My First 'Portrait' Shot

Catdaddy · 24-11-2005, 13:14

Your thoughts and whatnot appreciated!

Eddentially, I thought I'd have a crack at a moody low-light shot with one of the kids, and this is the result.

Shot with a D70 and 50mm f1.8 lens with an ISO setting of 1600. I altered the colour temp and reduced the saturation in RawShooter.

Any thoughts/opinions?

CT · 24-11-2005, 13:17

That's really nice!

You can get some nice soft effects with candles. I'd be inclined to crop it a little on the left.

dlh · 24-11-2005, 13:18

Beautiful.

***Dave*** · 24-11-2005, 14:12

Cracking shot

SammyC · 24-11-2005, 14:55

The one on the left looks a bright chap!

:coat:

jewel · 24-11-2005, 15:16

I like this one as well. Very nice Catdaddy. Handsome little fella.

Jewel.

Matty · 24-11-2005, 18:45

excellent shot that works very well, nice!

KenCo1964 · 24-11-2005, 19:04

Yes, very good shot mate.

busterboy · 24-11-2005, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by CT

That's really nice!

You can get some nice soft effects with candles. I'd be inclined to crop it a little on the left.

Agreed, Just the slightest of crops from the left would make this a stunning shot. Well done..

Matt · 24-11-2005, 21:28

Excellent.

Catdaddy · 24-11-2005, 22:13

Thanks for the comments, everyone. Been playing a little - is this better?

CT · 24-11-2005, 23:31

I still think there's a bit too much space on the left which leaves it looking a bit unbalanced?

Here's a quick alternative...

I removed the detail below the lad's chin to keep it even simpler, and gave it a sharpen. Another option would be to lose the ear altogether, but then you'd need to re-balance the pic, but they're just ideas for you, and it's a lovely shot anyway - definitely worth hanging on the wall.

Catdaddy · 24-11-2005, 23:54

Thanks CT - good ideas, and thanks very much for the input!

Best burn the big version to CD and get it printed!

CT · 25-11-2005, 00:03

Damned right!

If you decide to lose the ear then you'd have a bit too much space on the right but rather than crop it again, I'd just cut out the head and move it to the right a little. In fact with such a plain background it's dead easy to move the head or the candle anywhere you like.

Gemok · 25-11-2005, 06:46

very easy to move stuff around I knocked this up in 3 mins trying to make one of those hidden image pictures see the lamp/vase shape formed by the two faces? :coat:

***Steve*** · 25-11-2005, 06:51

I like this shot, it is very well balanced light wise, with the exposure showing the soft tones. Its definately one worth printing.

Matt F · 02-12-2005, 20:32

Lovely shot but can I make one constructive suggestion - I think the ear is distracting - it grabs my attention away from what I should be looking at - it might be worth reducing the lightness in photoshop 'hue and saturation' settings right down so that you can't actually see it.

Sorry if this seems a little cheeky - me being a newbee and all that.

Matt.

Catdaddy · 02-12-2005, 20:44

Cool suggestion, Matt - thanks! I did do an edit where I did exactly that...

GfK · 03-12-2005, 16:36

I like the original pic (how did I not see this thread before????)

24-11-2005, 13:14	#1 (permalink)
Catdaddy Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Berkshire Posts: 508	My First 'Portrait' Shot Your thoughts and whatnot appreciated! Eddentially, I thought I'd have a crack at a moody low-light shot with one of the kids, and this is the result. Shot with a D70 and 50mm f1.8 lens with an ISO setting of 1600. I altered the colour temp and reduced the saturation in RawShooter. Any thoughts/opinions?

24-11-2005, 13:17	#2 (permalink)
CT Feet under the table Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Mids UK Posts: 3,500	That's really nice! You can get some nice soft effects with candles. I'd be inclined to crop it a little on the left.

24-11-2005, 13:18	#3 (permalink)
dlh Getting Comfy Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lost in Surrey Posts: 132	Beautiful.

24-11-2005, 14:12	#4 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 15,622	Cracking shot

24-11-2005, 14:55	#5 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	The one on the left looks a bright chap! :coat:

24-11-2005, 15:16	#6 (permalink)
jewel Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,133	I like this one as well. Very nice Catdaddy. Handsome little fella. Jewel.

24-11-2005, 18:45	#7 (permalink)
Matty Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: kings hill Posts: 5,269	excellent shot that works very well, nice!

24-11-2005, 19:04	#8 (permalink)
KenCo1964 Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Co. Durham England Posts: 1,069	Yes, very good shot mate.

24-11-2005, 21:28	#10 (permalink)
Matt Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,326	Excellent.

24-11-2005, 22:13	#11 (permalink)
Catdaddy Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Berkshire Posts: 508	Thanks for the comments, everyone. Been playing a little - is this better?

24-11-2005, 23:31	#12 (permalink)
CT Feet under the table Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Mids UK Posts: 3,500	I still think there's a bit too much space on the left which leaves it looking a bit unbalanced? Here's a quick alternative... I removed the detail below the lad's chin to keep it even simpler, and gave it a sharpen. Another option would be to lose the ear altogether, but then you'd need to re-balance the pic, but they're just ideas for you, and it's a lovely shot anyway - definitely worth hanging on the wall.

24-11-2005, 23:54	#13 (permalink)
Catdaddy Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Berkshire Posts: 508	Thanks CT - good ideas, and thanks very much for the input! Best burn the big version to CD and get it printed!

25-11-2005, 00:03	#14 (permalink)
CT Feet under the table Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Mids UK Posts: 3,500	Damned right! If you decide to lose the ear then you'd have a bit too much space on the right but rather than crop it again, I'd just cut out the head and move it to the right a little. In fact with such a plain background it's dead easy to move the head or the candle anywhere you like.

25-11-2005, 06:46	#15 (permalink)
Gemok Getting Comfy Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 245	very easy to move stuff around I knocked this up in 3 mins trying to make one of those hidden image pictures see the lamp/vase shape formed by the two faces? :coat:

25-11-2005, 06:51	#16 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,473	I like this shot, it is very well balanced light wise, with the exposure showing the soft tones. Its definately one worth printing.

02-12-2005, 20:32	#17 (permalink)
Matt F Getting Comfy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 136	Lovely shot but can I make one constructive suggestion - I think the ear is distracting - it grabs my attention away from what I should be looking at - it might be worth reducing the lightness in photoshop 'hue and saturation' settings right down so that you can't actually see it. Sorry if this seems a little cheeky - me being a newbee and all that. Matt.

02-12-2005, 20:44	#18 (permalink)
Catdaddy Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Berkshire Posts: 508	Cool suggestion, Matt - thanks! I did do an edit where I did exactly that...

03-12-2005, 16:36	#19 (permalink)
GfK Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 861	I like the original pic (how did I not see this thread before????)