Outdoor Shoot C&C

[dandaluzphotography]

Hey Guys,

I took this shot over the weekend. Any comments or critiques appreciated. Something about it bothers me. I think it's the skin tone. It seems off a bit.

Thanks,
Danny

 

[o hey tyler]

The skin tone looks okay to me. Maybe a little too much skin smoothing or recovery going on. The exposure seems kind of "muddy." But the biggest issue, by far, is the background. It gives me the impression that you walked out on your back porch for this shoot and didn't look any further. Backgrounds aren't the subject of the photo, but they sure can make or break it.

 

[dandaluzphotography]

I hear you with the background. But as far as the exposure being muddy, I don't know exactly what you mean, but i think its not over-exposed or underexposed but something else like its not clear or something. Tough to describe.

Thanks,
Danny

 

[cgipson1]

I like the shot (although the background is far from perfect. Looks too yellow to me, and a bit underexposed. You have ok to edit.. so I did..

It was a real quick edit.. so still not perfect... but what do you think?

Added +8 blue, +3 magenta, brightened a hair.. and sharpened a bit

 

[o hey tyler]

It's hard to describe, there's just not a lot of tonal separation. It almost looks like you jacked up recovery in CameraRAW. That's what I can equate it to the best. Not sure what processing method you used. Care to post the SOOC image?

 

[dandaluzphotography]

Attached is my first edit, but I thought it was too bright so I toned it down some. now my revised copy looks down right dark... This is so frustrating.

 

[dandaluzphotography]

Tyler,

Not exactly SOOC. I added a watermark in lightroom and then exported as jpeg.

 

[o hey tyler]

That first exposure is pretty good, and doesn't look muddy. I'd go back to the drawing board with the original and just lightly process it. The first photo in the thread is far too dark.

I believe in you, Danny!

 

[cgipson1]

I think I went too far on my edit.. she looks too tanned compared to your SOOC shot. But those look washed out...

 

[dandaluzphotography]

Thanks Tyler. That's what my wife tells me too. I'll try it again and repost. Oh and I think I know what you meant by muddy. It looks flat; kind of like with no contrast.

 

[dandaluzphotography]

I think I went too far on my edit.. she looks too tanned compared to your SOOC shot. But those look washed out...

What looks washed out?

 

[cgipson1]

I think I went too far on my edit.. she looks too tanned compared to your SOOC shot. But those look washed out...

What looks washed out?

I guess washed out is too strong a term.. a bit to bright might be a better way of putting it... slightly overexposed...

Might just be a lack of contrast

 

[dandaluzphotography]

I think I went too far on my edit.. she looks too tanned compared to your SOOC shot. But those look washed out...

What looks washed out?

I guess washed out is too strong a term.. a bit to bright might be a better way of putting it... slightly overexposed...

I agree. I thought the SOOC was too bright so I toned it downed but I went too far. In my first edit, i think it was ok, but after looking at the second edit (the first shot in the thread) it seems good. the second edit was way too dark.

 

[Skaperen]

Did you produce in sRGB or Adobe color space?

 

[dandaluzphotography]

In Lightroom I selected the camera neutral color profile. If this is what you're asking. It seemed to be the one that matched what I saw the most.