BW photo retouch

[Matroskin]

Hi guys
I'm from Russia and my hobby is portrait photography. Usually I use middle format film cameras. So recently I faced "problem" of how to retoch close up portraits. Actually it's not a problem, but I stucked. I wolud like to get natural skin, and in the same time get rid of defects. I started retouching using healing brush and dodge and burn technique, than have a look on my result and stucked - if I go futher with D&B, I will loose "natural skin". Here's my source image and bit retouched.

[der_rich]

Re: BW photo retouch

Cameron Rad has a nice little tutorial on how to use frequency separation to retain a natural skin structure while retouching. See here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwtuG107ack

[Matroskin]

Re: BW photo retouch

Yep, I've retouched some photos using frequency separation, but sorry, I messed up..) The quetion is -what sould I do next on this image - like continue retouching, using frequency separation or smthing else

[der_rich]

Re: BW photo retouch

The question is then: What do you(!) dislike in the image? Do you miss something?. Try to fix that.
After all - it’s you who has to define how the image should look.
If you think you did too much, you could overlay (transparency slider) your retouch work with the original and bring a little of the blemishes back.

Imho it’s quite good at this point and the less you have to retouch, the better.

I’d perhaps had a look at the jawline and the area over the left eye (on my - uncalibrated -monitor, these look a little 'flat'/monocoloured)

[Matroskin]

Re: BW photo retouch

I dont like halftone distribution, may be something else.. Ok, Ill try frequency separation and post results afterwards

[AKMac]

Re: BW photo retouch

You don't need to use frequency separation. Just trust your judgement with dodging & burning.

[Matroskin]

Re: BW photo retouch

Heh I would like to, but.. May be need much more practice