I was going to post my initial thoughts about my new 5D Mark II with this entry, but I still haven't had much of an opportunity to try it out so will leave my review for a later date. What I can say though is that I'm very impressed so far, especially with the major improvements to high ISO shooting. I've also been playing around with Live View shooting, and while this isn't something I imagine I'll use all that often, I can see that it's going to be useful. Anyway, I will post a much more in-depth review at some point soon.
As for this shot: it was taken while Rhowan was playing her DS, and was titled in response to one of her comments. She'd been playing for a while, and I didn't think she was paying any attention to the fact that I was photographing her. Suddenly though, without pausing her game, she said "do you want me to look up?". I said yes, she glanced up, and I got the shot. She then went back to her game. I don't know what she'll end up doing when she's older, but she's certainly well on the way to developing a lot of the skills she'd need if she wanted to go into modelling :-)
In terms of the post-production this one was relatively straightforward, i.e. I used the Channel Mixer to convert the image to black and white (as described in this tutorial). In this instance though I used two masked Channel Mixer adjustment layers. The first of these was biased towards the red channel, which I used to lighten her face, while the second was biased towards the blue channel. This one was used to lighten her eyes and darken the background. The image was then adjusted using a few masked curves.
comment byEugene at 05:44 AM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
Wow, her expression is really serious! I guess she really wanted to get back to the game, huh?
I like how the depth of field grows shallower as one pans away from Rhowan's eyes...I didn't really expect that out of the 24-70 f/2.8L...
comment byIan Andrew at 05:45 AM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
Amazing photo! This picture just sucks you right in. Nice work
comment bykeith at 05:50 AM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
wow, intense gaze
comment byBenjamin Chait at 05:52 AM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
Great expression!
comment byAdam Stevens at 06:09 AM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
Ouch! What a look! Fireproof shirts issued to everyone in the house?
comment byrhys at 06:27 AM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
stunning image, really beautiful work and spot on PP. Of course, I'm not jealous of you having the mk2!
comment byClaus Petersen at 06:49 AM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
Congratulations with your new camera, and your very evil child, she looks like she'll a great little helper of satan ;-)
comment by1meter89 at 07:21 AM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
Great look and and sharpness to the eyes!
Imho this one looks better with the black theme, too. ;)
comment byGarry at 07:25 AM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
Beautifully sharp and nicely toned...
comment byMirko Herzner at 07:34 AM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
What a cool shot. Especially with the story behind. Strong expression on her face!
comment byaurore at 08:36 AM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
magnifique portrait et n&b!
comment bySylvain at 10:35 AM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
Wonderful portrait ! Perfect focus and expression.
comment byJaol at 12:09 PM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
Absolytely agree with you on her modelling prospects. That look is really intimidating thanks to your focusing on them. The 2.8 aperture works out here to perfection.
comment byjesse at 12:34 PM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
wow this is definitely not the most flattering images ive seen of rhowan but its striking nonetheless. the eyes look sinister.
comment byNicki at 03:54 PM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
I'm shure - her dad will be the best indicator to check out her talent of being a great model one day. I'm happy to "see" you posting now with the 5D MkII - I think that Canon did a great job, you are now equipped for a long time till the shutter died again ;). Good luck!
comment bycarlos at 03:59 PM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
I do like many of you images but it photoshop that make work not camera. you not photographer but ps man.
comment byDan Kaufman at 04:52 PM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
magnificent processing ! and I certainly understand the "reluctant cooperation" in daughter-models :)
comment byNicki at 06:27 PM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
CARLOS? I think it's often good to see the original like david does. So you have the chance to se what's the part of photographer and photoshop. What i like on pictures like this one, are the possibilities by using tone curves to transform colors. It's like using a B/W film (i.e infrared).
comment bydjn1 at 06:47 PM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
Eugene: I don't think she minded being photographed, but clearly wasn't in the mood to look pleased about it :)
Nicki: don't even mention broken shutters ;)
Carlos: I often shoot with post-production in mind, and only tend to post the originals when I think the transformation is worth illustrating. I also don't draw much of a distinction between the actual photography and its post-production: to me they're both just a part of the same process. As such it's the end result that's important, not the steps en-route.
comment byCarlos Garcia at 08:45 PM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
This is a "million dollar" shot.
