'spose I can finally post something in here :)

jowensphoto · Nov 13, 2012

What do you guys think? First paying gig outside of a crappy retail studio. Woooo!
1.

- I used OCF! ...the best part is, I like the result

2.

or do you prefer 3.

thetrue · Nov 13, 2012

2 is superior to 3, I hate that soft focus stuff. The blue sweater shot would be better less the shadow, overall nice shots, just a little post work to do

2WheelPhoto · Nov 13, 2012

Nice! Of course asking for CC means they can be picked apart and shredded so to contribute I'll just say seems you were shooting from up high for a kid in the last one. I'd have maybe got down more. The light appears harsh but you may have been going for that look =)

But I'm sure the child and everyone loves these

jowensphoto · Nov 13, 2012

The thumbnail, TwoWheel? I didn't mean to upload that one lol. I think I may have been standing on just a bit of an incline. He's still a cutie though

I do like the bright harsh light in this one, it was actually just a reflector, but in mid day sun. Considering (though I do hate the term) I've been a "natural lighter" up until recently, I'm proud of my results using modifiers and even a bit of OCF.

I'm a big fan of haze and vignette, especially when it covers blown portions of sky

But I do think I prefer the boldness of the colors in #3.

Thank you both!

thetrue · Nov 13, 2012

Have you tried a GND in your software? I think that would help get rid of the blown sky and keep the richness of the rest of the image. Just a suggestion, not law lol. IMO the haze makes it look less professional, like something is hiding that you don't want us to see, but looking at #2 there's nothing but a little blown sky. To me, a natural look just makes an image stand out more. I think you're a good shooter for the most part and that added stuff might hold you back from going further with your shots.

jowensphoto · Nov 13, 2012

thetrue said:
Have you tried a GND in your software? I think that would help get rid of the blown sky and keep the richness of the rest of the image. Just a suggestion, not law lol. IMO the haze makes it look less professional, like something is hiding that you don't want us to see, but looking at #2 there's nothing but a little blown sky. To me, a natural look just makes an image stand out more. I think you're a good shooter for the most part and that added stuff might hold you back from going further with your shots.

In this case, that's exactly it! It's a bit heavy in that one, I've not shown that edit to client, only #3. Matte/Haze is something I love and am trying to incorporate more, but perhaps I need to learn to back off too! I haven't tried the GND in software, any tips on doing that in Photoshop (CS 5.5)? I did use a CPL on Sunday during a mid-day engagement shoot and that seemed to help some with the skies.

Thanks a lot for the suggestions.

thetrue · Nov 13, 2012

I don't know much about photoshop, but even free programs like Picasa has that built in. Anyone know about that for photoshop?

tirediron · Nov 13, 2012

Not bad at all... a couple of thoughts: I think One needs to be cropped a little closer to square, and it seems a hair mid-tone rich. I don't like #3, and #2 seems a bit awkwardly cropped; the one boy's leg is almost lost frame right, and yet there's lots of space to the left. That said, good expressions and overall a nice set.

MLeeK · Nov 13, 2012

3 looks like an unprocessed raw image.
Very nice!

leeroix · Nov 13, 2012

in my experience, lightroom or some other programs seem to have the pre-set effects (washed out- vintage etc...) a little easier to get a hold of and use. there are "actions" available for photoshop, but i have found that most of them are crap. i prefer to create my own, using various layers and multiple gradient maps, with different blending techniques. i do think that learning to create, develop and use the actions, or presets on your own, is much more beneficial and shows a mastery of the program -rather than simply clicking the mouse and not knowing how the desired effect is achieved. -which happens more often than not nowadays...

cannpope · Nov 13, 2012

If these are going to be shown as a "set" to the clients, I think the processing should all be the same. Doesn't hurt to throw in a couple of b&w, especially if the WB was off and it looks better in b&w.
#1 - if it's going to be a version of b&w, make it b&w, not a vintage wash look
#2 - no haze, please
#3 - back off on the flash a little - his face looks "hot" and his shadow is distracting

I am no pro, but these are my opinions

jowensphoto · Nov 13, 2012

cannpope said:
If these are going to be shown as a "set" to the clients, I think the processing should all be the same. Doesn't hurt to throw in a couple of b&w, especially if the WB was off and it looks better in b&w.
#1 - if it's going to be a version of b&w, make it b&w, not a vintage wash look
#2 - no haze, please
#3 - back off on the flash a little - his face looks "hot" and his shadow is distracting

I am no pro, but these are my opinions

Thanks, Carol. Before even reading your comment, I went back through the set and streamlined. All of the caboose photos are processed in the same manor, then the "studio" shots are all processed in the same type of B&W. The last one did get adjusted and looks a bit better. Still trying to master the one light setup!

leeroix said:
in my experience, lightroom or some other programs seem to have the pre-set effects (washed out- vintage etc...) a little easier to get a hold of and use. there are "actions" available for photoshop, but i have found that most of them are crap. i prefer to create my own, using various layers and multiple gradient maps, with different blending techniques. i do think that learning to create, develop and use the actions, or presets on your own, is much more beneficial and shows a mastery of the program -rather than simply clicking the mouse and not knowing how the desired effect is achieved. -which happens more often than not nowadays...

Actions are how are I started learning the various features in Photoshop! I still run a few premade ones that I started out with, but never just as is... opacity, layer modes, ect always get adjusted. Recently, I've created my own to suit my own style (that I'm still trying to figure out!).

Derrel · Nov 13, 2012

I think #2 of the two brothers clowning around on the old rail cars is cute. The vintage or whatever look in #3 is not a look that I like in this specific instance; I think some of the Lightroom pre-set looks would look better on that. Shot #1...it's a horizontal profile....hmmm....I do not see why...crop it square or tall I would say, and punch it up contrast-wise and maybe color-wise too. The last shot, of the boy standing with the head shadow from the flash on the wall--now that is the frame I would think about Lightroom-ing the daylights out of--that is the frame that would benefit the most from a really extreme "pre-set effect"...

jowensphoto · Nov 13, 2012

If only I had lightroom

Any suggestions for fixing that is PS?

Here's a straight up B&W of the first, cropped to an 8x10 and placed in portrait orientation. Better?

tirediron · Nov 13, 2012

Buy Lightroom - if you don't have it, buy it! LR 4, at ~$160 has to be the BEST bargain in photo software on the market. I would rather not have CS than not have LR!

Edited to add: Yes, that crop is much better!