Backyard Portraits

gmonkeh · April 16, 2007

I was getting a little antsy not having shot in a while. Today turned out to be a beautiful day in Bremerton so convinced the wife to do some modeling for me. Setup my strobe in the backyard and tried a few things. These are just a few I've worked on, a lot more to sort through.

1.

2.

I just got a 22" LCD so this is the first time I've done processing work with it. Don't have a hardware calibration device yet so did it by eye. Do these look to be acceptable in terms of color and shadow/highlights?

Thanks

Alex

Seamus · April 16, 2007

Beautiful model, I really like no 2.

gmonkeh · April 16, 2007

Thanks Seamus I'm sure she'll appreciate the complement.

I'm trying out a couple of processing techniques in PS what do you think of this one?

gmonkeh · April 16, 2007

And this one I call "an ode to spiderman". (I read way too many comics as a child.)

photogmomma · April 16, 2007

These are great! #4 I'm a bit distracted by the reflection in the water. I like the PP on #3... Color looks good. Well, unless she's not supposed to be green...

(No, no, looks fine to me.)

Gorgeous model!

urbanaries · April 16, 2007

i like her relaxed pose in #2 but it isn't the greatest expression of hers (and she's obviously capable of more).

I like #2 but it is a little forced? the background bokeh is amazing. I think this one could benefit from some contrast work.

#3 is my personal favorite of the bunch. You've really turned me on to the "cyclops" lighting

.

I like the pose, and when she gets that particular gaze going, it's hard to look away. Her one eye is sharp and clear and her lips parted in an "I don't care if you think I'm sexy or not (because I know I am) kind of way. I personally think the diffused effect is counteracting the overall feel. It calls for a dirty, edgy, contrasty process.

I love #4 and think it's right on as far as composition, pose.
Whatever processing you did is perfect, the contrast and colors and textures look right on. Maybe could even be amped up even more depending on personal taste. I love the textures in the denim, water and weathered dock contrasted with her creamy skin. Although her face looks a tad ghost-y (possibly from skin softening/dodging?)

I'm loving your outdoor portraits, the colors are so subtle and well-exposed. Your wife is gorgeous and its awesome to see her evolve in front of the camera.

Were you using the 80-200 on these? Was this a completely overcast day? the light looks amazingly even.

ETA: I just saw in the OP you used a strobe, wow, you did an awesome job balancing artificial vs. ambient light.

harjtt · April 16, 2007

No.3 's the best of the bunch - she makes a perfect model and it looke as if you have a cracker of backyard.

Cheers

HarjTT

wildviper · April 16, 2007

I agree...#3 is really good. THis is coming from a guy that is not a pro..I just like pictures...and that one captures me.

How did you do the processing? I like the look.

Terrence · April 16, 2007

They are all great. Number 3 really stands out for me. Great work. Every time I pick up the camera my wife runs!!

gmonkeh · April 16, 2007

I agree...#3 is really good. THis is coming from a guy that is not a pro..I just like pictures...and that one captures me.

How did you do the processing? I like the look.

I didn't really do much processing, the "look" all comes from how I lit the shot.
I waited until before the sun was about to set to get subdued lighting. And used my strobe at low power (around f/2.8 - f/4) and set my shutterspeed to synch @ 1/500 to control the amount of ambient light.

Then in PS I just did my normal Levels correction. Did a little bit of dodging and burning using curves adjustment layers. Then bumped the contrast a little to give it a little more pop. Then to get the final look, I turned down the saturation to -40.

No.3 's the best of the bunch - she makes a perfect model and it looke as if you have a cracker of backyard.

Yeah we lucked out a bit on the housing situation when we got married. Her folks owned a house here in Bremerton so they're letting us rent it for pretty cheap until we can get our own. The house just happens to be a lakefront property, I wasn't about to say no.

#3 is my personal favorite of the bunch. You've really turned me on to the "cyclops" lighting . I like the pose, and when she gets that particular gaze going, it's hard to look away. Her one eye is sharp and clear and her lips parted in an "I don't care if you think I'm sexy or not (because I know I am) kind of way. I personally think the diffused effect is counteracting the overall feel. It calls for a dirty, edgy, contrasty process.

I'm still working on the process but you're right about the image needing more contrast though. I think that's what I did with image #4.

Thanks all for the great feedback.

evoryware · April 16, 2007

#4

excellent

Mike02 · April 16, 2007

Beautiful Model :P.

I really like both of the shots, but they might have benefitted from a slightly lower angle :P. Otherwise they look great.

P.S. Number 3 and number 4 look great, Im not crazy about the background in 4, but it works. Number 3 is fantastic, may I ask what pp techniques you used?

Halliday · April 17, 2007

I was lied to..
I see no "yard," only water and a pretty woman

kygarden · April 17, 2007

#1 is great in my opinion...love the colors actually. Only thing I would possibly do is get her out of dead center...other than that, I like it

winger · April 17, 2007

gmonkeh wrote:

Thanks Seamus I'm sure she'll appreciate the complement.

I'm trying out a couple of processing techniques in PS what do you think of this one?

This is my favorite one of the 4. The first two the colors look a little flat, where here the colors, pose and composition make a much more interesting shot.

I actually really like it, my only complaint is that there is alot of shadow on the right side of her face, taking away some of the beauty of the model by making half her face seem hidden in the deep shadows.

gmonkeh · April 17, 2007

I actually really like it, my only complaint is that there is alot of shadow on the right side of her face, taking away some of the beauty of the model by making half her face seem hidden in the deep shadows.

Yeah I really need to get a reflector stand. I have a 5-1 reflector that I havent had the ability to use cause usually it's just me shooting.

Anyone know of a good DIY tutorial in making a reflector holder?

Ted Szukalski · April 17, 2007

I do not care for the two photos in the original post, however the two additional images you've posted subsequently are great. The framing and the viewpoint in both of them work for your beautiful model.

Now, just one little pick: It maybe just me but the photos have too much magenta in the colour balance.

Backyard Portraits

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