This is a shot of Tiggy, our youngest, taken at our local shopping mall a few days ago. She hasn't made too many appearances on the blog so far, but the older she gets the more she seems to like being photographed, so expect to see more shots of her soon :)
This is also the image I've used for this week's Mini-PSD. It's not an especially complex image – it was created using just four adjustment layers – but I think it neatly demonstrates that effective images don't necessarily require a complex sequence of steps to produce. The key to this one is the black and white adjustment layer, set to lighten her skin tones (without making her lips too bright), and brighten her eyes. After that it was just a matter of adding three curves: one (almost) global adjustment, another to slightly lighten the eyelashes above her eyes, and another to brighten the chair on the left side of the image.
Oh, and I also used Topaz's new InFocus plugin to sharpen her eyes. If you've take a look at the EXIF data you'll see that this was shot at f/2.8, so her eyes ended up being a bit softer than I would have liked. Once I'd run the image through InFocus though they looked a lot better. You probably won't be able to notice a great deal of difference at this resolution, but the high-res file looks a whole lot better.
captured camera lens focal length aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter image editor plugins (etc) cropped?
comment byDan Kaufman at 04:20 PM (GMT) on 6 June, 2011
An exceptional black and white conversion. You are right about the InFocus plugin---it really brought my eyes right to hers!
I think though that I might have kept a bit more of the chair back on her right, image left. The off balance presence of the chair back is slightly distracting to me.
comment byCarlos Garcia at 04:32 PM (GMT) on 6 June, 2011
Beautiful portrait David. The toning and contrasts are just right. Hi Tiggy!
Dan: you're absolutely right, thanks for the suggestion. I've uploaded a new version that brings back some of the detail on the left side of the image.
comment byDan Kaufman at 04:48 PM (GMT) on 6 June, 2011
Yes, a subtle but great improvement. If I may humbly paraphrase: great minds think alike. :)
Gorgeous portrait with the black and white conversion working very well. Once again, the eyes are spectacular. Looking at the before image, it is clear how well the infocus plugin can work. Overall, she almost reminds me of a porcelain doll. Mention Topaz, have you taking a look at the Latest plugin - Lens Effects?
comment byChristopher at 03:38 AM (GMT) on 7 June, 2011
So adorable--a lovely B&W portrait of your little one David.
comment bymaylemon at 02:21 PM (GMT) on 7 June, 2011
That's a nice mono shot, love what you are having as well :P canon 5d m2 with 24-70..
This is a shot of Tiggy, our youngest, taken at our local shopping mall a few days ago. She hasn't made too many appearances on the blog so far, but the older she gets the more she seems to like being photographed, so expect to see more shots of her soon :)
This is also the image I've used for this week's Mini-PSD. It's not an especially complex image – it was created using just four adjustment layers – but I think it neatly demonstrates that effective images don't necessarily require a complex sequence of steps to produce. The key to this one is the black and white adjustment layer, set to lighten her skin tones (without making her lips too bright), and brighten her eyes. After that it was just a matter of adding three curves: one (almost) global adjustment, another to slightly lighten the eyelashes above her eyes, and another to brighten the chair on the left side of the image.
Oh, and I also used Topaz's new InFocus plugin to sharpen her eyes. If you've take a look at the EXIF data you'll see that this was shot at f/2.8, so her eyes ended up being a bit softer than I would have liked. Once I'd run the image through InFocus though they looked a lot better. You probably won't be able to notice a great deal of difference at this resolution, but the high-res file looks a whole lot better.
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
image editor
plugins (etc)
cropped?
Canon 5D Mark II
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
59mm
f/2.8
1/40
aperture priority
-1/3
evaluative
100
no
RAW
Camera Raw
Photoshop CS5
Topaz InFocus
minor
An exceptional black and white conversion. You are right about the InFocus plugin---it really brought my eyes right to hers!
I think though that I might have kept a bit more of the chair back on her right, image left. The off balance presence of the chair back is slightly distracting to me.
Beautiful portrait David. The toning and contrasts are just right. Hi Tiggy!
Thanks Carlos :)
Dan: you're absolutely right, thanks for the suggestion. I've uploaded a new version that brings back some of the detail on the left side of the image.
Yes, a subtle but great improvement. If I may humbly paraphrase: great minds think alike. :)
No, in this case it was me agreeing with your suggestion - it hadn't occurred to me. That said, it should have done - it's a big improvement :)
Love the black and white treatment David and those eyes do pop out at you! Well done!
Gorgeous portrait with the black and white conversion working very well. Once again, the eyes are spectacular. Looking at the before image, it is clear how well the infocus plugin can work. Overall, she almost reminds me of a porcelain doll. Mention Topaz, have you taking a look at the Latest plugin - Lens Effects?
So adorable--a lovely B&W portrait of your little one David.
That's a nice mono shot, love what you are having as well :P canon 5d m2 with 24-70..
Lovely shot, however my first thought was that my Internet had broken and not loaded the bottom bit. :-P
NO, not the eyes again... I am afraid she might jump out of the screen and kill me right away. nice. :)
wow she has grown so much... :) and love the tiny pony
stunning eyes
Wonderful portrait and excellent post-processing
that's pretty adorable!!!! :9
Excellent B/W photo....well compo too.Salut
Nice portrait. Good catch light in the eyes too.
Wow!...such amazing vision and talent and yet so humble...I am a new fan!...you are a very inspiring photographer...
Just another grateful Photographer.