Gabriela

[rutt]

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/573706123_e4bC3-XL.jpg

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/573707976_ywrwt-XL.jpg

Tried to restart my color eyes with these, but B.D. had infected me and I'm living in B&W these days.

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/573707117_858vm-XL.jpg

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/573709080_xTkhL-XL.jpg

[bdcolen]

Rutt contacted me directly and asked him to comment on these shots - I did, off-list, and we agreed I'd then transfer the exchange to the forum:

He asked for "Blunt C&C," to which I responded - "Relative? Friend's friend? Or kid you saw in a coffee shop?"

Rutt responded - "Friend. Shot her other kid years ago and she wanted a match. "

I then responded with this:

"Okay - quick and dirty -
Look carefully at bkgrnd in first shot and hunk of wood penetrating left side of her head; I'd get down to her level rather than shoot from above - always better with kids (not that I always do as I say :-))

"Lighten her face in PS-

"Color sucks, just because it's sucky color - green tends to turn skin green, I find. Also, BWs are much more abt her, color ones the green takes over."

"How's that? Oh - cute kids - Mom'll love 'em no matter what I say. ;-)"



And there you have it.:wink

[rutt]

Perfect. Thanks, BD, for the honest, blunt, critique.

[Swartzy]

#2 could be a very cute one if color corrected, added catchlights and modeled the light in post....should you care to see an example I'd be thrilled to give it a whirl :wink.

[rutt]

#2 could be a very cute one if color corrected, added catchlights and modeled the light in post....should you care to see an example I'd be thrilled to give it a whirl :wink.

Sure, please do. Always like to see what other people do. The full sized jpeg is here (http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/573709080_xTkhL-XL.jpg). Drop me a line if you'd like the raw version.

[NeilL]

I think the B&W are fabulous, as B&W samples, though there are a couple of spots where the low tones seem plugged..

In all of them I like how I feel the girl's presence reaching out through the photographs.

The modeling/sculpting of the head in both, and the sharp details in the first, are very appealing.

I do prefer the color versions because for me they bring the girl to life, her hair becomes more alive, and her skin and eyes, too. There's more of her.

The color in the first is really very nice, except for the whites of her eyes, which are in fact blue-grey, uglily so.

There is the same eye problem in the second, This image looks underexposed, and to have a color cast. Overall a bit turbid. The skin and lips not so naturally fresh as in the first.

I think the background deadens her charm somewhat, maybe it's too unrelated to her, and too dull in color?

I really do think the first color shot is very fine, though I prefer the direct look and smile in the second.

Hope some of this has been useful feedback.

[pathfinder]

I like the B&W renditions, other than the backgrounds that BD mentioned, John.

The second color shot has potential, but her color is so mottled and greyish looking that to me she looks ill.

I grabbed your jpg you offered, brought it into PS via ACR, played with a white point on her tooth and her eyes, and finally raised the blue and red curves a bit to kill some of that green, ran her through Noisewear in portrait mode, added a vignette to darken her background and got this version which looks healthier to my eye, anyway... Her teeth read green in LAB in the original image, and I don't buy that ( negative in the a channel )


I agree with BD that green is an unhealthy color for many of us to wear for photographs. I would love to see the the RAW file.

She certainly is a sweetie pie! Sweetie pies should have creamy, smooth skin, unlike us old fossils.

[NeilL]

I like this. Only had <100KB to work with. Exposure and dynamic range much improved. Hotspots gone. Color natural and attractive, very little color cast. Green is not a problem. Eyes bright. Detail back in shadows. Better crop. Background not as intrusive. Not a drop of LAB in it. Only strawberries and cream!:D :clap




http://neilal.smugmug.com/photos/578020007_hxRRv-L.jpg




http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/573709080_xTkhL-XL.jpg






Neil