learning headshots

[nimitzbenedicto]

f/4, 1/160 ISO220 @55mm. autoWB. pp/lr4.1,gimp

[dan marchant]

There seems to be a rather extreme colour cast to the image, to the point where her eyes look bloodshot.

[JPS]

Hi Victor,
I agree there is a yellow/orange cast to this picture, which to me does not appear natural; however I can see the same pattern / style in other pictures you have taken and posted in this thread, so I guess this is what you were aiming for.
It's great you are using a 'style' you like, however for me it's a bit 'overdone'.
I have adjusted this picture to how I would have taken it; only as a point for further discussion, not because it's any better. At the end of the day you are creating and forming your own style and your pictures will always be best the way you want to display them: as this is how you envisaged them.
Thanks for sharing.

[nimitzbenedicto]

There seems to be a rather extreme colour cast to the image, to the point where her eyes look bloodshot.

Hi Dan, I guess you're right. The colour cast does make her eyes look bloodshot. Thanks for your observation. Will keep this in mind next time I edit headshots.

[nimitzbenedicto]

Hi Victor,
I agree there is a yellow/orange cast to this picture, which to me does not appear natural; however I can see the same pattern / style in other pictures you have taken and posted in this thread, so I guess this is what you were aiming for.
It's great you are using a 'style' you like, however for me it's a bit 'overdone'.
I have adjusted this picture to how I would have taken it; only as a point for further discussion, not because it's any better. At the end of the day you are creating and forming your own style and your pictures will always be the best way to display them, as this is how you envisaged them.
Thanks for sharing.

Hi John,

Your version does look closer to natural skin tone. After going over the other pix, your comment is spot on. I guess I'll have to tone down the yellow/orange cast of succeeding pix.

Thanks for your CnC.

Vic

[nimitzbenedicto]

f/4.0, 1/60, ISO100. autoWB. pp/lr4.1 & gimp

[nimitzbenedicto]

lr4.1 + gimp 2.8 experiments

[nimitzbenedicto]

learning lr4.1 & gimp2,8



original image

[nimitzbenedicto]

learning how to use Helicon Filter 5.



edited pix

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original pix

[nimitzbenedicto]

learning how to use viewNX2

[nimitzbenedicto]

Eco-Park, La Mesa Dam, Quezon City Sat. 01Dec2012
Nikon D3100 sooc. downsize only.

[nimitzbenedicto]

my grandkiddie : Gia



Nikon D5100. VR 55-200mm F/4-5.6G @145mm . VR:ON
Focus Mode:AF-A. AF-Area Mode:Single. Aperture Priority. F/5.0. 1/10s. Auto ISO 400.
:Matrix Metering. Auto WB, A2, 0. :sRGB . auto Active D-Lighting:
Auto Distortion Control: Picture Control:[PT] Portrait
Compressed RAW (14-bit). pp/Helicon filter 5

[revi]

Nice images, except for the signs of camera shake (especially in the second...).
1/10s @ 200mm is a rather long exposition. The 'norm' for full frame is 1/(focal length),
which would give us here about 1/200s. I know the manufacturers claim that VR gives
you 4 stops extra, but that's marketing talking, i.e. it might be true, but only if you can
hold the camera plus lens rock steady (I know I can't...).



And that's before we consider the subject (and kids tend to move ) I'd say try and use at least 1/50s,
and don't hesitate to go to ISO 800. I know, given the EXIF above, that sounds impossible, so something
will have to give... So either go closer (so you can use F4) or try ISO 1600,

[nimitzbenedicto]

Nice images, except for the signs of camera shake (especially in the second...).
1/10s @ 200mm is a rather long exposition. The 'norm' for full frame is 1/(focal length),
which would give us here about 1/200s. I know the manufacturers claim that VR gives
you 4 stops extra, but that's marketing talking, i.e. it might be true, but only if you can
hold the camera plus lens rock steady (I know I can't...).



And that's before we consider the subject (and kids tend to move ) I'd say try and use at least 1/50s,
and don't hesitate to go to ISO 800. I know, given the EXIF above, that sounds impossible, so something
will have to give... So either go closer (so you can use F4) or try ISO 1600,

Hi Revi,

Thanks for the tips. will follow your advice and see what comes up.

[nimitzbenedicto]

Nikon D5100. f/4.2, 1/30, autoISO800

[rpcrowe]

This B&H video tutorial by Ed Hueley provides some neat tips on basic head shots. He gets big money for his head shots!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIMCFVlbEz8

[nimitzbenedicto]

Testing Canon G11. studying how to use "unsharp mask" in GIMP.
5Feb2013

[Colin Southern]

Hi Victor,

Can you tell us more about your colour management? Are you shooting with a grey card and correcting in post production?

[nimitzbenedicto]

Hi Victor,

Can you tell us more about your colour management? Are you shooting with a grey card and correcting in post production?

Hi Colin,

I shot it in auto-mode using auto-flash. no grey card.
( F/3.5,1/30s, autoISO800, autoWB , Matrix Metering: )

here's the original, downsized to 640.



I then edited it in gimp2.8. crop it , then some editing in Helicon Filter 5. Finally, unsharp mask in gimp. Sort of adjust by eyeball until I feel it's ok.

Thanks

[Colin Southern]

Hi Victor,

A couple of suggestions if I may?

1. Get a grey card, and get a reference shot for the general lighting conditions that you're under at the time. It'll give an accurate starting point for white balancing.

2. Lets work through your post-processing. There's no easy way to say this (uh-oh!), but your processing is making things worse, not better; skin tones especially. Whatever you're doing is giving them a "plastic / mannequin" look. Not sure what it is that you're doing, but we need to get to the bottom of it.