Portraits of my daughters

[Geoff M]

A couple of each daughter for your comments on composition, and processing. Phoebe being a glasses wearer is often a challenge with the frame cutting through the eye

Freya -
1/500, f2.8 @ 200mm, +2/3EV, ISO 200

1/100, f2.8 @ 75mm, -2/3EV, ISO 200


Phoebe -
1/160, f4 @ 175mm, ISO 200

1/60, f2.8 @ 50mm, ISO 200

[biggerry]

Looking good Geoff, these look familiar, but I am not sure why?! I must be getting familiar with your style

On all 4 images I question the skin smoothing, whether it is delibrate or not, the skin 'look' glamourised which i personnally find a bit strange.

1) Great shot, could be made stronger by cropping the top and RHS to bring her face into the top right 3rd intersection. I like the BW processing here.

2) Nice airy shot, would love to know your processing flow on this, its a style that you have nailed very well and it works great. Composition is great to, the single antigravity hair a bit distracting, however its a good talkign point!

3) Nope, bland composition, processing is uninteresting. A portrait orientation crop could improve it and also a revisit on the BW conversion. Your daught is looking a bit unimpressed which whilst not a killer does not add to the overall feel of the frame. I reckon the glasses are fine, even if they cut across the face.

4) eye contact would have made this a pure killer! Skin tones look way too smooth in this one.

hth.

[Geoff M]

On all 4 images I question the skin smoothing, whether it is delibrate or not, the skin 'look' glamourised

I hear you on this count and it probably is over done......but skin smoothing has only been done on three of the four. The one which has nil smoothing is the B&W of Phoebe.

1) Great shot, could be made stronger by cropping the top and RHS to bring her face into the top right 3rd intersection.

Run with your suggestion and low and behold the crop does make for a stronger image, thanks

Nice airy shot, would love to know your processing flow on this, its a style that you have nailed very well and it works great. Composition is great to, the single antigravity hair a bit distracting, however its a good talkign point!

basic adjustments (in LR3) +15 clarity, +40 vibrance, -10 saturation, various minimal adjustments to the HSL sliders, some split toning to both highlights and shadows, local adjustment brush to soften skin (!) and sharpen both the hair and eye lashes.

The anti gravity hair...is a result of static produced while she was on the trampoline moments earlier.

[surenj]

Geoff, just to add to Gerry's detailed critique...

I would prefer much less skin softening; much much less.

#1 Very nice light on this one.
#3 square crop but the left eye cut in half by the glasses in a minor issue.

basic adjustments (in LR3) +15 clarity, +40 vibrance, -10 saturation, various minimal adjustments to the HSL sliders, some split toning to both highlights and shadows, local adjustment brush to soften skin (!) and sharpen both the hair and eye lashes.

Thanks Geoff. I will see whether I can replicate it...

[Geoff M]

Thanks Geoff. I will see whether I can replicate it...

Do you know how to export settings? If someone can advise I can post them here.

[Geoff M]

OK, I have saved the settings as a preset and exported as an .lrtemplate file.

Can I post it here? if so how?!

[surenj]

Hi Geoff, thanks for taking the time to do the settings! Maybe you should call it Geoffportrify. I reckon you'd need to upload to mediafire or something and give us the link.

[chrisk]

This is the great thing about photography, its all in the beholder cos i wouldnt touch a thing...well...maybe the skinis a bit too soft in the last... Personally i love you style. I think #1 and #3 are the weakest because of the fact that imo its not typical of you and they,re a tad conventional. Love the other 2. #2 in particular is a pearler. An absolute pearler mate. Nicest portrait i have seen here in the longest time. Id hang it on my wall even though its not my kid. lol

Btw: get a gun. A big one.

[norwest]

The compositions of 2 and 4 are excellent and any criticism would only be pedantic.

[surenj]

Btw: get a gun. A big one.

By the time you need one, I reckon you can get a 'laser' gun shooting anti-graviton particles which will make the enemy float away.