Gia - Just a pretty Girl

Trever1t · Jan 30, 2017

Shot in my home in 2012 but first edited today. Haven't had much in the way of shoots for a year. With my crazy work schedule it's difficult to find a model ready to jump with only 12 hours notice.

Simple, elegant and undeniably sensual, Gia, a Chinese student now attending UCLA and out of reach.

FRE_9969-Edit by Bill Grayson, on Flickr

DGMPhotography · Jan 30, 2017

Nice shot!

I like the lighting and your model is lovely.

I would say the eyes look a little over-processed to me, and I find that strand of hair and the dimple on her arm distracting, but otherwise very nice!

Is your background as-shot, or was that edited? Light is nice and even!

Trever1t · Jan 30, 2017

DGMPhotography said:
Nice shot!
I like the lighting and your model is lovely.
I would say the eyes look a little over-processed to me, and I find that strand of hair and the dimple on her arm distracting, but otherwise very nice!
Is your background as-shot, or was that edited? Light is nice and even!

She's wearing contacts (obviously) and ya, I tend to do that. Damn, meant to fix that skin blemish! The background is as shot with some smoothing in post, thank you!

DGMPhotography · Jan 30, 2017

Trever1t said:
DGMPhotography said:

Nice shot!
I like the lighting and your model is lovely.
I would say the eyes look a little over-processed to me, and I find that strand of hair and the dimple on her arm distracting, but otherwise very nice!
Is your background as-shot, or was that edited? Light is nice and even!

Click to expand...

She's wearing contacts (obviously) and ya, I tend to do that. Damn, meant to fix that skin blemish! The background is as shot with some smoothing in post, thank you!

Nice! I'm guessing frequency separation on the BG? I did that for awhile too, until I just started replacing my backgrounds entirely in PS. I started doing that because of the annoying "banding" caused by frequency separation on the BG, like you can see in your image. I'm sure it's definitely better than in-camera, but if you have any interest in BG replacement, I'd be happy to share more!

Trever1t · Jan 30, 2017

DGMPhotography said:
Nice! I'm guessing frequency separation on the BG? I did that for awhile too, until I just started replacing my backgrounds entirely in PS. I started doing that because of the annoying "banding" caused by frequency separation on the BG, like you can see in your image. I'm sure it's definitely better than in-camera, but if you have any interest in BG replacement, I'd be happy to share more!

Some paint and some Gaussian blurr, banding may be from conversion?

Derrel · Jan 30, 2017

The banding on the leg is not super-noticeable at first. I might clone out the gaffer's tape X by the stool edge. Wow...she is one lovely model!

bumkicho · Jan 30, 2017

Like the shot! I always like even soft lighting. Was it shot with one big light source and bounced it from behind her? I think, unless you have a hair stylist collaborating, long hair will give you troubles every time...
IMHO - I'm not sure if I like how you had her right arm across her body like this.. but that was your artistic choice and I am just trying to decide for me if I would like it.

Trever1t · Jan 30, 2017

Derrel said:
The banding on the leg is not super-noticeable at first. I might clone out the gaffer's tape X by the stool edge. Wow...she is one lovely model!

Doh! I totally missed that tape!!!

Trever1t · Jan 30, 2017

bumkicho said:
Like the shot! I always like even soft lighting. Was it shot with one big light source and bounced it from behind her? I think, unless you have a hair stylist collaborating, long hair will give you troubles every time...
IMHO - I'm not sure if I like how you had her right arm across her body like this.. but that was your artistic choice and I am just trying to decide for me if I would like it.

Shot in 1012 but if I recall correctly I used one large softbox

DGMPhotography · Jan 30, 2017

Trever1t said:
DGMPhotography said:

Nice! I'm guessing frequency separation on the BG? I did that for awhile too, until I just started replacing my backgrounds entirely in PS. I started doing that because of the annoying "banding" caused by frequency separation on the BG, like you can see in your image. I'm sure it's definitely better than in-camera, but if you have any interest in BG replacement, I'd be happy to share more!

Click to expand...

Some paint and some Gaussian blurr, banding may be from conversion?

Hmm, perhaps. Can I show you what I would do?

Trever1t · Jan 30, 2017

shoot me a message, I can't seem to figure out the new messaging system here

DGMPhotography · Jan 30, 2017

Trever1t said:
shoot me a message, I can't seem to figure out the new messaging system here

Got it!

Trever1t · Jan 30, 2017

Hmm, I wonder if the banding is due to the fact that this was shot in jpg for some inknown or not remembered reason. Probably an oversight on my part back then.

480sparky · Jan 30, 2017

I'm not really a fan of the left side of her face being chopped of by the lighting, including part of her eye. She's got a round face, and the shadow of her hair makes her face look unbalanced.

But who am I to complain? I don't do portraiture any more.

Derrel · Jan 30, 2017

The banding on the left side of the background is more-noticeable when seen on Flickr at large size...here, reduced, it's not so bad. Looks like it could be smudged a bit or have some focus softening or smoothing appied to it, and the banding would mostly disappear. It was surprising to me to view the large size on Flickr, and to see just how much MORE detail is visible there than there is here at this current display size.