B&W Portrait - to crop or not to? that is the question.

[StephenJay]

Hi guys, practice makes perfect as they say. Still trying to get my portrait skills down. I am curious about the crop on this head shot. Is the crop too tight or does it look good. I still have to smooth the skin, so no need to criticize that, but was curious about the crop. Any and all advice and criticism accepted. Thanks for looking and giving me your feed back. It is very appreciated.

Question: Is the crop too tight or it looks fine to you? I am very hard on myself so curious about what you guys think...





cheers,
SJ

[SusanH1970]

Actually, I'd crop tighter from the top to put her eyes on the rule of thirds - they're dead center where they are now. I'm a chronic head-chopper, I love the look of it, but it's a matter of taste.

Do you have a SOOC you could post so we might be able to offer other crop suggestions?

ETA: Gorgeous model, I love her eyes and smile!

[IABoomer]

I'm with Susan in saying I'd like to see a full uncropped version to see how else it could have been cropped. Also, call me crazy, or a purist, whatever, but I rather like seeing some texture to the skin.

It's funny that photographers tend to want to smooth out skin texture, where digital painters and artists for CGI movies and games want to find ways to add texture to skins.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by IABoomer

Also, call me crazy, or a purist, whatever, but I rather like seeing some texture to the skin.

Absolutely. I love seeing skin texture. However, I do think this image could do with just the slightest skin smoothing - keep it natural, show the texture, but smooth it just ever-so-slightly. I'd run it through Portraiture and lower the opacity big-time. Oh how I love Portraiture!!!

It's the images that look more plastic than Barbie Dolls that make me wanna gag.

[kristenh]

if you do crop even tighter, which i could certainly see doing- i'd try and take off the part of her hair on top that has a distracting shine- and i'd also crop some from the right side, where the light shines through her hair and is also distracting. it is a nice portrait, tho.

[StephenJay]

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

Actually, I'd crop tighter from the top to put her eyes on the rule of thirds - they're dead center where they are now. I'm a chronic head-chopper, I love the look of it, but it's a matter of taste.

Do you have a SOOC you could post so we might be able to offer other crop suggestions?

ETA: Gorgeous model, I love her eyes and smile!

Very good points, SusanH, I believe we have the same idea what we are looking for from this shot. Thank u for your criticsim, well put. I cropped it for a 8x12 print.

Originally Posted by IABoomer

I'm with Susan in saying I'd like to see a full uncropped version to see how else it could have been cropped. Also, call me crazy, or a purist, whatever, but I rather like seeing some texture to the skin.

It's funny that photographers tend to want to smooth out skin texture, where digital painters and artists for CGI movies and games want to find ways to add texture to skins.

So true, I love textures as well, I myself don't believe in over - smoothing. I hope you like what I did with it. Just a tad little adjustment.

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

Absolutely. I love seeing skin texture. However, I do think this image could do with just the slightest skin smoothing - keep it natural, show the texture, but smooth it just ever-so-slightly. I'd run it through Portraiture and lower the opacity big-time. Oh how I love Portraiture!!!

It's the images that look more plastic than Barbie Dolls that make me wanna gag.

How nice it would be if I had Portraiture, don't have that software.

Originally Posted by kristenh

if you do crop even tighter, which i could certainly see doing- i'd try and take off the part of her hair on top that has a distracting shine- and i'd also crop some from the right side, where the light shines through her hair and is also distracting. it is a nice portrait, tho.

thanks for the feedback KristenH

So here is what I came up with guys. Round #2 to Critique.

I cropped for an 8X12 print BTW. I think I nailed it. I really like it, but you guys will truly set the standard for me. Thanks you guys really helped me improve this shot. Let me know if you think it is good to send out to print, orr if there is still more adjustments necessary. Thanks guys.

[SusanH1970]

Love the crop, but you've clipped the blacks into oblivion - they won't print well.

And there are other ways to smooth skin subtly w/out Portraiture. I just love this photo, There can be a LOT done.

[StephenJay]

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

Love the crop, but you've clipped the blacks into oblivion - they won't print well.

And there are other ways to smooth skin subtly w/out Portraiture. I just love this photo, There can be a LOT done.

dag, how can I fix that? Lighten up the photo a little bit. I did increase darkness slightly. Just when you think u have it almost nailed. And I still need to add a mask layer and fiddle around in elements to soften the skin?

[dave.turley]

Hello?...Is this chronic head croppers anonymous? Ah, Susan is here, it must be the right room!..lol..You know I've caught that off you Susan?

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by StephenJay

dag, how can I fix that? Lighten up the photo a little bit. I did increase darkness slightly. Just when you think u have it almost nailed. And I still need to add a mask layer and fiddle around in elements to soften the skin?

Do you have a SOOC you could post (not converted to BW)? The exposure probably needs to be adjusted in the SOOC, then converted.

My buddy Vinnie (auto-focus here on DPS) has a great tutorial for skin softening in Photoshop. I like Portraiture better, but this does a pretty good job. From a thread regarding Portraiture: http://digital-photography-school.co...61-post11.html

Originally Posted by dave.turley

Hello?...Is this chronic head croppers anonymous? Ah, Susan is here, it must be the right room!..lol..You know I've caught that off you Susan?

LOL Dave! Yes, my name is Susan, and I'm a chronic head chopper.