AMAZING, hauntingly beautiful eyes.
C.
comment bypernilla at 09:00 PM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
Amazing eyes! Love the DOF and the processing.
comment bydesfocado at 09:50 PM (GMT) on 25 August, 2009
Hi, great photo and great model. Prefer this one to the original one. --desfocado
comment bymicha at 12:53 AM (GMT) on 26 August, 2009
She is just amazing and you two together are so so so professional! Never get tired to repeat this, sorry :)
Magnificent shot! Congratulations.
comment bymikelangelo at 03:42 AM (GMT) on 26 August, 2009
This is just great timing and angle...love it!!
comment byLightningPaul at 07:04 AM (GMT) on 26 August, 2009
Fantastic image! The look and the DOF is superb. Though I prefer the color version because there are so nice.
comment byAbel Longoria at 02:02 PM (GMT) on 26 August, 2009
nice shot... i have the 5dmk2 and 24-70 and man i love that combination. i think the only thing i like better on the 5dmk2 is my 135 f2L for portraits.
comment byDREAMS OF LIGHT at 05:20 PM (GMT) on 26 August, 2009
deep eyes..
comment bySteve at 07:05 PM (GMT) on 26 August, 2009
Excellent portrait shot. Amazing!!
comment by Josep at 08:03 PM (GMT) on 26 August, 2009
66mm, F2.8, 1/50, no IS, sudden shot, new camera... and still tack sharp and perfect focus on her eyes.
You know how to shoot. Congratulations! (Now you'll tell me that you were holding the camera with just one hand, too :-)
comment byEnric at 09:32 AM (GMT) on 27 August, 2009
great expresion, amazing eyes, I have the 24-70 too, but I think that I need a full frame to achieve great dof like this
comment bymooch at 12:19 PM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009
How come there is so little grain to this baring in mind it was shot at ISO 400. If I go beyond 200 no matter the light conditions I seem to get the fake grain synonymous with digitial camera's.
I also find the depth of field to be surprisingly deep considering it has been shot at 2.8. I find that if I get the nose in focus the eyes are lost. Great composition and very rich B & W processing Dave.
I was going to post my initial thoughts about my new 5D Mark II with this entry, but I still haven't had much of an opportunity to try it out so will leave my review for a later date. What I can say though is that I'm very impressed so far, especially with the major improvements to high ISO shooting. I've also been playing around with Live View shooting, and while this isn't something I imagine I'll use all that often, I can see that it's going to be useful. Anyway, I will post a much more in-depth review at some point soon.
As for this shot: it was taken while Rhowan was playing her DS, and was titled in response to one of her comments. She'd been playing for a while, and I didn't think she was paying any attention to the fact that I was photographing her. Suddenly though, without pausing her game, she said "do you want me to look up?". I said yes, she glanced up, and I got the shot. She then went back to her game. I don't know what she'll end up doing when she's older, but she's certainly well on the way to developing a lot of the skills she'd need if she wanted to go into modelling :-)
In terms of the post-production this one was relatively straightforward, i.e. I used the Channel Mixer to convert the image to black and white (as described in this tutorial). In this instance though I used two masked Channel Mixer adjustment layers. The first of these was biased towards the red channel, which I used to lighten her face, while the second was biased towards the blue channel. This one was used to lighten her eyes and darken the background. The image was then adjusted using a few masked curves.
If you're interested, the original is here:
.../archives/do_you_want_me_to_look_up.php
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
Canon 5D Mark II
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
66mm
f/2.8
1/50
aperture priority
+1/3
evaluative
400
no
RAW
ACR
minor rotation
Wow, her expression is really serious! I guess she really wanted to get back to the game, huh?
