Sharpening and Noise

[KmH]

Yo! ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ The last sentence in post #14 is likely based on a less than informed foundation.

There are many sharpening techniques, and sharpening considerations that have to be taken into account.
Digital cameras have a anti-aliasing (AA) filter that reduce sharpness to some extent. That extent varies with the aggressiveness of whatever AA filter is in the make/model camera you use.
Edge frequency in an image has a lot to do with how much and what type of sharpening the image can handle.

Here is a book written by the experts that wrote the software that is Lightroom's Develop module, Sharpening/Noise Reduction panel - Real World Image Sharpening with Adobe Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Lightroom (2nd Edition)

 

[The_Traveler]

I think there are three things going on with these images.

First, they are overlit and all or most of the microshadows and the color are blown out of the skin.
Second, the depth of field is too small; note that the plane with the eyebrows is in focus and everything else goes in and out. That makes the entire face look oof.
Third, the white balance is too cold.

Don't shoot at such a wide open f stop (1.8 or 2) so close, the DOF isn't enough.
Don't shoot at such a wide open f stop because the lens isn't so great at that f stop.
Look hard at the picture at 100% and try to piece out what is going on.

 

[catchlight]

Thank you all! You are incredibly helpful.

Much to my surprise, my reflectors arrived today! I thought I would try to catch the "golden hour," but I think I was a little late.

Anywho. Here's a picture from the end of the shoot. Trust me, you don't want to see the others. My dad apologizes to you guys for having to see his face so much. He blames my mother because she won't let anyone take pictures of her, haha.



Specs:
Lens: 50mm f/1.8
Exposure: 1/80 sec at f/2.8 (took some at 4 and those came out alright as well - so I'll definitely keep playing with a narrower DOF)
ISO: 100

You can only see the reflector in the right eye really, so I'll have to play around with angles. He is facing the setting sun, actually, because some trees were blocking the sun from getting strong rays on the reflector.

Also did some retouching to bring out the eyes a bit.

@The_Traveler: Would you say the skin is still too blown out? Ideally I wouldn't have him facing the sun directly, but it was hard getting light. Next time I'll shoot a little earlier, put whoever in shade, then use the reflector to fill in for more depth. The focus is *better*, but still not great. I'm thinking the lack of vibration reduction hurts, as well (using an older lens - the newer one wasn't in stock anywhere!). Focusing is harder than I thought! I also could get in closer to see better as I have been cropping in post anyways.

I'm still trying to get my head around white balance. I understand it, but applying it is a bit rough. I didn't use a grey card, so I'll be sure to do that next time.

Thanks again!

 

[The_Traveler]

You can up the ISO at least to 400 with no loss.
Then you can also use smaller aperture (f.5.6) and faster shutter speed)

Re: the composition.

Viewers try, whether they know it or not, to parse out the 'purpose' of content and arrangement - and if things aren't understandable the image is less enjoyable.

So here, your dad's head is cut off and yet his entire throat is included; there seems to be no artistic purpose - and it must be purposeful because you are showing it.
and he is sharing the image with something in the background. Why is that there? Why have you included it to be seen?
Essentially empty space can balance something or reinforce a feeling but here it is just distracting, mostly because of the bright window frame (?) and that empty space contradicts the tight cropping of the face without adding anything.

 

[catchlight]

Thank you. Not to seem unappreciative, but this is just in my back yard. I was focusing on getting natural, even skin tone, etc. When I'm shooting my "real" headshots, I will choose a much better locatio
As for the crop, actor headshots are usually very tightly cropped, even at the expense of the tops if heads, etc. But your insight on composition is still very helpful! I will challenge myself to think of the whole image next time I'm experimenting.

 

[SCraig]

Thank you. Not to seem unappreciative, but this is just in my back yard. I was focusing on getting natural, even skin tone, etc. When I'm shooting my "real" headshots, I will choose a much better locatio

If you are trying to learn then I'd suggest trying to learn to do things properly. If you develop bad habits now they will follow you for a long time. It's a lot easier to learn early to watch your background and frame things properly than it is to un-learn bad habits and start over in the future. Backgrounds are just as much a part of a photograph as the foreground, and how they are treated is very important to the overall composition of the photograph.

As for the crop, actor headshots are usually very tightly cropped, even at the expense of the tops if heads, etc. But your insight on composition is still very helpful! I will challenge myself to think of the whole image next time I'm experimenting.

Just because others do something does not make it right. Most people are rather attached to the tops of their heads and cropping them off in a photograph is not natural. Yes, I have seen many shots done that way and I disliked every one of them for that reason. I'll say it again: Learn to do things right in the beginning and it will pay off in the long run.

 

[The_Traveler]

As for the crop, actor headshots are usually very tightly cropped, even at the expense of the tops if heads, etc.

I understand that but you have included his neck and cropped the top of his head. That doesn't make artistic sense to me.

 

[catchlight]

Yes, there is definitely more neck than intended. I think I was attempting to keep his eyes in the upper third portion of the photo.

I have other questions, but I think I should probably just go practice more

 

[catchlight]

Here is a book written by the experts that wrote the software that is Lightroom's Develop module, Sharpening/Noise Reduction panel - Real World Image Sharpening with Adobe Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Lightroom (2nd Edition)

Oh, and thanks for the link to this resource!