NON Square Cropped Portraits - (nSCP's) - Archive

i would llike to share a portrait in action.. :D

here is a teen doing the sport of Parkour.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/...250d399d53.jpg

i added some textures over the BW version of the portrait to create a grungy feel.
i hhope you guys like it. and i would appreciate it more if you could share some insights on how to make this photo better.

thanks! and God Bless

Richard

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Originally Posted by richard amora

i would llike to share a portrait in action.. :D here is a teen doing the sport of Parkour

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/...250d399d53.jpg

I added some textures over the BW version of the portrait to create a grungy feel. I hope you guys like it. and i would appreciate it more if you could share some insights on how to make this photo better. thanks! and God Bless Richard

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I am sorry Richard but I find nothing to say about your picture. Not because it is not good but - on the contrary - because it is good. :)
The flash is mastered and so is the work in Photoshop if it's the one you work with, the moment is fantastic. :eek:
I would only say that - on a second thought - that the shoe is a little bit too strong... too white. But that is nothing :)
It's in fact an excellent shot that's what it is :)
Something else: it is within your style and that is very good: coherent style.
Go on with it, shooting over and over to consolidate your knowledge and master the technique.

Thank you for posting Richard :):)

http://i45.tinypic.com/mht40j.jpg

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Originally Posted by Alis

http://i45.tinypic.com/mht40j.jpg

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Great Ali :) or Great, Ali :)
Very out of the box as Colin would say. Even the spots on the ceiling contribute to the composition in spite of the missing one... :)
Was it on planned or it just happened at that very moment ?
:)

thank you very much Anton for the positive comments that you gave to the my photo. :) I am very much blessed that I was able to find such forum that is very much generous on giving comments and suggestions on how to improve my photos.. :)

Again an endless thank you to Anton and to the other members of this forum whose photos will always be my inspiration for me to keep on clicking. :)

Cheers!

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Originally Posted by Alis

http://i45.tinypic.com/mht40j.jpg

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When I was a young lad I built a model boat about this size (although nowhere nearly as well made). Only problem is I used a water-soluble glue; I think it sunk after about 20 minutes.

We live and learn!

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Originally Posted by richard amora

thank you very much Anton for the positive comments that you gave to the my photo. :) I am very much blessed that I was able to find such forum that is very much generous on giving comments and suggestions on how to improve my photos.. :) Again an endless thank you to Anton and to the other members of this forum whose photos will always be my inspiration for me to keep on clicking. :) Cheers!

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Mainly to all the members of this excellent forum Richard :) Not exactly to me :)
I am just an "user" in this forum. :)

However, be aware my friend, one day I will say bad things about your shots :D:D

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Originally Posted by Colin Southern

We live and learn!

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And teach!

I tried making a boat but gave up. I was on the other hand hooked on making an incubator for a long time. All I got at the end was a few rotten eggs with a couple of vessels in them...

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Originally Posted by Antonio Correia

Great Ali :) or Great, Ali :)
Very out of the box as Colin would say. Even the spots on the ceiling contribute to the composition in spite of the missing one... :)
Was it on planned or it just happened at that very moment ?
:)

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Thanks, Antonio! No it was not planned. Later I noticed that I actually pointed the open side of the Gary Fong diffuser toward him and that is why there is so many shadows in the picture.

http://i31.tinypic.com/157ozlf.jpg

Not my speciality, it looks blown so what am I doing wrong?

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Originally Posted by Antonio Correia

I have been very busy these days... :):)
G9 shot

http://antoniocorreia.smugmug.com/ph...53_QgYSJ-L.jpg

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I like this, this is very good. Of course I can't exert myself and so can never get a good portrait :D I was asked to take a pic of a baby and I reluctantly agreed to be shown a baby and told to get on with it; so I say I want the mother holding the baby close to her face and the mum disappears. :( Oh well, I seem to be overexposing but the graphs do not indicate as such, I do not know what is going on.
I would be very proud if I could do one like this. :)

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Originally Posted by arith

http://i31.tinypic.com/157ozlf.jpg

Not my speciality, it looks blown so what am I doing wrong?

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Hi Steve,

It is actually a very nice shot. What I see in your shot looks like a lot of things and I can't say for sure which one. I am guessing most of the damage occured during post processing. To me it looks like too much Recovery or too much decrease in Clarity. You can also do this by over doing the curve. It might be that you were trying to fix the overexposure issue but it definitely did not take care of it.

