What’s Your Preference?

SusanAshlea · #1 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008, 12:52 PM

I haven't posted a before & after in awhile and I am really excited about this one. This is one of my best friends and I have been wanting to shoot her for awhile. I finally got the chance last night. I have been wanting to do a photo like this and we went to the old school building where the local haunted house is run every year, and for me that adds to the mood.

Before:

workflow:
first I did some retouching to her face, and airbrushed her a tiny bit. Then I used a skin softening action (amy-rose's action, I don't have the link anymore)Then I added a levels adjustment layer to brighten it and added a curves adjustment layer and set it for medium contrast. After this, I sharpened the eyes and added a bit of blur. At the very end I straightened the photo a bit. I used alot of the tips on Amy-Rose's Secrets Revealed blog, and did a bit of my own tweaking.

After:

windrider86 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008, 01:14 PM

The part I really like is that how you straightened the wall, that made a big difference

OsmosisStudios · #3 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008, 04:01 PM

Straightening the wall helped, but I really think she's over-processed.

SusanAshlea · #4 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Straightening the wall helped, but I really think she's over-processed.

I tend to like the high contrast, high key type photos. But that's just me. As long as she likes it....

TheYorkshireRambler · #5 (**permalink**) 10-04-2008, 06:09 PM

I really love the result. As far as over-processed is concerned I don't feel it is but then I like this look. In my view it depends on your personal taste and what kind of result the person was going for.

Jae · #6 (**permalink**) 10-05-2008, 12:40 AM

My first thought was that her skin lost a bit of texture, mostly where the light hits her face. BUT overall you did a great job with this, the after photo is wonderful, it pops!!

Mr.Intensity · #7 (**permalink**) 10-05-2008, 05:14 PM

Very good work; you took her from the mid-west to Madison Ave....but somewhere in between is where I'd personally like to see her. The natural lips and eyes works to her advantage- but that's women huh? they like the make-up

candleman · #8 (**permalink**) 10-05-2008, 11:46 PM

i think you did a good job
i like the processed look.. not any joe-dirt off the street can create an image like that.

how did you straighten it? i can see a difference.. but no retational diffference, which is my definition of "straighten".. ie a sloping horizon..
could you elaborate? maybe elements doesnt have that.. :S

SusanAshlea · #9 (**permalink**) 10-06-2008, 05:09 AM

When I took the picture and saw the preview on my camera, I already had the idea to create this image. Her skin does lose some texture, but I think it suited the type of look I was going for...that and she said "please airbrush the crap out of my face"! *lol*

Re:straightening
I use CS3 and it has a tool called "free transform", and you can also add a grid to the image while you are editing. I used the grid and in the free transform tool, you can change the angle, so I lined up the wall with the grid and viola. Hopefully I explained that right. I don't know if Elements has a free transform tool or not, but in CS3 shortcut is Ctrl+T. I hope that helps.

thanks for the comments!

TheYorkshireRambler · #10 (**permalink**) 10-06-2008, 07:17 AM

PSE does have a transform tool Ctrl+T

I prefer paint shop pro to photo shop and only really use PSE for anything that paint shop can't do so don't take it that the Ctrl+T thing is correct (I think it is though

). I think you did a great job with this pic

.