Reading mode: Light Dark

Quick Portrait - CR Please

Go to last post
areidjr

areidjr

Senior Member
Messages
2,495
Reaction score
19
Location
Pittsburgh, US
A quick portrait taken last evening. I know the pose in a bit unorthodox, but it's the only one where she wasn't making a weird face at me. I'm looking for input specifically related to color balance. It was shot under available incandescent lights w/o flash. I'm having trouble achieving a natural look. Any Suggestions?



--
Al

*istDL
Pentax DA 18-55 kit, M50 1:2, Takumar 135 1:2.5
Sigma 18-50 1:2.8 EX DC, 105 1:2.8 EX GD Macro
70-300 1:4-5.6 APO DG
Sigma EF-500 GD Super
Kenko 1.5x
Pentax P3

 
I really like it... the lighting / balance looks good to me. What lens did you use and what level of PP if you dont mind me asking.

Did I mention I really like it?
--
gus
Get what makes you happy...
Anything less makes you less happy!
 
igilligantoo said:
I really like it... the lighting / balance looks good to me. What
lens did you use and what level of PP if you dont mind me asking.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Gus. It was shot with the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro. It was processed from raw using SilkyPix Free version using mostly auto settings. I then opened it in CS2 and did a Match Color~Neutralize, which seemed to eliminate most of the color cast. From that point I tried a number of other tweeks, but nothing seemed to make it any better. I had her sitting here in the same light I took it in as I tried to color balance it.
igilligantoo said:
Did I mention I really like it?
Click to expand...
Oh, and thanks again.
--
Al

*istDL
Pentax DA 18-55 kit, M50 1:2, Takumar 135 1:2.5
Sigma 18-50 1:2.8 EX DC, 105 1:2.8 EX DG Macro
70-300 1:4-5.6 APO DG
Sigma EF-500 DG Super
Kenko 1.5x
Pentax P3

 
Nothing wrong with that, it is a very good shot Al. Don't you love them at this age, I'm in the same boat as you. Reminds me of this one on holidays. Trust you don't mind me posting it on your thread. BTW your daughter, I assume, is a very attractive young lady.



--
Regards Dean - Capturing Creation
 
ozdean said:
Nothing wrong with that, it is a very good shot Al. Don't you love
them at this age, I'm in the same boat as you. Reminds me of this one
on holidays. Trust you don't mind me posting it on your thread. BTW
your daughter, I assume, is a very attractive young lady.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/DeanMengel/IMGP0752.jpg
--
Regards Dean - Capturing Creation
Click to expand...
Thanks, Dean. Kids can be a bit crazy at times. I couldn't get her to give me a normal pose.

I don't mind you posting on my thread. I've done it myself. Good looking family.

--
Al

*istDL
Pentax DA 18-55 kit, M50 1:2, Takumar 135 1:2.5
Sigma 18-50 1:2.8 EX DC, 105 1:2.8 EX DG Macro
70-300 1:4-5.6 APO DG
Sigma EF-500 DG Super
Kenko 1.5x
Pentax P3

 
CopCarSS said:
look really good on my screen. I'm at work, so my monitor isn't
profiled...but it still looks good to me. I like the pose, too. Kind
of a goofy, but visually engaging shot. Nicely done.

--
Chris May
Denver, CO
http://www.pbase.com/copcarss
Click to expand...
Thanks, Chris. I like the playfull pose as well, but I was after something a little more conventional.

Maybe I'm being too critical. When I sit back and look at it now it looks good. If I have her in the room with me so I can do a side-by-side conparison, then it looks a bit off and I couldn't match it up.

--
Al

*istDL
Pentax DA 18-55 kit, M50 1:2, Takumar 135 1:2.5
Sigma 18-50 1:2.8 EX DC, 105 1:2.8 EX DG Macro
70-300 1:4-5.6 APO DG
Sigma EF-500 DG Super
Kenko 1.5x
Pentax P3

 
I'd have to agree with this. Skin tones, background colour and bokeh all make for a very pleasing shot, to my eyes! Well done.

Paul
 
Paul Hunt said:
I'd have to agree with this. Skin tones, background colour and bokeh
all make for a very pleasing shot, to my eyes! Well done.

