Critiques - - Need Critique

Dreamypix · #1 10-19-2005, 10:50 PM

Hey all,

Trying out a new technique I learned here at Retouchpro on a photo I took of my son, Adriel. Any suggestions?

~Amber~

fembot · #2 10-20-2005, 03:37 AM

Amber,

I thought his right pupil was a bit dark compared to the left, it looked a bit spooky, so I just did a quick select and played with the brightness/contrast in PSP. I thought the whole thing was a bit light, so I played with the levels just a touch. Nice work though.

Fembot

byRo · #3 10-20-2005, 06:02 AM

Amber,

Seems that you are trying for a high-key effect. But as you can see by Fembot's reply, you're not quite there yet.

So if it is high-key then you could go a little "higher", if not then you need to turn up the contrast (like Fembot).

I also think that the jeans are distracting from the main subject. He would look better without his pants.

Rô

Cassidy · #4 10-20-2005, 06:13 AM

Amber, I love the soft pale misty look, so sorry fembot, I disagree on that point, however I do agree regarding the eyes a little. Unless one eye is naturally very different (say in colour), then I'd probably try and either bring one eye up a bit or one down to even them a bit more pupil and iris wise.

If you could share your methodology, I would appreciate it.

Dreamypix · #5 10-20-2005, 08:41 AM

Thanks for the comments guys. I just needed a 2nd pair of eyes, or three or four!

Fembot, I never noticed that one eye was darker, it had to be from the lighting. Thanks for pointing it out!

Ro- Is there something you would like to share with the rest of the class? No pants huh?? Do you mean crop them out? Cuz I think I would get in trouble if he wasn't wearing pants...

I started out with a sketch technique but wanted more detail so I think it ended up a high key effect by accident, I fiddled a bit with levels too, probably made it too grey for high key. The last one I did with the sketch effect was for my mom and she didn't like it because she thought the highlights were too blown, (I don't think she understood what I was trying to achieve) so I was trying to modify how it looked. Which she liked how this one turned out so go figure! Nothing like trying to please the grama!

Cass- Thanks for the kind words! Actually I used the technique that you posted here- http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/photo-restoration/11702-howd-they-do.html and like I told Ro, Modified it a bit. But really I have used that technique quite a bit since I learned it from you. Here's basically what I did-

1. Open image, Duplicate background image
2. select dupicate layer image->Adjustments->Invert
3. Set blending mode of inverted image to linear dodge
4. Select Filter->Gaussian Blur and adjust the detail by using the blur slider
5. Seperatly Desaturate each layer by Image>adjustments>Desaturate
6. Now, on the blurred layer, lower the opacity to see more detail peek thru from the bottom layer.
7. Adjust levels to your taste, flatten image
8. For the dreamy vignette, use the rectangle marquee with a feather of 50 and make a box, now go to Select>Inverse and delete!

Add font if you want, I found that font at the Dafont.com. They have some really cool fonts!

For some reason I have been using Linear Dodge instead of Color dodge, but you could use either one, they both have the same effect.

Here's an attachment of the original photo if you guys want to play, and also attaching 2 sketch examples using Cass's techinique and another modified technique (I think in the 3rd I used Unsharp 500 technique on the eyes)

Thanks again for the input guys.

~Amber~

Cassidy · #6 10-20-2005, 08:57 AM

Unreal Amber, makes me laugh a little. Nothing like having a look outside of the square

Just love the third pic

byRo · #7 10-20-2005, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreamypix

Do you mean crop them out?

Actually, I was (only!

) thinking of extending the vignette effect - fade them to white.

Rô

Dreamypix · #8 10-20-2005, 10:29 AM

I think you are right Ro, about making the vignette come up alittle farther around the pants. I will try it out and see if that makes it better. Thanks Cass, I like how the 3rd portrait turned out too. My husband didn't even recognize me, he had to ask first if it was me? Sometimes I have to wonder about him! Thanks alot guys, you have been a big help...

