Graduation

[sethkoberg]

First post, so be harsh!

Before:


After:


All editing done in GIMP on Ubuntu 10.4:
Shot on a Canon 60D
Canon EOS 60D
1/400 sec.
f/5.7
ISO 800
106mm

1: Scaled original image down 30% (1037 x 1555 from 3456 x 5184)
2: Adjusted the Levels by selecting Colors>Levels.
Dragged the black slider and white slider inwards to where the histogram begins to dramatically rise.
3: Adjusted the Curves by selecting Colors>Curves.
Created a contrast curve (S-curve) to make the colors pop.
4: Duplicated the layer by selecting Layer>Duplicate Layer
5: Addusted the curves further on the top layer to a slight exponential curve
6: Set the top layer mode to Value
7: Flattened the image by right clicking on a layer, and selecting Flatten Image.
8: Cropped and saved.

[BrianD]

186 views with no comments? Well - I'll give it a shot.

I personally like the composition closer to the original photo, rather than the cropped one.

The original is really, really flat - do you have your camera's image settings that way? Are you shooting raw?

I like the added contrast.

Her skintones in the finished product look a little gray to me, and the entire image looks a little desaturated (unless, that is what you're going for).

Attached is where I may have gone with the processing.

[yulchick]

Originally Posted by BrianD

186 views with no comments? Well - I'll give it a shot.

I personally like the composition closer to the original photo, rather than the cropped one.

The original is really, really flat - do you have your camera's image settings that way? Are you shooting raw?

I like the added contrast.

Her skintones in the finished product look a little gray to me, and the entire image looks a little desaturated (unless, that is what you're going for).

Attached is where I may have gone with the processing.

deffenetly prefer your edit!

[High_Speed]

Here's my try. I sharpened up her eyes for you, too...

What are your picture style settings on your camera? That original is SERIOUSLY dull and flat. And your processed one is way under-saturated as well...unless that was what you were going for...

[kcoppock]

Hmm, the original is definitely pretty washed out; I'm wondering if your camera's contrast setting is too low? I like the tone of your second one, I think a little more saturated, and saving a bit more of the shadows would help. Since everyone else is, I'll have a go at this as well.



Rough steps of what I did (might be missing a few):

- Levels adjustment (Input levels 17, 1.13, 187)
- Saturation adjustment layer (+36, blending mode: saturation)
- Curves adjustment layer, just to boost the highlights a bit
- Small boost to shadows with Shadow/Highlight
- Another levels adjustment (20, 1.23, 255)
- Photo Filter (Warming, around 12% density)
- Unsharp Mask
- Duplicate layer, high pass filter, set to overlay, 62% opacity
- Channel Mixer adjustment layer (Monochrome, R+28, G+26, B+60, Hard light blending, 15% opacity)

Great pose and composition, it's a very good portrait with some tonal adjustments!