Inspiring Photo: Pals forever #14123772

Pals forever

Uploaded: September 21, 2013

Description

Shutter Speed: 1/250.00 F-stop: f/7.1
Focal Length: 50.00

Exif: F Number: 7.1, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/250 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 800, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 50.00 mm, Model: SLT-A77V

Comments

Rita K. Connell September 21, 2013 0

WOW Dale you are really doing great with portraits. there isn't anything I would change about this one. if anything I would caution you, on is your crop. If you are taking this for a customer this crop is a hard one to frame. it would take a special matt and frame, a lot of people will not like that. I have notice that you bought some lighting is this something you want to do more of?

This is really a wonderful capture #1545371

Dale Hardin September 21, 2013 0

Thank you Rita. This is all natural light and was taken at a civil war reenactment. Took a number of images of these girls and am just now able to check them out. Have been busy on the wheat harvest book.

I devised a new method for me, on this image. It is two images stacked. One had the regular raw edits and the other had the raw file clarity moved to zero, which makes an image very soft and dreamy. Combining those two with some creative masking gave me this result. #10850314

Susan Williams September 21, 2013 0

I agree with everything Rita said, Dale. Very nice work. The only thing I notice is the lack of details in the hands which is obvious compared to the beautiful detail in their faces. I also think a standard crop would be more effective over all. But what a nice capture of happy faces with natural smiles. #10850405

Elaine Hessler September 21, 2013 0

I like this, and I like the square crop. I am finding there are more and more square frames with mats now, so I wouldn't change the dimensions for this reason (unless I am missing the point stated above...).

Love the girls' faces-very beautiful. However, on my monitor, there is something funny about the background. I don't know if it is too bright or too much yellow in the leaves. Could you selectively tone down the background and remove a little yellow?

Not sure what will happen... #10850411

Peter W. Marks September 21, 2013 0

All I can see are two delightful,happy kids and their sweet attitudes shine through.
Excellent, Dale. Makes me think I should spend more time reading photography books and watching tutorials as I very rarely explore the possibilities of improving to any extent what pops out of the camera. #10850432

Dale Hardin September 21, 2013 0

Thank you Susan, Elaine and Peter.

I've addressed the hands issue and reduced the yellow in the background more than had already been done.

Elaine, the "something" in the background I've explained above where I discuss how this was done. #10850516

Rita K. Connell September 22, 2013 0

dale your edit looks great. I just want to say again I really like the sq crop on this one. but the over all when doing portraits you have to be very careful with sq crop with customers. #10850610

Dale Hardin September 22, 2013 0

Thank you Rita. Here are three more from that session. As you can see,the light was not the most favorable. Even though these were all shot together, each has it's own distinct look. #10850615

Michael Kelly September 22, 2013 0

Very nice Dale. I think things worked well except for the hand of the girl on photo right that is on the photo left girls arm. It lacks enough detail that it grabs my attention quickly as being unusual. I would back off your process in that area to see if that reduces what for me is a big distraction. #10851132

Dale Hardin September 22, 2013 0

Thanks Mike. As far as the hand, the process is completely gone in that area and what you see is what it was. She is a youngster so her skin is very smooth. #10851143

Elaine Hessler September 22, 2013 0

The background on the edit looks better to me. And I do like the first two new pics you posted, especially the girl with the hat-I love the way you cropped that one!

Rita-what is it with customers not liking the square crop? Is it really due to the lack of selection of square frames? Just interested... #10851145

Dale Hardin September 22, 2013 0

Thanks Elaine. #10851158

Jeff E Jensen September 22, 2013 0

Nice work on these, Dale! #10851168

Peter W. Marks September 22, 2013 0

Re the 'offending hand'. I have a better idea. (Well not really, but I would like you to try it Dale.)
It is not so much that there is a lack of detail but more that the arm and hand seem awkwardly placed. I believe it would not look so distracting if using your PS talents you moved it so that it angled diagonally so that her hand rested on the dark haired girl's fore- arm rather than it grasping her bicep.
Does that make sense Dale?

#10851169

Rita K. Connell September 22, 2013 0

I believe that is exactly what it is Elaine they don't want the expense of special mat or frame. they want the standard size. I personally like the sq crop I have tried on more than one occasion but they have said I like it but will probably not use it, because I don't want to take the time to find a frame that fits it.

Dale I think you did a great job with girl one and two at capturing them. I find the lighting just fine. But my personal take on girl one is that her skin may be smooth because of her age but its not that smooth. to me its a little to smooth all you have to do is look at the other images of her and know that her skin isn't that smooth. I know that we all do a little smoothing of skin when doing portrait work but there is a find line that we can cross that makes it to much. but then again there are people that really like this look. so if that is what you were going for then this image was very nicely done. #10851207

Michael Kelly September 22, 2013 0

Dale first time I missed the edited shot which actually resolved the problem for me. The hand now looks natural where it looked platic like in the original post. #10851250

Dale Hardin September 22, 2013 0

Thanks Jeff.

Peter, I see what you are driving at but that's a bit out of my expertise. However the same effect you are after can be done by simply cloning the hand out all together. Can you picture that or do I have to go to the trouble of actually doing it? :o)

Rita, I agree the skin on girl one is not realistic. This was an exercise in a different technique and semi-surreal look. I'll see about showing the image without the soft glow as time allows.

Mike, Thank you. #10851289

Dale Hardin September 22, 2013 0

Rita, here is the change you requested. #10851292

Rita K. Connell September 22, 2013 0

personally I find your edit a wonderful portrait of this girl she would be very pleased with this shot. very nicely captured. thanks for doing it, I really appreciate it #10851317

Dale Hardin September 23, 2013 0

Thanks Rita, I like it better also, but just had to experiment. The only way to learn. #10851414

Elaine Hessler September 23, 2013 0

Interesting! Thanks for sharing the experiment with us:) #10851421

Kalena Randall September 24, 2013 0

Lovely ladies in lovely portraits! Super shots, Dale! #10852155

Dale Hardin September 24, 2013 0

Thanks a lot kalena. #10852183

lisa anderson September 24, 2013 0

I like these portraits also. The girl with the hat is my absolute favourite. I really like the first post, but the blond girl's hair seems to disappear a little into the background which distracts me a little (this is the first time I've ever had a technical detail opinion about any of your shots!) #10852503

Dale Hardin September 24, 2013 0

Thank you Lisa. The hair effect on the first post was intentional but apparently not well rec'd. Ah well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. :o) #10852596

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