My own model! XD

[oriolhdz]

Hi:
This is the first time I try to make some portrait of a person. My girlfriend tried to help me on this. I used some Photoshop with the goal of making a little bit more appealing the photo. Your c&c are very welcome as always!
Thanks for your help and hope you enjoy the photo!

[epeyton@tampabay.rr.com]

What did you use to take this photo and what did you do in post? I think it could be softer and it is a bit too contrasty (detail washed out) for me. I would crop out the tree on the left and straighen the back ground. Very pretty girl. You did a very good job for your first time.

[melanie2457]

Any chance you can show us the original?

[Nicole]

I'd also be interested in finding out what you did in post-processing. I like the kind of washed out light colours but deeper dark colours but I haven't had a chance to work on doing the technique myself in post.

One thing about the composition of the photo though, I find the tree trunk on the left distracting because it takes up a pretty significant part of that third of the picture and makes it feel like it should be a square crop.

[oriolhdz]

Thanks for your comments epeyton@tampabay.rr.com. As melanie asked I’m posting the original one so all of you can see how it was. Also feel free to make any adjustment =)
Nicole:
I used the "lomo technique (the one that is on dps blog) " in the photo to achieve those white/black contrast but I feel I went to long on the whites (They got washed out lol). Also made some curves and level improvements in Photoshop. I will try to make the post-processing and see what we get.
Thanks for your comments! As I said to epeyton, feel free to edit it!

[Nicole]

Ah, thanks... That will be a good starting point. As I think about it, it makes quite a bit of sense. Thanks

I do like your edited one more than the original too, but I see what you mean about some of the whites getting washed out, I do like the overall effect of the edit though. Nice job on the portrait

[jiminyClickit]

oriolhdz,

When someone as lovely as this is willing to sit there while you photograph, the less distraction around her, the better. You don't need a studio, just some post processing, especially selecting your model out, then adding a layer of white mask, and generally softening the look. Very good photo.

[jsanders]

Hmm,

I also find the background annoying it is too busy and takes away the attention of your subject. Seccondly, the contrast is also a bit too low. Meaning I can't really see where the hair of your gf really ends. Third I find the picture in overall a bit too dark.
Try to use more light. And there are many ways to achieve this.

[stetson ography]

I really like the contrasty shot you posted first. It suits the subject matter and I don't find the background distracting at all.

[peeperita]

oriolhdz

she's a lovely girl....

i lept at the chance to pp your shot....



i have a new favorite tool in ps called shadows and highlights....i adjusted the shadows a bit lighter....then duplicated the layer and added a gaussian blur at 17 pixels....and finally changed the blending mode of the new layer to overlay at 29%....

i tend to do the same things over and over and if i bore anyone with my same same processing i am sincerely sorry.....

thank you for such a great image to work with

peeper