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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Photo Critique => Topic started by: Dan_Wiedemann on April 14, 2013, 13:31
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Hey guys. I've been wanting to practice more in lightroom and photoshop so this was a good test for me. I have attached a screenshot of the before/after photo. What I want to know is more on the editing and not so much on the photo.. Does the background (I just googled a graffiti background) look real? If not, what can I do to make it better?
Critique and tips are highly welcome!
Thanks a lot,
Dan
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(I just googled a graffiti background)
Does this mean you are using a background image that someone else produced and you snagged off of Google images. Shame on you (even for practice).
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(I just googled a graffiti background)
Does this mean you are using a background image that someone else produced and you snagged off of Google images. Shame on you (even for practice).
Let him answer that first, and then judge.
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On my screen, her face is a bit too yellow / bit lifeless for my taste and my attention keeps getting attracted to her hands but looks good.
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its very good.
the tonemapping is good and the chosen style is relevant.
One thing you could consider is how wide the spills of shadows are (left side arm and t-shirt), they look a bit unnatural.
The original light on her face was very flat, means that it is hard to emphasize contrast, so you have a bit of a conflict there.
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(I just googled a graffiti background)
Does this mean you are using a background image that someone else produced and you snagged off of Google images. Shame on you (even for practice).
Honestly, for practice, I don't have an issue.
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The "make-up" in the after picture looks a bit clowny and honestly scares me a bit.
I'd do a little more subtle.
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Since there are highlights on her left side kind of coming from behind her the shadow on the left side looks wrong to me. Shadows that are split by lights on both sides are not as strong as they would be with just one direction of light. It also does look like you missed a spot on the left side of her arm, the light grey patch shouldn't really be there.
Lessening the shadows a little may help the top part of her head blend into the picture a bit more and not look so cut and pasted in.
Her faces does look washed out as others have pointed out, it looks like you were going for a contrast-y look but don't over do it.
As for makeup, especially on a young girl, a little can go a long way. It's all about being naturally pretty these days, smoky eyeshadow, stay away from unless it's for an evening look at maybe a bar or a lounge. Watch some make-up tutorials online or look at magazines like Seventeen. (it may be weird for a guy to do but girl trends change every season.)
Keep trying and pay extra special attention to your light sources. You're not doing too terribly so far.
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Hey... Thanks for all the replies and tips. I'll get working on it.
First of all, yes, it is an image I got from google and I'm not publishing it, not selling it, not even using it on MY website. The only place I posted it was here and it is for me to practice. I have no intention of using it anywhere, AT ALL!
That being said, the hardest part for me it the light source and placing the shadows in the right place. I'll take all of your tips into consideration and hope to make a better final image!
Thanks a lot! :)