DSLR Photography Forum

Two very different sepia images of my daughter Megan and our local jetty.
I really want honest comments and suggestions to improve these shots. This feels like the start of a series of shots I want to get of all three of my children with a similar theme.
Dont be afraid to be harsh, I want and value your opinions...
Shane

(Both taken with Pentax DS, Sigma 100-300)

1.



2.

I really don't do portraits awfully well, so I can't comment on those aspects, but the DOF is excellent, and I like the leading lines in #1 and the composition of #2.

As far as processing, I feel the contrast is a bit harsh for this subject. Because the lighting is bright daylight, and the sepia naturally decreases the dynamic range, I think you may want to play with the contrast a bit to soften the treatment on the little girl.

I love the first one. As I scrolled in from the top I felt, nice shot. Then when I saw the girl I thought, this is a masterpiece. I love the way you handled the dodging and burning in.To be honest there are some sharpness variation problems. Some places appear to be innapropriately blurry. But My eye forgives them. You made a good choice in your monochrome treatment.

First let me say i love both if these , and i am not very good a critiqing ( sp ) . But the one thing that jumps out at me in # 1 is her neck , it seems a little bright . And the light poles the same , i dont know if they can be burned a little bit , or if its really a " problem " . Just the first thing that i noticed .

I like your sepia treatment , would you mind sharing you how you got it that " dark " ?

........ Shawn

I will focus on the second shot as the first seems great to me.

I love the second - but for perfection suggest that you include all her feet and position her a little more to the right of the frame so she fits a rule of thirds look.

Apart from that - great.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. Sometimes I spend too much time post processing and this tends to lead to taking it a bit far. I was lazy with these and used contrast adjustments on the hole image - I didn't do any selective dodging and burning. This has lead to a loss of nice tones in the bright areas and calls for another edit.... Thanks Toad and Shawn.

Don - Be careful using words like 'masterpiece' around me - I'll get a big head. Thank you. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by sharpness variation problems. Which bits look blurry?

WS - I agree about missing her feet - I regret that I didn't get them in the original shot.

Heres a colour edit for comparision.

I agree with WS's critique, these are absoluely beautiful, be sure to post the ones of your other kids too, cos I'd love to see them! (Then again, I'm always partial to shots of cute kids LOL)

I love your sepia conversion, I'd also love to know what you did to get such a rich sepia!

Beautiful work!

On second thought I don't see inconsistent blurring at all.

I didn't see the colour version before, but I have to say- I LOVE it!! Gorgeous!!

Just right. My wife used to look like that...apparently. She's just reached her late teens. (60). Like today even.
I have to take a couple of shots for her free bus pass so if they are OK I will post later.

My version and her feet don't seem to be missing here, or maybe that's me.

I suppose I am in the minoirty on this one - but I like the color version better, Its softer (in the positive sense) and seems to show her youth and joy of life better IMO.

Schellamo Wrote:I didn't see the colour version before, but I have to say- I LOVE it!! Gorgeous!!

Thanks Schell - Comparing them now I think the colour is better for this portrait shot where as I definately prefer the sepia for the other shot. I might try to figure out how to upload the actions I use to convert to sepia. My methods are a little difficult to describe but I'm sure you would figure it out by playing with the actions.
Basically I edit levels, curves and contrast etc until I get a colour image I'm happy with (as above).
I then convert to black and white using an action that allows you the add contrast between the different colours (ie darken or lighten different colours).
I often use a selective curves adjustment to add a vignette effect...
Then another action the darken slightly and convert to sepia tones.
I'll let you know if I manage to upload them...

I tried to upload the actions - I couldn't figure out how to get it onto the downloads page??? It did seem to work by putting it in my gallery...

Gallery link

You need WinRAR to unzip it. Let me know if it works or not.........

Thanks Smarti- I'm with Toad as well, i think the second shot is better in colour, but no 1 I still love the dark sepia.

Thanks for the action!

I love the colour shot - it is superb (not keen on the oval treatment though.

Shane:

1. Great capture, to me the image is fine, sure you got some blown highlights, but it dosent bother since its sepia. Good job.

2.Works best in colour imo, would have framed it a little diffrent to remove the air above her and to get the feet in. other then that its a great shot.


Thanx for sharing.

/Paul L.

G'day Smarti, no added critique from me just want to say well done! oh and I like the colour best......

Both are fantastic! Really like the composition, treatment, and tones. Great job Russ!

Schellamo Wrote:... be sure to post the ones of your other kids too, cos I'd love to see them! (Then again, I'm always partial to shots of cute kids LOL)

Continuing the experimenting with sepia...my son Brandon is the victim this time.

lovely!! His expression is great, he must love to pose

Great stuff! wouldn't want to run into him in a dark alley!

I like his expression - perhaps just needs a little more seperation from the background on the left side of the picture.

#1
I find the sepia conversion too dark for the subject... too contrasting.. the bright girl and the dark environment... I think a lighter conversion would be best ...
About composition this is my suggestion... using that beautiful shadow going along the girl and guiding your eye...





The same in the second one... I think a lighter conversion is nicer for kids portraits...






Hope you don't mind I edited your pictures... you can tell me any time to remove them if you want...

Irma.

Irma - All editing of my shots is welcome by anyone on this site. I appreciate your advice.

I quite like the crop your have used on the first shot. Thanks.