Portrait redone...

[camyam73]

OK, I've redone the original portrait I posted. I'll try to answer as many questions that were asked over there, here. What was I going for in the shot - I was trying to emulate shots by a member of eyefetch by the name of maikel mango. HE's a fashion photographer, and seriously talented, but he also does PS work. The contest - it's a submit your best. I use a canon G2 at the moment (XTI is on it's way now!), and this was lit with three daylight fluorescents for lighting, no flash. I let the camera set everything on auto mode (terrible, I know!). I wanted a shot that I could show off some photo skills as well as my PS abilities, since I do a lot of work in PS. OK, here's the redone photo, with some of the details put back in, WRT shadows and such. I really didn't want too much detail in terms of shadow, since the works I was trying to emulate often don't have that... Also, BG was changed as well. OH - no, I do not normally tease my hair to get it to look like that! LOL And, here's a link to the gentleman whse portraits I adore...
http://www.eyefetch.com/image.aspx?ID=444023

[clockdoc]

I suppose it is a matter of taste as to what you are going for. The open lips/mouth tend to distract more than draw me into the image. It was the image of the catchlight that caused me to comment about onboard flash or a ring flash as there was no modeling of the facial features. Maikel Mangos's images appear to have a bit more shadow detail.

[camyam73]

Thanks for you comments Lee! I do realy appreciate them. Firstly, let me just say I am a total beginner... OK, almost total. I am doing my best to upgrade skills and the like. This particular hot was done at home, om my LR couch. No studio, no studio lights. The original shot is actually very tonally different than this edited version.

As for open lips... well, I did that on purpose. I have very large eyes and very small lips. With my lips closed, I look like my lips are pursed, even though they are not. So, that is a way to make my lips work with my face in a photograph.

I do wish I had better lighting in order to recreate maikel's (aka Alex's) photos. I was also injecting a bit of my own flavor into the hot... a bit of a high key low key blend between foreground and background.

Thanks again for all your input, I have changed the photo even further because of it.

Cammy

[clockdoc]

Thanks for your detailed explanation. That helps me understand where you are coming from. The eyes make the picture for me.

[camyam73]

Here's my final image. I went back to the original shot, adjusted the white balance in lightroom, and landed up bringing more detail from th original shot. I hope that this is a better version for you :^) OH! And sorry for all the spelling errors! I type quickly, but not touchtype. LAst thing - Them's are my eyes. No editing there. :^)