whatchya think??

[danchez]

OK, I have to admit, I feel post processing is my weakest part of my photography. I haven't spent nearly enough time learning and playing with it as I have behind the camera and I have the skills, well, lack of skills to prove it. Anyway, I have been working pretty hard at it the last few days and I think I have made some major advancements. I would appreciate any and all CC that you have about the post processing. Thanks.

1) SOC


2) My final image..... I think.

[MicWayWal]

I like what you have done. The only thing I think I would do is to soften the major creases in her lips. The skin is so smooth but she looks like she has sunburned lips.

[danchez]

sigh, just 1 response..... disappointing.

[Kev]

agree on softening the lips.. I also see a visible orange cast on the back of her hand/inside of her wrist/forearm.

[HotHolly]

im not loving the warmness of the image. i dont mind plasticy looking skin, if you want the supermodel skin look. id like to see more of the highlights in her hair brought out. i think the PP on the image (but it may have also been the lighting) makes her hair look very dried out and crunchy. most women buy tons of hair products and pay a pretty penny for them too so that their hair never looks like that on the ends. PP should downplay any flaws, and play up characteristics we have and maybe even create some characteristics we want, but dont entirely have, imho. you can tell that philosophy is from shooting boudoir. if you shoot other stuff, it may not fly.

[The Philos]

There is an orange cast on her skin yet her top has gone more yellow.

I hope you don't mind, but I think it's easier to show than tell with PP. Here's how I would have PP the image:

[danchez]

@ Kev, the orange, is that from her sweater?

@ HotHolly, I didn't have any kind of a hair light for this shot, I didn't even think of it actually. She was laying on the ground, obviously, and I had my octabox on a boom above her facing straight down. I could have easily thrown in a hair light with a 10 degree grid and put it only on her hair, thanks for that suggestion.

As far as her hair, it was hard and crunchy. I am looking at a lot of the pictures and she has hard crunchy burnt hair sticking out lots of places.

@ ThePhilosopher, it's a nice rendition, but now her face looks a little washed out to me.

Thanks for the suggestions and comments.

[The Philos]

I did pull her skin tone down a bit too much.

You know, you pull it down to cure a slight cast then when you add in the local contrast it quickly pushes too far and by the time you realize it you've already posted it. You could try some smudge painting on a new layer (at a low opacity) to try to soften her hair up a bit.

[Kev]

yeah Dan.. It looks to me like it's from the sweater, as her hand/wrist area is the only place it I see it.

[Friendomyn11]

I am merely a newbie, but I just cannot help myself when it comes to a challenge. Here is my attempt. Had fun trying.