Blushing Bride (I think I'm getting the hang of it)

[Stina3246]

This is from a recent wedding. I was the second photographer but I was very happy with a lot of the shots. I think I'm finally getting the hang of it.
So what do you think of the composition. I know she is just about dead center. I have another shot where you can see more of the dress but I loved the closer shot, her eye's look amazing to me. I did mess with the white balance a little, the whole room had a very yellow tint to it. Does she still look too yellow or maybe too pink now? The other photographer (who hired me) likes them a little more on the yellow side, he says they look warmer...more natural. I did a black and white version of this one and liked that too.
What would you do with this photo.


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Resolution: 800 x 532
Camera used: NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D50
Orientation: Horizontal (normal)
Focal length: 55.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 82.0 mm)
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure time: 1/30 (yes, hand held)
Lens F-Number: f/5.6
ISO: 400
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering mode: Multi-segment
Exposure: Not Defined

[sk66]

I'm glad you are "getting it".....Not to be too harsh, but I don't think you've "got it" quite yet.

IMO the image suffers from poor composition. It definitely has a color cast, and the lighting is a bit off.

Much of this is fixable, but shouldn't really need fixing if it had been captured better. Still, IMO almost very image requires some post work.

Here's what I did.
Rotate/Crop...IMO the original pose is way too prone and the overall feel was rather "boudoir"....If that was the intent, fine. But I feel it a bit much for a "glamourous bride" pic. This is just personal opinion/taste.

Some dodging and shadow/highlight adjust to bring the left eye out of shadow and lighten the left side of the face slightly.

A blur/average/invert WB adjustment (set to about 10% opacity)

A levels adjustment w/ white output set to 245.

A gaussian blur layer set to screen mode (reduced opacity, erased eyes/mouth).

Cloning/dodging for under eye bags. Cloning in background.

Warped eyes for a more balanced appearance...I wasn't sure if the differences between the eye shapes was natural or due to pose and direction so I left some of it for "realism". If it is "natural" then I think the pose probably exaggerated it. Had to do a little sharpening after the warping to bring them back.

Probably a few other things I don't remember..

I spent over 1/2 hr on it and I think it is greatly improved....(but I would since I did the work). IMO I wasn't quite careful enough with some of the edits...

[prabbit237]

Originally Posted by sk66

I'm glad you are "getting it".....Not to be too harsh, but I don't think you've "got it" quite yet.

IMO the image suffers from poor composition. It definitely has a color cast, and the lighting is a bit off.

I'm by NO means an expert (I'm still definitely learning) but I'm afraid I'm not as impressed with yer edits, either. The face and the forearm are too bright now for my tastes and the face just looks a bit too plastic (but lord knows I've done that myself to more than one picture.) I agree about the color cast but I think the lighting was better on the original.

I do like your cropping and rotation better and agree about the eyes not being even and having a bit of a "bag" problem so I'm not totally knocking what you did with it.

[Ambrosia76]

OK well looking at it on my monitor I like SK66 version better.

[Stina3246]

I have no idea if my monitor is calibrated or not but I like the color on my original better, the edit looks blown out on my screen. I like your crop better how ever and I see what you mean about the eyes. I went back and looked at other photos of her and one eye is actually slightly bigger then the other. I didn't notice it until you mentioned it.
Thanks for the imput.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by prabbit237

I'm by NO means an expert (I'm still definitely learning) but I'm afraid I'm not as impressed with yer edits, either. The face and the forearm are too bright now for my tastes and the face just looks a bit too plastic (but lord knows I've done that myself to more than one picture.) I agree about the color cast but I think the lighting was better on the original.

I do like your cropping and rotation better and agree about the eyes not being even and having a bit of a "bag" problem so I'm not totally knocking what you did with it.

I agree... (except for the lighting, but that goes to the glamour blur layer/ over bright result)
that's why I said I was not as careful with some of the edits as I should/could have been.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by Stina3246

I have no idea if my monitor is calibrated or not but I like the color on my original better, the edit looks blown out on my screen. I like your crop better how ever and I see what you mean about the eyes. I went back and looked at other photos of her and one eye is actually slightly bigger then the other. I didn't notice it until you mentioned it.
Thanks for the imput.

No problem at all...a lot of photography is opinion.
But as to the original color, it is quite pink and somewhat underexposed. (my monitor is calibrated)

A good way to determine if/where the color cast is is to use the blur/average/invert w/b method. While none of the three "easy WB methods" are 100% accurate they will be quite close if applied correctly. If none of the three methods give anything close to what you think is right, then your monitor is jacked.

[edbayani]

the photo looks good, the only thing i noticed was the grayish tone of the left cheek, the neck and slightly on some areas of the face. also the dark portion at the bottom. the right eye is a bit dark and "smaller"? not your fault. i lightened and opened it a bit.

[katia]

to me the sk66 edit is blown out and as someone else said, super plastic-y looking.

the 2nd edit is good, though. really all you need to do with your photo is lose the strange color cast, perhaps a tad more contrast.

[dannyrich]

Originally Posted by edbayani

the photo looks good, the only thing i noticed was the grayish tone of the left cheek, the neck and slightly on some areas of the face. also the dark portion at the bottom. the right eye is a bit dark and "smaller"? not your fault. i lightened and opened it a bit.

I prefer this edit.

I think composition wise this is the crop, short of a bit of fill and contrast I dont think I would play too much with it TBH.