I like how the depth of field grows shallower as one pans away from Rhowan's eyes...I didn't really expect that out of the 24-70 f/2.8L...
Amazing photo! This picture just sucks you right in. Nice work
wow, intense gaze
Great expression!
Ouch! What a look! Fireproof shirts issued to everyone in the house?
stunning image, really beautiful work and spot on PP. Of course, I'm not jealous of you having the mk2!
Congratulations with your new camera, and your very evil child, she looks like she'll a great little helper of satan ;-)
Great look and and sharpness to the eyes!
Imho this one looks better with the black theme, too. ;)
Beautifully sharp and nicely toned...
What a cool shot. Especially with the story behind. Strong expression on her face!
magnifique portrait et n&b!
Wonderful portrait ! Perfect focus and expression.
Absolytely agree with you on her modelling prospects. That look is really intimidating thanks to your focusing on them. The 2.8 aperture works out here to perfection.
wow this is definitely not the most flattering images ive seen of rhowan but its striking nonetheless. the eyes look sinister.
I'm shure - her dad will be the best indicator to check out her talent of being a great model one day. I'm happy to "see" you posting now with the 5D MkII - I think that Canon did a great job, you are now equipped for a long time till the shutter died again ;). Good luck!
I do like many of you images but it photoshop that make work not camera. you not photographer but ps man.
magnificent processing ! and I certainly understand the "reluctant cooperation" in daughter-models :)
CARLOS? I think it's often good to see the original like david does. So you have the chance to se what's the part of photographer and photoshop. What i like on pictures like this one, are the possibilities by using tone curves to transform colors. It's like using a B/W film (i.e infrared).
Eugene: I don't think she minded being photographed, but clearly wasn't in the mood to look pleased about it :)
Nicki: don't even mention broken shutters ;)
Carlos: I often shoot with post-production in mind, and only tend to post the originals when I think the transformation is worth illustrating. I also don't draw much of a distinction between the actual photography and its post-production: to me they're both just a part of the same process. As such it's the end result that's important, not the steps en-route.
This is a "million dollar" shot.
AMAZING, hauntingly beautiful eyes.
C.
Amazing eyes! Love the DOF and the processing.
Hi, great photo and great model. Prefer this one to the original one. --desfocado
She is just amazing and you two together are so so so professional! Never get tired to repeat this, sorry :)
Magnificent shot! Congratulations.
This is just great timing and angle...love it!!
Fantastic image! The look and the DOF is superb. Though I prefer the color version because there are so nice.
nice shot... i have the 5dmk2 and 24-70 and man i love that combination. i think the only thing i like better on the 5dmk2 is my 135 f2L for portraits.
deep eyes..
Excellent portrait shot. Amazing!!
66mm, F2.8, 1/50, no IS, sudden shot, new camera... and still tack sharp and perfect focus on her eyes.
You know how to shoot. Congratulations! (Now you'll tell me that you were holding the camera with just one hand, too :-)
great expresion, amazing eyes, I have the 24-70 too, but I think that I need a full frame to achieve great dof like this
My! scares me a bit. :-)
How come there is so little grain to this baring in mind it was shot at ISO 400. If I go beyond 200 no matter the light conditions I seem to get the fake grain synonymous with digitial camera's.
I also find the depth of field to be surprisingly deep considering it has been shot at 2.8. I find that if I get the nose in focus the eyes are lost. Great composition and very rich B & W processing Dave.
amazing expression!!
Spectacular image. I especially like the shallow DOF...drawing a compositional focus toward her eyes. Super expressive, and intense.
Seen this photo a few times and it still freaks me out. Sign of a good photo i believe.
What an intense portrait! You wouldn't say she was just taking a quick break from her game. Compliments to the photographer as well as the model.
Amazing. Well done, David.