September 1, 2009

I Heart Faces, Week 34: Before and After

This week I Heart Faces is asking us to look back and see how far we've come in our photographic processing journey. I got Photoshop CS3 in Spring 2008. It sat fairly unused (because I was so totally clueless) until I added Totally Rad Actions 1 to my arsenal in June '08. This darling boy's portrait was one of the first pictures I attempted to edit using PS and TRA actions.

First up is my SOOC. (shot in the shade, so it's super "blue")
sooc


Next is my "fixed" version. I know I bumped the exposure a bit, probably adjusted the white balance using LR and Warm it Up Kris TRA action, and slapped TRA O Snap on it. I knew how to adjust the opacity of the whole action, but not the individual layers. I thought it looked pretty good. ;-)
june 08 edit

Funny, I couldn't see then that this version is still WAY TOO BLUE.

So, here's how I would edit it today. The biggest thing I'm currently learning is how to color adjust (white balance, etc.) using Curves adjustments to make my skin tones correct "by the numbers". On this version, I cloned out the drippy nose; lightened ever so slightly the under eye shadows; massively adjusted the white balance using Curves; bumped the midtones using Curves; slapped O Snap on it (some things don't change!); and sharpened with TRA Ninja.
IMG_2477-Edit




I can only hope that this time next year, I will have improved as much again as I have this last year!! You know what one of the biggest catalysts for my learning has been?: working on I Heart Faces Fix it Fridays! I'm so grateful to Amy and Angie for allowing me the privilege of participating as a contributor. Each "fix" pushes me to grow and learn and stretch in my abilities. I highly recommend ANYONE checking out Fix it Fridays. Play along and learn and grow and stretch :-). Also, if you're really looking to fasttrack jump your abilities to the next level, perhaps consider attending I Heart Faces workshop in Dallas in November...



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11 comments:

Drew said...

Honestly, what a difference! Even though you started off over-editing, I have a feeling that didn't last too long. You are so absolutely talented! I love your updated fix. It's perfect.

Unknown said...

You are OH SO talented! :-) I love it :-)

Heidi said...

Insane. That last edit is, well, I'm drooling.

You give me hope that I can grow in my photography skills this next year. Even though the technical stuff still gives me hives...

Rosina said...

lol Heidi!

Thank you for stopping by, Susan. I love to learn how *you* edit your photos. If you didn't point the first two photos out, I will never say they are "blue". Now, they *are* blue.

And I love the final edit. It's beautiful!

na na said...

Wow. I hope I can become that good someday!

Ashley ♥
http://ashleyclarkphotography.blogspot.com/

Julie Rivera said...

He's so creamy! I think you are really getting the skin tones figured out and I admire your tenacity in really LEARNING how to use the software. I have to say I am slightly deficient in that arena... :) Still a work in progress, right?

Jennifer said...

wow what a difference.. I need to figure out some skin tone stuff now! ;-) great job!

Anonymous said...

oooh! number three is my fav...very gorgeous!

Heather Grilliot said...

I love this Susan, in fact I keep coming back and looking at this post. ALL of my photos look like your second one...and I think they look OK till I look at your third photo. I just have to ask because it is making me nuts WHERE can I find tutorials to take me from the second to the third photo look? I have been searching for CMYK skin numbers with no luck. I'm lost in a sea of bad skin tones! thanks Susan, your photos, posts and scripture quotes are always an inspiration!

Skeller said...

Heather -
I just posted a list of books and sites I'm using...
Hope you find them helpful :-)
(ps. re: the books, maybe check your library for them)

angie {the arthur clan} said...

This is amazing Susan...it gives me hope that one day I will grow up to be just like you! :) Isn't it fun to look back and see how much you've grown? Wow!!