Autumn Portrait

[Ginger Pixie]

Was wondering whether this worked or whether it is too dark, or what anyone might do to improve it - eager to learn!



Camera Model Name
Canon EOS 450D
Firmware
1.0.9
Shooting Date/Time
15/11/2008 14:21:32
Tv(Shutter Speed)
1/60Sec.
Av(Aperture Value)
F5.0
Metering Modes
Unknown
Exposure Compensation
0
ISO Speed
400
Lens
-5.6 IS
Focal Length
40.0 mm
Flash
On

[KodiakStar]

To me it is a bit too dark. And her face seems to have a slight color cast to it as well, but hard to see the details with this size of picture. Do you have a link to the larger size ?

[Ginger Pixie]

Yes it's here

Thanks

[OsmosisStudios]

I would say its a bit dark, and she doesnt stand out enough. Start by slightly upping the exposure (in your RAW editor, naturally) and then maybe a bit of dodge and burn around her in large soft brushes just to get her to pop.

[swilliams61]

Fall is my favorite time of year, and I really like the feel and color of this. Yes, it may be a little dark, but I think it works for this. I LIKE it!

[Ginger Pixie]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

I would say its a bit dark, and she doesnt stand out enough. Start by slightly upping the exposure (in your RAW editor, naturally) and then maybe a bit of dodge and burn around her in large soft brushes just to get her to pop.

I could do with a bit more information on this RAW malarky....

Where do I find RAW mode on my camera? I have the quality settings on L - the highest/best available option I could see, it didn't seem to say RAW anywhere on my camera, but I gather you can take photographs in this mode?

Should it say RAW? Or is the highest option RAW?

Which program is the RAW editior? I got "Digital Photo Professional" and "Picture Style Editor" along with "EOS Utility" free with the camera - is it one of these, and if so what would I do?

I'm sure I'm being an idiot, but I'm trying to take in so much information at the moment my brain is probably being selective with what it processes!

I have Arcsoft Photo Studio 5, if that helps?

Cheers

Beccy

[Ginger Pixie]

Originally Posted by swilliams61

Fall is my favorite time of year, and I really like the feel and color of this. Yes, it may be a little dark, but I think it works for this. I LIKE it!

Thank you.

I wanted it to be dark enough for the feel I was trying to create, but I wasn't sure if this dark was too dark. I might play about with it a little to compare.

Cheers

[ttosifa]

I like pictures like this. My feeling, however, is that *she* is too dark. The darkness of the background makes it otherwise very dramatic. It has a "strobist-style" look to it (see http://strobist.blogspot.com ). And I think the color cast comes from her being too dark.

I have two suggestions. In camera, I would increase the power of the flash if you used it, or use an off-camera flash on just her if you did not. In post, I would create a new layer set to soft-light mode filled with neutral gray, and then brush with white over her face and clothes. Just playing with the small resolution file, an opacity of 30% on her face and 20% on her clothes seemed to look good.

EDIT: The post lightening seems to reduce the perceived color cast. And if you use a flash next time, I suggest a CTO (orange) gel at perhaps 1/4 power.

[Ginger Pixie]

Originally Posted by ttosifa

I like pictures like this. My feeling, however, is that *she* is too dark. The darkness of the background makes it otherwise very dramatic. It has a "strobist-style" look to it (see http://strobist.blogspot.com ). And I think the color cast comes from her being too dark.

I have two suggestions. In camera, I would increase the power of the flash if you used it, or use an off-camera flash on just her if you did not. In post, I would create a new layer set to soft-light mode filled with neutral gray, and then brush with white over her face and clothes. Just playing with the small resolution file, an opacity of 30% on her face and 20% on her clothes seemed to look good.

EDIT: The post lightening seems to reduce the perceived color cast. And if you use a flash next time, I suggest a CTO (orange) gel at perhaps 1/4 power.

Thank you for such a detailed reply. I had a play about with the image before reading your post, so didn't follow your suggested instructions, I think I will have a further play with it later.

In the mean time, is this better?

[/CENTER]

[MAQ]

I do think it's too dark ... not a lot, but enough to be distracting. Also, I'd crop out some of the background .. your model gets lost in it. I find the jeans distracting, but love the red coat against the dark background. You might play with the cropping to make this a bust shot or even a super close up of just her head ... may not work, but might be fun to take a look.