Some Headshots

[Cre8tivepixels]

Thanks for checking these out. Some amazing photography in these forums over the last few weeks!









Cheers
Dan

[Nnnnsic]

I'd say the third one is the only one that might have worked.

Your first is flattened to all buggery. You might have well just hit her with a shovel because that's what blowing out the face has done. Not to mention the blacks blending without any regards to detail. Fall back on your over-PP with this one.

The second just doesn't seem to do anything and her face seems either like too much make-up has been applied or too much airbrushing has been applied. Either way, you're also losing detail in the shadows.

The third is pretty decent. There's detail, tone, texture, and black separation. I'd pull the whites of the eyes back a bit, but it's fine. Compositionally, it's the strongest of the lot.

I'd say the fourth just doesn't work compositionally but I'm not sure what else I don't like about the image. It's sharp on the eyes which is nice, but somehow the over-white-whiteness of the whites just keeps drawing my eyes away from her eyes and back to the whites. Further, the eyes are the only thing that keep me looking at the image as it doesn't seem much like a good image focal plane-wise.

[shakey]

Striking images...

#1 is the one for me. I love the tilt of the head, the eyes, the hair flecked with white and the whistful look on her face.

I personally think you've done a great PP job with some nice subtle colours and features in the facial skin. Sort of ethereal.

[PiroStitch]

The third is the strongest out of this lot for me as it shows more of her natural beauty than having it added in PP.

The last shot is quite creepy for me, not only with her make up but with whatever she's doing with her lips. Also the harsh shadow on her neck from her chin isn't that flattering either.

I can see you're trying to develop a style and add styling to the end results, but seriously work on the basics first. The stuff that you used to post ages ago were really great - even managed to claim POTW! Now it's as if you're concentrating more on PP than what's more important.

PP only works if the basics are there...otherwise it can't save a garbage shot. I've been there and done that before.

[Cre8tivepixels]

...otherwise it can't save a garbage shot. I've been there and done that before.

Hmm i can always feel the love in this forum......thanks for the backhanded compliment, think i will continue to do what i am doing....thanks all the same

I do however agree with Leigh the first is way to overdone on a fresh glance this morning!

Those POTWs didnt make me money, the stuff i am doing now is..so that says it all as far as i am concerned. I dont post here to win POTW btw!

Dan

[PiroStitch]

Ahh crap, sorry I just re-read what I posted in haste this morning before I stepped out to work.

I can see why you'd be swayed by my comments. I'm speaking from personal experience by no way was it meant as a personal attack and neither was it insinuating that you post here merely for POTW. However, I was saying that your old shots had more spirit and style to them.

[Cre8tivepixels]

Ahh crap, sorry I just re-read what I posted in haste this morning before I stepped out to work.

I can see why you'd be swayed by my comments. I'm speaking from personal experience by no way was it meant as a personal attack and neither was it insinuating that you post here merely for POTW. However, I was saying that your old shots had more spirit and style to them.

Its cool......i am not offended, i am used to it here........lol

It is interesting i feel that you say my older stuff was better, i had NO idea what i was doing back then, i dont think (even to this piont) i am even 30% good i have 70% to find still - but that seems to never be taken into account when i post here. I have only really been snapping away for 12months so i am happy with what i have achieved to date.

I took images for fun back then when i got two POTW, now its a fulltime job for me and i dont get to do the "what i want" shots anymore.....i have a brief with a style/theme/model/wedding that i shoot and thats it. So its hard for me to enjoy photography anymore.

[Alex]

Hi Dan,

No. 3 for me also - nice shot. No. 2 is good composition and pose wise but I find the lighting a bit unflattering.

Alex

[johnd]

Dan, I think #3 is a great image. I like the skin tone and texture that looks like it has been smoothed just enough but not too much.

A question if you don't mind me hijacking the thread.
What do you do (say in the case of #3) to get the skin tone and texture effect? Do you clone to fix skin imperfections and then gaussean blur? I've also seen a number of images with the skin looking quite ceramic or even matallic. How do you get that type of effect?

Cheers
John