted up the stairs two at a time to the magazine rack and grabbed my copy of Rangefinder so I could find that article. I can't wait to mess around with those blending modes.

WOW what a compliment! It is funny that I started learning photography on my own several years ago. I have read so many threads, forums, articles and practiced hard to try to get better. Still have a long way to go. I would reply to others threads, envious of their skills in photography never thinking that one day I would receive as nice of compliments as you guys have given me here. I really appreciate you taking the time to look and reply.

Shane

SitterS

Elaine wrote:

And to piggy back on this sentiment...I'm thinking of asking for a Rangefinder subscription for Christmas!

Hold off on that as it is free or at least I got it for free. Let me go check this out for you and I will let you know for sure. Also there is another one out there that I think is free as well. I think it is After Capture or something like that.

Shane

SitterS

Here you go Elaine. I think both are free. Now go change that letter to Santa and ask for something else


http://www.rangefindermag.com/subscribe/


http://www.aftercapture.com/about/9/subscribe-to-aftercapture-magazine

Shane

Elaine

SitterS wrote:

Here you go Elaine. I think both are free. Now go change that letter to Santa and ask for something else


http://www.rangefindermag.com/subscribe/


http://www.aftercapture.com/about/9/subscribe-to-aftercapture-magazine

Shane

Done! Thanks so much for including the links!