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Sierasong1

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Hi all,

This is just 2 girls being best friends. I have set up a little studio in my garage, this is my recent effort. There is 45 degree main, camera left, white reflector camera right. Little hairlight above. Oh I can't forget...the proudfather vignette!! (Shameless aren't I !!) :-)
Thank you,
Debbie



My gallery: http://www.pbase.com/sierasong1
 
good job, Debbie!

i even like the shameless 'theft' of the proudfather vignetting!

i think the lighting just needs a touch more balance - a little more fill on the one on the right - i find the one on the left a smidge overexposed...

but you also could go for a stronger sidelighting and get a sort of 'light side/dark side' thing happening..

cheers,
S.
--
  • How deep does the Rabbit Hole go? *
Free the Images
 
looks good.

--
Regards, Phillip @ Keepsake,

No measuring angles, no crazy COI's, just plain ol photography. Tell me now, do you really see the light?
 
What a pleasant image of two lovely little girls. The pose, facial expressions, soft focus, and lighting all work in harmony to produce a calm and relaxed portrait. If I had to nit pick, the first thing I would comment on is the 'unharmonious' blend of blue & pink attire which is relatively contrasty, almost separating the two and attracting the attention toward the princess on the left (your daughter, right?). Though the fact that the redhead is a little taller does help the balance a bit. Nonetheless, coordinated colors would have unified these marvelous maidens even closer. Second, and this is most trivial, perhaps a tad more fill to the beauty in blue. But overall, this is a wonderful image. We're going to have to start calling you 'proudmother' (LOL) :)

BTW, exposure and white balance look most excellent on my monitor.

Great job!
-proudfather

 
Debbie,

I love this image. I trust you were pleased as well. Really nice color, exposure, posing and mood. It all comes together quite nicely here. I would be thrilled if I could capture images of this quality of my children/family.

I already have too many hobbies, but you (and many others here) are inspiring me to learn portrait photography.

Best wishes,

-- Rob
 
Hi All,

Thank you for the nice comments and suggestions, I take it to heart. This forum is very generous in helping us newbies. There are many excellent photographers here.

I have been practicing outside too, here is a practice shot of my daughter a the lake. I know the wardrobe and backround are busy, but the picture really shows her personality. (note the PF vignette)
Thank you,
Proudmother :-)



My gallery: http://www.pbase.com/sierasong1
 
Beautiful I love it.
Can you share your exif info?
How'd you achieve the soft focus look? PP or in camera & steps?

Thanks,
Cindy Utterback - Inspiring Designs
 
Looks great! I love the look and feel of the image. The only thing that bugs me is the blue jacket.
The girls are lovely!

Viktor
'Happy shooting!'
 
Debbie,

Would you mind sharing a few more details. I hate to ask about gear and technique, but I'm going to anyway. Which lens was used on the garage and the lake shot? A bit of info about your post processing? Are you using Alien Bee's? Handheld or tripod?

Inquiring minds want to know :)

Thanks.

-- Rob
 
... my Tamron 28-75 f2.8 for both. In the garage I have a AB800 for the main, white oval reflector, cheap 110W strobe with barndoors on a boom for hairlight. I have been practicing turning off the lights and looking with the modeling lights to see where to put the main (ala pfiltz) I also look at the catchlights to see If I need to raise or lower the light. In ACR I converted the RAW image, adjusted exposure a bit in PS. After that I used a basic softening technique and PF's vignette.

Outside I have been practicing using my 580EX straight at the subject (no modifier) for a light fill. I meter off the backround, use ETTL on the flash minus 2 to 3 stops. The processing was same as above. We had climbed down some snowy rocks and she was up above me. It was a bit treacherous, but fun!
Debbie

My gallery: http://www.pbase.com/sierasong1
 
2 girls: 1/200 @ f10. I am no PS expert so my softening technique is very basic. Do whatever adjustments to exposure then sharpen the image.

Make Layer via copy, Gaussian blur around 15.0, go to opacity bring the blur down to taste between 20-30%, flatten image, Go to History pull down and check the action before the "layer via copy" zoom up the picture, go to history brush (normal mode) brush over the eyes twice, lips, nostrils maybe jawline once. That's it.
Debbie

My gallery: http://www.pbase.com/sierasong1
 
Hi Debbie,

A few more questions for you. Handheld or tripod? Center focusing point or other? Focus and recompose? Are you using a light meter?

Thanks.

-- Rob
 
Hi,

Is a very nice picture.

Regards.

Marcelo.
Sierasong1 said:
Hi all,
This is just 2 girls being best friends. I have set up a little
studio in my garage, this is my recent effort. There is 45 degree
main, camera left, white reflector camera right. Little hairlight
above. Oh I can't forget...the proudfather vignette!! (Shameless
aren't I !!) :-)
Thank you,
Debbie



My gallery: http://www.pbase.com/sierasong1
Click to expand...
 
Hi Rob,

Yes it is center focus, recompose, on a tripod. (Sounds like Mrs Smith, in the dining room, with a knife!) :-) I am going to photograph a 2 year old this weekend, I plan on handholding for that one. I do use a light meter I have the Sekonic 308. It helps me get into the ballpark, but I find I adjust from there because if I dont it's overexposed. I watch the histogram.
Debbie

My gallery: http://www.pbase.com/sierasong1
 
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