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chromasia.com

Back in 2003, I posted a shot of Rhowan taken just before her second birthday. Today, I'm posting one that was taken during her 8th birthday celebrations, just after she got out of the pool at a friend's house. And while she's clearly changed during the last six years, she's still as photogenic as ever :-)

If you're interested, the original is here:

.../archives/on_being_8.php

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8.01pm on 26/8/09
Canon 5D Mark II
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3x2 + children [portraits]
comment by Alex D at 07:06 AM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

Nice shot David
Your family shots always have that nice personal touch in the processing

comment by Ian Andrew at 07:19 AM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

I like this one a lot. The eye really stands out to me. just like your last image the eyes really stood out to me. Nice job.

comment by Claus at 07:23 AM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

A very young one, looking very old :-) Nice work on this one.

comment by Alexis at 08:25 AM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

David,

Could you please discuss a bit the processing of this particular image or at least provide references to the tutorials that contain relevant material?

Thanks a lot

PS Great shot!

comment by chiara at 08:28 AM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

Very photogenic... Beautiful portrait!

comment by djn1 at 08:34 AM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

Alexis: the most relevant tutorial is Portraits: part one (in terms of adjusting the overall balance of the image and lightening her eyes), but you might also want to take a look at Black and White: part one as I used the Channel Mixer to partially desaturate the image. Other than that I spent some time tidying up a few distracting details and added a number of masked curves to adjust the contrast in different areas of the image.

comment by Jacques B at 09:13 AM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

Nice shot and nice PP as usual :). But I'm skeptic about the black stripe on the left. I find it very disturbing, at least when viewed on the white backgroud.

comment by Michael Nielsen at 10:18 AM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

Your images of your family are inspiring to me!

Best regards,
Michael
www.photofolio.dk - www.photofolio.dk/blog/

comment by Eduardo Arcos at 11:23 AM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

I remember clearly when you posted Rhowan's photo in 2003. It is incredible how fast they grow. Marvelous picture.

comment by janko at 12:04 PM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

now this is a cool picture ! especially when you compare it to the original shot, cool how much you add with some editing.

The intense look of the girl is also special, she has a real grown up facial expression.

comment by Carlos Garcia at 12:07 PM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

I love the original as much as the one you posted.
Beautiful young lady.
Again... those eyes!

Carlos

comment by Sean at 12:23 PM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

This is wonderful. One of your best for sure.

The colours and treatment reminds me of the cover of Kylie Minogue's Body Language cd.

comment by Nawid at 01:09 PM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

She's gorgeous! I dunno how you do it but somehow you manage to be original and interesting with every shot of Rhowan. I have seen so many and not two are alike.
Well done!

comment by DREAMS OF LIGHT at 01:51 PM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

yess david.. she looks like an actress..
the lips and eyes.. like a woman!! perfect work!!

comment by Ed at 03:04 PM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

Cracking shot. Great pose, as others say the eye stands out - as it should, and I like the contrast of the black stripes.

comment by Jason Dale at 03:11 PM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

Wow a cracking portrait David, Rhowan certainly has changed over the years, this image adds a maturity beyond her years though, I think it is the pose and the glasses that do that.

comment by Akshat Gait at 03:28 PM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

Wow!! I'm mesmerized.

comment by Dan Kaufman at 05:10 PM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

excellent work taking the background "bands" to black, it adds a "painterly abstractness" to the image. and, as always, the crispness of focus in her eyes makes the image riveting.

comment by Pete at 07:35 PM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

Do you purposely try and make your daughters look older than they are? She looks 8 in the original. In this edit she looks like a Vixen. Was that your intention?

comment by Libby at 07:57 PM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

Pete: This 'look' is typical of Daves work and is 'classic chromasia' style; more importantly, Rhowan likes it :-)

comment by pernilla at 11:46 PM (GMT) on 28 August, 2009

Superb portrait of your beautiful daughter. Love the colour tones and your treatment.

comment by micha at 12:56 PM (GMT) on 29 August, 2009

Happy Bday beauty Rhowan! The pic is amazing and Libby is 100% right, it is a classic chromasia style . Unique in all sense! Congratulations both of you.

comment by Olivier Jules at 09:51 AM (GMT) on 30 August, 2009

wonderful portrait

comment by singapore corporate business headshot photography at 02:46 AM (GMT) on 31 August, 2009

looks so pretty...

comment by Jim (365,000 words) at 08:19 AM (GMT) on 31 August, 2009

Beautiful, clean portrait. You've done a great job with the processing.

comment by schuessler at 10:18 AM (GMT) on 31 August, 2009

Very good picture!

comment by Jaol at 12:06 PM (GMT) on 31 August, 2009

Definitively she'll do it as a model...Perfect!

comment by djn1 at 04:59 PM (GMT) on 1 September, 2009

Thanks everyone :)

comment by Barbara at 10:45 PM (GMT) on 2 September, 2009

I LOVE this photo. I just recently stumbled upon this blog. Great work. Can't wait to check out more.

comment by aurore at 03:39 PM (GMT) on 3 September, 2009

si jeune et si sensuelle...
un portrait incroyable de beauté!

comment by aurore at 03:42 PM (GMT) on 3 September, 2009

j'ai mis un coup de coeur avec ton lien pour cette photo qui me touche vraiment sur mon facebook;)

comment by P.J. at 05:43 PM (GMT) on 4 September, 2009

Your photoprocessing really is amazing.

comment by Carmen Sisson at 08:36 PM (GMT) on 7 September, 2009

I love this image, David. One of the best portraits of yours I've seen, and you've had some remarkable ones. The color streaks in her hair are lovely. I'm going to have to get some of your DVDs now, because I never manage to pull off portraits that look like this. Thanks for showing the pre-shot. It really goes to show what a difference processing can make. @CarmenSisson

comment by desfocado at 08:58 PM (GMT) on 8 September, 2009

congratulations david, she looks beautiful

comment by Ryan Rahn at 05:07 AM (GMT) on 13 September, 2009

Wow, great job on the processing. I would have never guessed.

comment by Nick Fuller at 12:27 PM (GMT) on 14 September, 2009

As always exquisite

I love the challenge in her eyes.

Tones are breathtaking.

comment by Ben at 12:25 PM (GMT) on 26 September, 2009

One of the best portraits I've seen in a while. Excellent work.

comment by Sarah at 12:25 AM (GMT) on 2 October, 2009

What a great style you have! Can't you feel the fire from this pre-teen? Absolutely stunning!