As far as things you can do during the capture to prevent overexposure is to decrease the exposure :) I mean the usual stuff that I am sure you know: decrease the exposure time, use smaller aperture, use lower ISO, or use less flash.

If the quality of the light is an issue, then you need a diffuser. Ever the StoFen is better than using direct light. Gary Fong dose does wonders and it is always attached to my flash when I shoot indoors. If you have a hot shoe mount, you should always try to bounce it off a bright surface.

Anyway, it is not that complicated. Having seen your work here, I am sure most of the stuff I mentioned here are redundant but I said it anyway. Also, I am sure Antonio, the (n)SCP Boss has more to add.

Cheers!

Ali

Cheers Ali; I was shooting to the right of the histogram through a white brolly and although I couldn't see anything blown in the graphs apart from very slight blue was surprised recovery didn't remove it. I wanted a reflector on the right but I was stuffed for space and the room is only about 4 x 4 square metres, so wasn't too optimistic.

I was asked so I went but I visualised the mother on a stool with the baby close to her face looking into the camera, but unfortunately she had other ideas and nothing I did attracted the babies attention more than the brolly. :)

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Originally Posted by arith

Not my speciality, it looks blown so what am I doing wrong?

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Hi Steve,

If you shot it RAW, I'd be happy to have a closer look at the file for you.

Ladakhi Woman!

http://i32.tinypic.com/2jb029k.jpg

C&C would be appreciated.

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Originally Posted by Sahil

Ladakhi Woman! ~ C&C would be appreciated.

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Hi Sahil,

My initial thought was 'over-exposed and over sharpened', BUT that is a little harsh and it is a great capture.

More considered response;
I think it is a little over exposed, but you may well have done this to get the eyes, which are great, but possibly a lower exposure and some dodging of the eyes would have been better.
Sharpening wise, it probably would stand a little less on the amount, I can appreciate why: you wanted to 'show the wrinkles' though.

Some further thoughts on other things that reduce the impact of the main subject;
a bit of burning to reduce brightness of outstretched hand
clone out the circular window behind the woman
clone out the edge of post top right
possibly some noise reduction, or masked USM, so the noise didn't get sharpened over the out of focus background

If all this seems a little 'heavy on the critical', it is because I can see you will become a better photographer than I (and the sooner the better). :) So I figure a few extra pointers may help - tell me to 'lay off' if I overdo it though and don't be afraid to challenge me; I am certainly not 'always right'.

BTW, the image does need to be viewed at the full: 1,071px × 1,600px for critical analysis (and it looks good big), but I wonder whether posting at a maximum height of 700px might be better for the majority of viewers, unless the subject really warrants it (as it may in this case). The image settings you use to post elsewhere may not result in the most accurate advice here, particularly for portrait orientation shots on landscape screens. With a shot this big and this orientation, 90% people won't ever see it at full resolution, which is what you PP'd it for, so they will be viewing 're-sized on the fly' facsimilies, beyond your control. You'll note I 'take control' of viewing conditions and usually post mine at 700 px and, if the image warrants it, provide a link to a bigger image (elsewhere) for those that want to see it - yes, that's two output versions, with separate re-sizings and final sharpens, a little more work, but, I think, worth it.

Hope that helps,

Hi Dave.
I am thankful for such great criticism. Over-sharpened, even I could see. Didn't really thought it was over-exposed. But now I can see what made you say that. I will take care of these two things and cloning out what you have pointed out. But I have very much wanted to show the wrinkles.

Thanks again, Dave.

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Originally Posted by Sahil

Hi Dave.
I am thankful for such great criticism. Over-sharpened, even I could see. Didn't really thought it was over-exposed. But now I can see what made you say that. I will take care of these two things and cloning out what you have pointed out. But I have very much wanted to show the wrinkles.

Thanks again, Dave.

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Hi Sahil,

I don't think the sharpening is the main problem, although it's probably making it worse - there seems to be a lot of specularity on the face which is causing issues with contrast and exposure - as per Dave's assessment, and it's definately about 1 full stop over-exposed.

Try reducing the exposure 1 stop and adding a little fill light. These kinds of shots often have enough character and contrast to survive on their own merits as black and white ("grayscale") images too by the way.

PS: Here's an example of what I mean (while I wait for Formula 1 qualifying!)

https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/fo...7&d=1278759845

Cheers Colin