hi-key daughter

[sskoutas]

I figured I'd hop in with my first image post here, as much to see if I can get a picture posted properly as to get constructive C&C...

Here ya go, feel free to comment, critique, or rework and repost with your suggestions and tips:
http://sskoutas.smugmug.com/photos/131668567-L.jpg

[peterst6906]

Must say, I don't have anything constructive to add to the photo.

It stands on it's own as far as I'm concerned. Great capture and treatment.

Regards,

Peter

[urbanaries]

I figured I'd hop in with my first image post here, as much to see if I can get a picture posted properly as to get constructive C&C...

Here ya go, feel free to comment, critique, or rework and repost with your suggestions and tips:


personally, i'm not fond of BW conversions that darken the eyes so heavily. What color are the children's eyes? If they're blue, I think you should adjust the blue channel differently in PS, or possibly start with a better exposed photo. If they're brown, you can try masking them and adjusting contrast independently....

[JenGrace]

It reminds be of that movie, AI. Very dramatic.

[Lynie]

personally, i'm not fond of BW conversions that darken the eyes so heavily. What color are the children's eyes? If they're blue, I think you should adjust the blue channel differently in PS, or possibly start with a better exposed photo. If they're brown, you can try masking them and adjusting contrast independently....

I agree, it would look neat if the eyes popped a bit...blue, green....Nice shot though!

[sskoutas]

personally, i'm not fond of BW conversions that darken the eyes so heavily. What color are the children's eyes? If they're blue, I think you should adjust the blue channel differently in PS, or possibly start with a better exposed photo. If they're brown, you can try masking them and adjusting contrast independently....

Thanks very much... I appreciate the feedback. Her eyes are blue, but they are a very dark blue, a shade or two lighter than Navy perhaps. I like the way you're thinking though, and I'm going to go back to the RAW and see what I can pull from it. Thanks again!

[sskoutas]

Must say, I don't have anything constructive to add to the photo.

It stands on it's own as far as I'm concerned. Great capture and treatment.

Regards,

Peter

I really appreciate your feedback, Peter. Thank you.

[sskoutas]

It reminds be of that movie, AI. Very dramatic.

Thanks for the look and comment, Jen!

[sskoutas]

I agree, it would look neat if the eyes popped a bit...blue, green....Nice shot though!

Cool beans! I will see what I can do.

[truth]

To me it feels like the high key was achieved solely in post. If I'm right this creates a good deal of noise by bumping the exposure that high. Which is compounded when you then need to do the same to the black levels to get the detail you want back. I think that's where the eyes went dark and the artifacts in the shados and hair came in. Unless I'm wrong of course. :dunno

[sskoutas]

To me it feels like the high key was achieved solely in post. If I'm right this creates a good deal of noise by bumping the exposure that high. Which is compounded when you then need to do the same to the black levels to get the detail you want back. I think that's where the eyes went dark and the artifacts in the shados and hair came in. Unless I'm wrong of course. :dunno
You're right on the money... all hi-key was in post-processing. Here's the original from RAW to JPG. I think this kind of illustrates that dark blue in her eyes that I'd mentioned previously, but they are darker in this image than in reality. Like I said, if anyone wants to rework and re-post, feel free... just please share technique. Thanks.
http://sskoutas.smugmug.com/photos/135859175-L.jpg

[truth]

The eyes seem underexposed in the original as well. I'd try to develope the image in RAW to bring as much of the eyes out as possible. It might just be that there's not enough there to work from. If you can get the eyes to where you want them in RAW you can then get crazy with a high key version and layer them in photoshop.

[photogmomma]

I think it's also REALLY important to get the color correct before you start to do any conversions to B&W. Overall, it will help you get a much better conversion that can be tweaked a lot more....

I also like to see just a *hint* of the features a little more in a high key image. To me, it just becomes too abstract when you see no shapes of the features.

Here is my try:

Import into Lightroom
Adjust color (still not quite right, but closer)
Convert to B&W
Bump tone curve to higher contrast
Adjust exposure to be a high key image, but still have some features.Not sure if you (or anyone!) will like it! Holler if you need me to remove it. I'll be happy to. :)

With all that said, it's a really cute shot of a precious little girl! Keep doing photos like this and you'll get it spot on, I'm sure!

[wxwax]

I think photogmomma nailed it. Look at those eyes!

[sskoutas]

I think photogmomma nailed it. Look at those eyes!

I couldn't agree more... and I certainly don't want her to take it down. Thanks!

[DRabbit]

Stephen,

It's a great shot, and I love the PPing you did... I also like how Andi reworked the eyes and brought back some of the detail. I'd just love to see the eyes in color.

I did a shot similar to this of my daughter a while back...

http://www.dangrabbit.com/photography/albums/SAW/2005_1019_highkey.jpg

I actually put it on a t-shirt for myself (which of course mortifies my now-13yo teenager - LOL).

Point is, I left in a hint of color in the eyes... if you can pull the color out that would be awesome... considering how dark the eyes are on the original, you might have to fake it a bit though in PS.

[sskoutas]

Amy, Though not hi-key, per se, I did something similar with a picture of a friend's son last week:
http://sskoutas.smugmug.com/photos/136093697-L.jpg
Stephen,

It's a great shot, and I love the PPing you did... I also like how Andi reworked the eyes and brought back some of the detail. I'd just love to see the eyes in color.

I did a shot similar to this of my daughter a while back...


I actually put it on a t-shirt for myself (which of course mortifies my now-13yo teenager - LOL).

Point is, I left in a hint of color in the eyes... if you can pull the color out that would be awesome... considering how dark the eyes are on the original, you might have to fake it a bit though in PS.

[DRabbit]

Very cool Stephen... and that one could EASILY go highkey... I hope you don't mind, just wanted to show you...

http://www.dangrabbit.com/photography/albums/Shares/highkeyboy_sskoutas.jpg

I did it real quick so it's not perfect, but just to give you the idea...

It's a very nice shot of your friends son :)

[sskoutas]

[quote=DRabbit]Very cool Stephen... and that one could EASILY go highkey... I hope you don't mind, just wanted to show you...

I certainly don't mind, and you've done a cool job with your example. thanks!