Critique my retouching, please :)

[LunaLuna]

Hi everyone,
I've just finished working on this photo and I'd like to know what you think.

The photographer is Smoshkov.

Here is a link for bigger size:

Retouched: http://gonarin.com/lucia/IMG_8490-ret-small.jpg

Original: http://gonarin.com/lucia/IMG_8490-original.jpg

Thanks a lot!
Lucía.

[RobertGarcia]

Re: Critique my retouching, please

I would say bring down opacity on the retouched skin to like 70% then just go back in and only dodge and burn to the finish. It feels like you ran a filter or something.

[LunaLuna]

Re: Critique my retouching, please

Hi!
Thanks for your comment.
What I did for the skin is 5% IHP and 95% dodge and burn...
Do you think it looks unnatural?

[klev]

Re: Critique my retouching, please

Do you think it looks unnatural?

The methods used aren't the only things that can make something appear unnatural. I would drop the use of IHP. It's just unnecessary. It's more difficult to examine when they're so different in contrast, but the eyes look strange. The irises shouldn't be one consistent brightness level. You have a dark line around the lips. The high level of sharpening brings out every tiny hair, yet you left back hair, facial hair, and gaps that don't look very good along the top. I would also fill where the hair is coming apart resulting in a blackish spot. The nasolabial fold, right nostril, and jaw all lost too much volume. Skintone isn't how I would have gone on correction. If you're going to lighten neck lines that much, you'll want to ensure that they still have some kind of fade off. Also watch out for discoloration. You can see it where they were. You'll want to figure out something with the original makeup along the cheekbone. You sort of removed it, and I didn't like the original makeup. I just don't know it should go this route.

There are other things I would change, but I think these highlight some technical issues. You really want to be less focused on "I used burn and dodge" and more focused on the visual goals.

[InfinityWork3]

Re: Critique my retouching, please

I think you may have over done it on some sections:

-Between the highlight on her cheek and the area where her nose meets her cheek (below the eye) it looks flat. On the original there was a mild soft shadow that made her face more volumetric/3D

-On the shadow side of her arm/shoulder there are some light lines that may indicate stretch marks or something, those should be gotten rid of.

-at the bottom the little pores, bumps, and texture is a little much. Especially how you removed basically all of the texture elsewhere. when you retouch, make sure you hit all of the skin with the same intensity, that way it will at least fit the tone of the image. I dont really care if the image is too perfect, but it should be uniform in its appearance~

[LunaLuna]

Re: Critique my retouching, please

Hi !
Thanks so much for taking the time to look at it, I really appreciate it.

I don't look for a super perfect look, so thinks like little facial hair don't bother to me.
I do care about volume loss and I'll work to fix it.
I agree the eyes look weird and they are too sharp :-/
Regarding sharpening, how do you know how much to apply? I mean overall sharpness...


Thanks so much!

Best regards!
Lucia.

[morpheus1870]

Re: Critique my retouching, please

I think you have done a great job. Obviously the comments are fro experts who micro analyse and critique every last detail (rightly so as it's there profession). However on the whole this image looks fantastic and although a little less natural still very very good IMO.

[klev]

Re: Critique my retouching, please

Hi !
Thanks so much for taking the time to look at it, I really appreciate it.

I don't look for a super perfect look, so thinks like little facial hair don't bother to me.
I do care about volume loss and I'll work to fix it.
I agree the eyes look weird and they are too sharp :-/

I could have written more. I just wanted to focus on important points. I've seen photos with obviously surreal eyes that I liked. In this case I don't like it. Their saturation and their shape is off due to what I mentioned before. The issue of volume to me suggests that you're spending too much time zoomed way in in an effort to smooth out skin. This stuff typically requires a very light touch, and you should examine it in the broader context. Ideally you would have some idea of the locations of various muscles and bones. It helps identify when something is obviously a bit off.

Regarding sharpening, how do you know how much to apply? I mean overall sharpness...


Thanks so much!

Best regards!
Lucia.

It's a matter of taste. I found it to be a bit much, because it makes certain areas look rough or dry. For example you make the hair and skin look dry. That it was sharpened was the first thing I noticed. There's no subtlety to that.

[shumicpi]

Re: Critique my retouching, please

What a sharpness in retouching, really very much appreciating.