~Amber~

Cassidy · #9 10-20-2005, 10:33 AM

For a laugh Amber, my husband having donned a moustache for several months, removed it and after a week post removal he was surprised that I had not commented, so he asked me "notice anything different"? and I responded "have you just showered, think you look maybe a bit cleaner" which to his disgust he announced he had removed his moustache, and when I agreed with "oh yeah", he responded.... "a week ago". Creedence as to I love him for who he is, not how he looks, lol, PS is my wedding anniversary today

Dreamypix · #10 10-20-2005, 02:20 PM

Congrats cass! How long have you been married? I have been married for 5 years, feels more like 20 at times! I have 2 boys, and then the hubby. You think that you are getting married so that you have a partner, and that he's on your side when actually he's their leader. I remember when Adriel was a baby, Brian (my hubby) had a goatee and he got the bright idea to shave it off. When he turned around to show Adriel, Adriel screamed and cried and was afraid of him! Wouldn't go to him at all.... It was sad and funny all at the same time. He hasn't done that again.

~Amber~

Cassidy · #11 10-20-2005, 06:29 PM

23 years and 6 kids mostly fairly grown now

fembot · #12 10-21-2005, 08:09 AM

Amber,

I thought you might not have noticed the eye thing, sometimes when you work on something for a while you really can't see anymore for looking

I don't think the jeans are too distracting really, just the white bit from the inside out pocket, it's really noticeable in the black and white. If you could clone that bit out, I think it'd be fine.

I meant to say in my earlier post that I loved the filename, I always end up giving pictures of my son names like "hunkybeckett" and "groovybaby" and he's only 1

Fembot

Dreamypix · #13 10-21-2005, 10:14 AM

6 wow! I have 2 and sometimes thats too many to handle! Thanks again guys, I like having an extra set of eyes or two! I will give it another go, but probably not today. Hubby brought home a new lens for me last night so I will be testing that out today, and he brought home my 500 watt bulb, yah! Silly to be excited over a bulb I know, but I have a shoot I am doing in November and I need a higher wattage for the portraits. Living out here in the boonies makes it hard to find what I need, so we have to go an hour away to find the stuff I need for my photography. So naturally I sent the hubbie to go get it...

I'm just having the darndest time trying to focus on what needs to get done! I really wish retouchpro had a photography section, everyone here is so helpful. I hate going to other forums to ask for help. Enough of me blathering, I must get to work! Talk to you guys later....

~Amber~

Cassidy · #14 10-21-2005, 10:31 AM

Amber, 1 is hard, 2 is difficult, 3 is you'll fit in, 4 and more is stand in line I'm getting to you. Number 1 runs rings around you, 2 you are becoming a little less accommodating, 3 is you are going to have to fit into the family and 4 plus is, I dance and you synchronise... survival technique

Dreamypix · #15 10-21-2005, 11:15 PM

That's wonderful! I am going to have to show that to my husband! I love first time parents, I remember being that anal, but man it's funnier to watch! I have always said, with the first one-when you drop the binky (pacifier) you must boil water to clean it, they can't eat solids until they are 6 monthes- no not even rice, and ice cream! Not until he is 12 monthes and there's nothing else to talk about! (I know my dad snuck my first some, I just know it!) The second, you wipe the binky on your jeans, or worse YOU stick it in YOUR mouth to get rid of the "dirt", then stick it back in jr's mouth. With the second, you start the rice at 2 monthes because you know he'll sleep better, and ice cream isn't a problem in fact none of the no-no foods with the first are quite so no no with the second (Honey and eggs were an exception tho) Cus as long as they are happy, it doesn't matter. My second was an eater. I mean he could out eat his 2 1/2 year old brother! He acted like he was starving to death at 2 monthes, everytime we would eat, he would drool and open his mouth, it was torture! Being a first time mom is funny, but not at the time. My s-i-l laughed at me with my first for being soooo anal, but now that she has her first...uh humm guess what? Yeah...she's got the first time mommy syndrome. And now I get the last laugh....Bwaaa haa haa haa! Lol!

~Amber~