is it the photo or the processing

[carrbowl]

I think I have found Part of the problem. When I open a photo in CS 3, it is in RGB. when I open the RAW file, it is in Adobe RGB, and who knows what happens in lightroom!!!! So wonder I so dang confused about color and PP issues!! There is a huge difference between the photos in RGB and Adobe RGB. GGGRRRRR!!

[AllenAyres]

Yes, that would probably make a difference ;)

[DigitalDiva]

Disney, I don't remember where I got it, I went on a texture hunt on the internet one night and picked up several from different sites, some I had to purchase (very inexpensive) but there are a lot of free ones out there.

[TexKen]

Originally Posted by carrbowl

I think I have found Part of the problem. When I open a photo in CS 3, it is in RGB. when I open the RAW file, it is in Adobe RGB, and who knows what happens in lightroom!!!! So wonder I so dang confused about color and PP issues!! There is a huge difference between the photos in RGB and Adobe RGB. GGGRRRRR!!

Ummm can anyone comment on what this means? Which of those photos is which?

[David_Janaskie]

Lately I've been doing most of my PP in SRGB from start to finish. Since, from what I understand, most printers can only output SRBG anyway, I find it easier on the Color Mgmt. ( I know eventually printers will improve beyond SRGB...I just got tired of all the color mgmt issues). Now browser, LR/CS3, and prints all match....at least most of the time.

[carrbowl]

Originally Posted by TexKen

Ummm can anyone comment on what this means? Which of those photos is which?

top photo is sRGB bottom photo is Adobe RGB

[jkderby]

My opinion, she is straight on and accentuates the nose, smiles too big and and showing to much gum and makes her mouth to big, back ground nicely blurred but still has a horizontal line bisecting her head, lighting to harsh and not flattering to her skin tone. Also, next time tell people to watch what they wear.

[toverman]

Originally Posted by jkderby

My opinion, she is straight on and accentuates the nose, smiles too big and and showing to much gum and makes her mouth to big, back ground nicely blurred but still has a horizontal line bisecting her head, lighting to harsh and not flattering to her skin tone. Also, next time tell people to watch what they wear.

I agree that the pose isn't optimal. Also, instead of dealing with her hair later, it should have been smoothed out the old-fashioned way on her shoulder. Subjects rarely know how they are going to look in photos, it's up to us to notice the details (I learn something new with every session). The lighting, whatever you did, just looks odd to me. But outdoors I like reflectors/natural light better anyhow (my opinion).

The crop (out of camera) is strange, too. Some of your full-figure shots would show off what she was wearing and maybe it wouldn't look so frumpy. You would have accentuated the entire line rather than chopping her off so harshly.

Post-processing is a necessity of digital, and some commenters have created nice examples. But unless you've got a good shot to begin with, the processing will always look processed (at least to trained eyes). Don't mean to sound harsh!

[CincoJoe]

I took a quick shot at it. The photo is a bit underexposed but nothing that can't be corrected in Lightroom.