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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> my first portrait, ever.
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Nikon D90
Tokina AF 11-16mm f/2.8 116 AT-X Pro DX for Nikon
 06/18/2008 03:44:52 AM · #1
first of all my set up was made from things laying around the house, i am quite limited by my equipment.(soft boxes for my speedlites made from pellow cases, backdrop made from crinkled up bed sheet!)
i couldnt get the backdrop lighted up enough for the highkey lighting effect (probably due to small space i was shooting in) so i took the dodge tool and did a hack job just to finish it off and complete the effect, so dont focus on that obvious flaw. just focus on the pose, angle, and subject lighting.

all i did for pp was unsharp mask, guassian blur, a little adjustment in curves, and of course the dodge tool.

any simple tips would be greatly appreciated.



Message edited by author 2008-06-18 03:53:12.
Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
 06/18/2008 04:35:59 AM · #2
You'd never know that it was your first. Great job! If you hadn't mentioned the background... nobody would ever know.
Only suggestion might be to try moving the light around - experiment with different ratio's on your speedlights to allow the light to tail off from one side or the other. Play around & have fun!
Nikon D90
Tokina AF 11-16mm f/2.8 116 AT-X Pro DX for Nikon
 06/18/2008 04:58:09 AM · #3
Originally posted by roba:
You'd never know that it was your first. Great job! If you hadn't mentioned the background... nobody would ever know.
Only suggestion might be to try moving the light around - experiment with different ratio's on your speedlights to allow the light to tail off from one side or the other. Play around & have fun!


wow, much appreciated! yeah i think ill make a better backdrop and mabye even a defuser pannel for next time, soften up the light some more. practise makes perfect! or so the saying goes.

can you belive she isn't wearing any makeup what so ever? minor retouches were done but only for tiny zits.
Pentax K10D
Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF
 06/20/2008 11:56:13 AM · #4
Lovely lady and a very pleasant pose. The background and lighting etc. is fine for me, better than I usually manage. The other commenters make good suggestions.

I would remove whatever it is behind her head. It looks like a hairy arm or something. I can't image what part of an anatomy it might be. It also looks like her right arm is doubled, or reflected or something... Anyway, for me, trying to figure out what these things are take my attention away from the main subject of your portrait.

If this is really your first portrait, I can tell you that you are starting off a hell of a lot better than I have.
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