Paul
Click to expand...
Thanks, Paul. I guess I was just being a tad too critical or hoping someone would suggest that I need a new camera so that I'd have a reason to upgrade from this 2 year old DL. Actually, I'mm currently beating my self up trying to decide between the K100D Super and the K10D. I think I've changed my mind half a dozen times in the last week as I look at the photos posted here.

--
Al

*istDL
Pentax DA 18-55 kit, M50 1:2, Takumar 135 1:2.5
Sigma 18-50 1:2.8 EX DC, 105 1:2.8 EX DG Macro
70-300 1:4-5.6 APO DG
Sigma EF-500 DG Super
Kenko 1.5x
Pentax P3

 
Al

I would keep that DL for a bit... I really like the look of this Sigma lens for this portrait. Is a very good macro lens as well? I could kill two birds if it does both as well as this portrait turned out. I ordered the FA 50 but I would love a good macro lens too... ummmhhhh

And I see you have the 70-300 too. I had to cancel my order for the tamron because they were out of stock.. There seems to be a split decision on the
Tam vs Sig 70-300... how do you like yours?
Thanks for your time.
--
gus
Get what makes you happy...
Anything less makes you less happy!
 
Hi Al

Really excellent shot! The colour rendition is superb and her skin tone, (lip colour too) the same. You also nailed the focus on that left eye(my left, her right). So it is a winner from my perspective.

I also have this lens and have found it to be a marvellous macro lens and a great mid telephoto (about 135 mm in 35 mm terms)making it just at the end of the sweet area for portraits.
Well done Al!

All the best Mitch
--

K10D and Canon G7...simply the very best!
mitch
 
igilligantoo said:
Al
I would keep that DL for a bit... I really like the look of this
Sigma lens for this portrait. Is a very good macro lens as well? I
could kill two birds if it does both as well as this portrait turned
out. I ordered the FA 50 but I would love a good macro lens too...
ummmhhhh
Click to expand...
I'm probably doing to pick up another body and a couple more lenses within a month or so. I'm going to keep the DL as a backup.

The Sigma 105 is a decent macro lens. Most of my problems with macro shots are probably due to technique (or lack thereof). My 70-300 is also a macro, but I get much better results with the 105.
igilligantoo said:
And I see you have the 70-300 too. I had to cancel my order for the
tamron because they were out of stock.. There seems to be a split
decision on the Tam vs Sig 70-300... how do you like yours?
Click to expand...
I like it very much for the normal use, but not so much for the macro capability. The 70-300 is the lens that is most often on the body. I recently picked uo a sigma 18-50 1:2.8 EX DC and I'm learning to like that one as well.
igilligantoo said:
Thanks for your time.
Click to expand...
No problem.
igilligantoo said:
--
gus
Get what makes you happy...
Anything less makes you less happy!
Click to expand...
--
Al

*istDL
Pentax DA 18-55 kit, M50 1:2, Takumar 135 1:2.5
Sigma 18-50 1:2.8 EX DC, 105 1:2.8 EX DG Macro
70-300 1:4-5.6 APO DG
Sigma EF-500 DG Super
Kenko 1.5x
Pentax P3

 
Thanks a lot, Mich.

It came out well considering that I was really just trying to see how well the Sigma 105 would work as a portrait lens using available light. It's a bit long, but I'm happy with the results, although I was a bit concerned with the color. I agree that the Sigma 105 is a good macro lens and that's why I got it. I also have an old M 50 1:2.0 that I need to try out as a portrait lens as well. Maybe I'll post a shot or two when I do.

--
Al

*istDL
Pentax DA 18-55 kit, M50 1:2, Takumar 135 1:2.5
Sigma 18-50 1:2.8 EX DC, 105 1:2.8 EX DG Macro
70-300 1:4-5.6 APO DG
Sigma EF-500 DG Super
Kenko 1.5x
Pentax P3

 
areidjr said:
Paul Hunt said:
I'd have to agree with this. Skin tones, background colour and bokeh
all make for a very pleasing shot, to my eyes! Well done.

