New Retouch from me!!

[Michael_Anthony]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9978773...ream/lightbox/

Let me know what you think folks!

Cheers!

Mike.

Edit: Updated Version

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9978773...4955/lightbox/

Edit 2: This is my image after implemented crits/comments!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9978773...5505/lightbox/

[Michael_Anthony]

New Retouch from me!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9978773...ream/lightbox/

Let me know what you think folks!

Cheers!

Mike.

Edit: Update

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9978773...4955/lightbox/

[stormyboy]

Re: New Retouch from me!!

Hello, Mike. I'm sure no expert, but here are some things that I noticed and would keep working on if it were my project:

Skin looks over-smoothed
Glare from the light on skin makes it look super greasy
Eye color seems unnatural
Photo seems oversharpened

Tom

[skoobey]

Re: New Retouch from me!!

Countrary to popular belief, retoucher's don't smooth the skin, they remove distractions, and having detail there keeps it believable.

You should keep the facial structure, and even accentuate it.

Eyes are flaming. They look very saturated a strangely sharp.

I like the beard.

All in all a decent effort, but keep the facial structure in mind, and relax on the smoothing.

[Michael_Anthony]

Re: New Retouch from me!!

Thanks Skoobey. This is actually less smooth than the original, maybe i can put the original up tomorrow. No blurring anything has been used. Only dodge and burn plus sharpening! any smoothing of the skin (if it has gotten smoother than the original must have come from dodge and burning. I did feel it was looking a little flat but facial structure has hardly changed IMO, though maybe i missed something and even so, if it's looking flat to others then it needs more depth in any case so i should work on this. The cheek to the left of the image does look a bit flat but it looks even flatter in the original. I will take your comments on board and try to apply them, then post updated version and also original (it's quite a big transformation for the original in terms of skin mostly) edit: Also i agree those eyes need fixing it's too much!

Thanks for the feedback Skoobey

[Michael_Anthony]

Re: New Retouch from me!!

Especially after seeing someone else comment about skin smoothness i have to agree and on your other points too.

How does one go about making skin less smooth ? when the original is even smoother ?

Edit: I think fixing the greasy highlights plus some careful skin sharpening might get me there!
Cheers!

Mike

[Michael_Anthony]

Re: New Retouch from me!!

Updated version!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9978773...4955/lightbox/

[Michael_Anthony]

Re: New Retouch from me!!

Updated Version!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9978773...4955/lightbox/

[shift studio]

Re: New Retouch from me!!

At first glance, it looks lots better now. The upper lip has a crisp line that may be just bad masking, but it looks like bad lipstick and not appropriate.

--shift studio.

[Michael_Anthony]

Re: New Retouch from me!!

It's funny how things can elude you until someone points it out then it becomes clear. Thanks Shift. I think late night on this image (plus editing my events pictures) has made my mind a bit fuzzy.

The crisp line is from dodging and burning, then not going back to finish where i left off i think!

Appreciate the feedback.

Mike.

Edit: Lip line corrected.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9978773...5505/lightbox/

[Michael_Anthony]

Re: New Retouch from me!!

I forgot to Thank stormyboy too. I took your comments on board also, and they definitely helped me! Skin of original image came out too smooth and the amount of sharpening needed to make it look the least bit sharp enough, resulted in a slightly pixelated look. Lesson learned. Don't take pics of smooth skin - if your end result is intended to have sharp skin. Hehe!