Critiques - - "Doll-Like Pictures"

mustangstacey · #1 09-22-2005, 02:02 PM

Please let me know what you think.

I pulled my website because I was afraid some of these people that were bashing me would visit my personal webpage and start something. Here are the pictures. The file name web is my finished product....I still need some help. I didn't want to cause any trouble but decided to pull my pictures so nobody could continue bashing the child pageant pictures plus my friend had a fit when she found out that I had her child on my personal webpage so I changed it to a non-informative page.

http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/dollpic00/doll/

Dreamypix · #2 09-23-2005, 11:58 AM

Stacey,

Are you going for a pageant retouch? In all honesty, this particular photo is in high contrast and has extremely harsh lighting and I think that should be remedied first before you begin retouching. I think you would have done a really great job, but the contrast/harsh lighting makes it difficult to tell what you have done with the retouch on this particular photo. I gave it a whack to see if this problem can be remedied and it can be- see attachment. I'm not sure what you are working with (I am currently with Photoshop 7 until I upgrade the pc) so, If you would like for me to list the steps I would be glad to help.

~Amber~

Cassidy · #3 09-23-2005, 12:14 PM

Honestly, recognising this photo from another post, the eyes no longer look natural and despite the addition of teeth to the smile, it is not flattering. Personally when looking at a photo of another, thought it would be worth while to pinch the lips as in the original the girl looks rather miffed or thin lipped or both and I have not been able to satisfactorily been able to warp into a smile

Legacy~Art · #4 09-23-2005, 12:17 PM

I am sorry but why turn a child into a doll?

I will never ever understand why a parent does not cherish their child and keep that child looking like a child, sorry to me pagents are taking the childhood fast, that is one very beautiful child, so why its not kept to look natural i will never understand.

Cassidy · #5 09-23-2005, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legacy~Art

I am sorry but why turn a child into a doll?

I will never ever understand why a parent does not cherish their child and keep that child looking like a child, sorry to me pagents are taking the childhood fast, that is one very beautiful child, so why its not kept to look natural i will never understand.

I totally agree, however, there is obviously a market out there and a requirement to be fulfilled, sad isn't it?

Looking at the original photo I have to wonder if it is a displaced pout or a bit of resentment in her face

byRo · #6 09-23-2005, 01:08 PM

Pageant pics have always been a slippery topic around here but, please, let's not forget to respect each other..

There are a lot of mum's who want this service done;
There is a big market for this service;
There are talented professionals (including Amber) working in this area.

Rô

Legacy~Art · #7 09-23-2005, 05:46 PM

I wish you luck, i know its a big market in America, and here in England i don't think there is a huge market for it, shes a pretty little girl, but i understand that these events are done, and brilliant prizes are won at them.

Good luck with your Pageant pic hun!

Dreamypix · #8 09-23-2005, 06:29 PM

Thanks Ro, for the kind words and I agree- it is a very touchy subject.

Stacey-

I went through alot of steps to get to the final image, but the most important step would be to fix the contrast and the harsh lighting First thing- There also ended up being a colorcast as well (Or it's the new moniter?)

To fix the contrast in the original photo I took the following steps-

Open Document- Duplicate background layer, Now on the Duplicate Background Layer press the following keys, Ctrl+Alt+~, now press Ctrl+J and this should make a new layer with just the mid tones selected, Now change the mode to multiply- Lower opacity to 50%. Now, make sure you are working on the Duplicate Background Layer again- Ctrl+Alt+~, after you make the selection, inverse the selection (you can do this by pressing Ctrl+Shift+I), now press Ctrl+J, now you have selected the shadows, change the mode of the shadows to Screen. Now that you have done this, Select All (Ctrl+A) under the menu Edit>Copy Merged. Now paste, now you can work with the levels/curves to help brighten it up a bit.

Now I am sure there is an easier way (prob with curves) but I feel like I have the most control this way. And until I learn a better-this is it.

I will have to finish the rest of the steps in a bit, the boys are starving around here. Gotta feed em.

~Amber~

Cassidy · #9 09-24-2005, 08:35 AM

My prototype doll

Legacy~Art · #10 09-24-2005, 11:53 AM

~~~Amber that is perfect!~~~

Dreamypix · #11 09-24-2005, 06:06 PM

Thanks!

I try... Has anyone else heard from Stacey? I have noticed that she pulled her photos as well as links to her site with the photos? Just curious, it actually makes me a little leary really. Anyone else notice?

~Amber~

maureeno · #12 09-24-2005, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreamypix

Thanks!

I try... Has anyone else heard from Stacey? I have noticed that she pulled her photos as well as links to her site with the photos? Just curious, it actually makes me a little leary really. Anyone else notice?

~Amber~

Yup.

Maureen

Nanls · #13 09-25-2005, 08:28 PM

I noticed she pulled the originals off her other post as well.... wondering why. I never got a chance to visit her site, anyone remember the url?

Caitlin · #14 09-26-2005, 04:48 AM

These child pageant threads always become peculiar, even when there seems to be no apparent reason!!

But seriously (well, not entirely...), how could you get cuter that the image above? No makeup required

Dreamypix · #15 09-26-2005, 08:05 AM

Caitlin,

I agree, she is an absolute doll without being all "pageantized". She has a gorgous smile, and big beautiful eyes. I'm not sure why they do the pageants the way they do because everything that I have learned about glamour and retouching has always been not to be obviously retouched, but it seems that pageants WANT it to look retouched? But either way, it's all a learning experiance.

Nan- www.stacej.com Here's the link to her site, but the doll like photos are no longer on her site. She may not have had the release to put the photos on the internet?

~Amber~