Paul
Click to expand...
Thanks, Paul. I guess I was just being a tad too critical or hoping
someone would suggest that I need a new camera so that I'd have a
reason to upgrade from this 2 year old DL. Actually, I'mm currently
beating my self up trying to decide between the K100D Super and the
K10D. I think I've changed my mind half a dozen times in the last
week as I look at the photos posted here.
Click to expand...
Get the K10D!!! The DL will always be there for when you want the small and compact and high ISO, but the K10D has a lot going for it and its a steal. With the K100D you are just adding a stabiliser to the DL, and actually I prefered the older form factor.
areidjr said:
--
Al

*istDL
Pentax DA 18-55 kit, M50 1:2, Takumar 135 1:2.5
Sigma 18-50 1:2.8 EX DC, 105 1:2.8 EX DG Macro
70-300 1:4-5.6 APO DG
Sigma EF-500 DG Super
Kenko 1.5x
Pentax P3

Click to expand...
--
Steve
Pixel peepers miss the big picture.
http://www.pbase.com/steve_jacob
 
Al I hope you don't mind my take on skin tones in your nice portrait. I'll delete it by this afternoon.

my adjustment:

Pulled 3 units of green & added 2 units of blue plus a little high pass sharpening:



Yours:



--
A collection of images posted by me on this forum can be found here:
http://my.opera.com/Imagez/albums/show.dml?perscreen=60&id=92508

Please note: all images displayed by me on this or any other site are copyright ©
 
*isteve said:
Get the K10D!!! The DL will always be there for when you want the
small and compact and high ISO, but the K10D has a lot going for it
and its a steal. With the K100D you are just adding a stabiliser to
the DL, and actually I prefered the older form factor.
Click to expand...
I'm struggling with this. I'm leaning toward the K100D Super because it fully supports the DA* lenses and has SR and so far 6mp has been plenty for me. I already have an ample supply of batteries, chargers, etc that are interchangeable between the DL and the K100D. This should get me through the next couple of years and by then the new generation bodies will be out and I can make a bigger leap without feeling bad about it.

On the other hand, the K10D seem like one hell of a great camera for the price and since I shoot only raw, the supposed jpeg issues don't really concern me. There's only a couple of hundred difference in price as well.

Decisions, decisions. I'll probably go around in circles a while longer before I finally decide. Thanks for your input.

--
Al

*istDL
Pentax DA 18-55 kit, M50 1:2, Takumar 135 1:2.5
Sigma 18-50 1:2.8 EX DC, 105 1:2.8 EX DG Macro
70-300 1:4-5.6 APO DG
Sigma EF-500 DG Super
Kenko 1.5x
Pentax P3

 
I think you nailed it. It ooiks great. What software did you use and what do you mean by a "unit"?

High pass sharpening is a PSP tool, correct? No problem because I have both PSP and CS2.

--
Al

*istDL
Pentax DA 18-55 kit, M50 1:2, Takumar 135 1:2.5
Sigma 18-50 1:2.8 EX DC, 105 1:2.8 EX DG Macro
70-300 1:4-5.6 APO DG
Sigma EF-500 DG Super
Kenko 1.5x
Pentax P3

 
areidjr said:
I think you nailed it. It ooiks great. What software did you use
and what do you mean by a "unit"?
Click to expand...
In PSP XI.2 under: adjust, colour (rgb) I subtracted -3 green & added +2 blue
areidjr said:
High pass sharpening is a PSP tool, correct? No problem because I
have both PSP and CS2.
Click to expand...
correct under adjust, sharpen there is a choice of both high pass & unsharp. I usually use a mix of both in fine multiple applications depending on the image.

cheers

--
A collection of images posted by me on this forum can be found here:
http://my.opera.com/Imagez/albums/show.dml?perscreen=60&id=92508

Please note: all images displayed by me on this or any other site are copyright ©
 
Hi Al, I like the pic and her pose. What kind of effect do you think a small flashlight would have on filling in the shadow caused by the hood. Not a floody beam, but more of a spot? Like the blue in her eye(s).
 
I really don't know. I haven't tried anything fancy like that before. Something to keep in mind for the future.

Thanks,
--
Al

*istDL
Pentax DA 18-55 kit, M50 1:2, Takumar 135 1:2.5
Sigma 18-50 1:2.8 EX DC, 105 1:2.8 EX DG Macro
70-300 1:4-5.6 APO DG
Sigma EF-500 DG Super
Kenko 1.5x
Pentax P3

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top