Kathryn

[David_L_Brown]

Howdy everyone,

I've done several TFCD's in the last couple of weeks to practice with my lights. This is Kathryn, the first of four ladies I'll be posting over the next couple of weeks as I get the processing done. We rented a room at the Flamingo Hotel here in Vegas since I don't have space to shoot at my house. Any comments are appreciated.

thanks, David


Canon 5D with MR14 ring flash at ISO 400. 85 f1.8 lens at f1.8, 1/100.





Canon 5d with 50mm f1.4 lens. ISO 50, f1.6(first shot) f1.8(2nd % 3rd shots) at 1/15. Large softbox main with medium strip accent.

[mfharper]

I really like these. The last one is my favorite.

[johne]

Very nice images. I really like your use of the lens and short DOF of these shots. I'm intrigued by the color in the 1st two images.

Nice Work.

Merry Christmas,
John

[PhotosbyChuck]

The first two are my favorite. I've always liked reduced saturation.

[David_L_Brown]

Hi John,

my reduced saturation shots are the result of a three step process.

1) normal color processing

2) a new file processed for BW using a variation of the channel mixer to get whatever skin tone I think looks good

3) stack the BW over the color version and then adjust opacity to taste, in this case it fell to 75% but sometimes its stays as high as 90 if I want a more subtle look

I find this creates more of an individual flavor compared to simply desaturating a straight color version because the tonality of the BW layer affects the outcome. Its not as much work as it sounds since I first almost always do a full color work-up of any file I like. The BW is a simple conversion from there once that's done and the desat is just another 30 seconds beyond that. I save all three versions so the model can pick whatever they want.

[johne]

Originally Posted by David_L_Brown

Hi John,

my reduced saturation shots are the result of a three step process.

1) normal color processing

2) a new file processed for BW using a variation of the channel mixer to get whatever skin tone I think looks good

3) stack the BW over the color version and then adjust opacity to taste, in this case it fell to 75% but sometimes its stays as high as 90 if I want a more subtle look

I find this creates more of an individual flavor compared to simply desaturating a straight color version because the tonality of the BW layer affects the outcome. Its not as much work as it sounds since I first almost always do a full color work-up of any file I like. The BW is a simple conversion from there once that's done and the desat is just another 30 seconds beyond that. I save all three versions so the model can pick whatever they want.

Thanks for the explanation David. Its much appreciated and it certaining works on those shots.

Merry Christmas,
John

[Navigator]

I took a closer look at pic 1 and 2, especially the DOF. I'm using the 5D also. Seems like it's not only natural DOF in these pics, tell me if I'm wrong.

Did you use some PS blur also?

Peter

[David_L_Brown]

There was no selective softening done. In fact, there were a few unusable images where I missed the correct point of focus and later wished I hadn't shot completely wide open. Here is one of the files as it came out of the raw converter so you can compare it for yourself.



thanks, David