Infrared image - clay series

[Marko]

I'd love an honest critique on this one. It's part of an ongoing clay series.

Thanks!
Marko

[tegan]

Rather unique and very creative. I would consider lightening in post processing some of the very dark shadows, particularly the one that lengthwise splits the nose of figure on the right.

Tegan

[Marko]

Good call Tegan! It's funny we look at our own images often but we don't always 'see' them. Thanks for the fresh eyed comment.

I do believe that you mentioned that you have decent photoshop skills tegan.

Would you mind sharing how you would remove or dodge that nose shadow. (Dodge tool? or another technique)

Thanks!

Marko

[tegan]

Good call Tegan! It's funny we look at our own images often but we don't always 'see' them. Thanks for the fresh eyed comment.

I do believe that you mentioned that you have decent photoshop skills tegan.

Would you mind sharing how you would remove or dodge that nose shadow. (Dodge tool? or another technique)

Thanks!

Marko

First of all, I should point out that since not everyone has the big bucks for Photoshop, Corel Paint Shop Pro X or XI at around $100 has many similar features and enables one to do some fixes rather speedily.

One way is to use the magic wand tool to select the dark shadow area. The tolerance level in the choices needs to be adjusted so that you get the area you want without too much or too little. Holding down the shift key and clicking into an adjacent area allows you to add to the selection area. The feather amount choice determines the blend of your change into the rest of the image. I would start at about 6 pixels and adjust according to what I see in the results. Once you have made these choices you can go to either levels or brightness and slowly brighten the area until you get what you want. You need both a good eye and a light touch on the mouse to get it just right.

You might further decide to dodge or soften the edges of the transition with the brush tool, if you need to smooth the transition from your change to the rest of the image a little more.

Hope this helps!

Tegan

[Marko]

Retouching is DEFINITELY a fine art.

I actually followed your technique tegan and when I was finished there was that transition zone between the selection and the rest. After trying different doging and burning - and the brush tool by adding soft light, I settled instead on cloning the transition zone. It's not perfect but you can see the difference.

Thanks for sharing,

Marko

[tegan]

Pretty good. Now do you see the horn coming out of the woman's nose caused by the lighting on the other woman's shoulder? A little more touch up needed. :)

Tegan

[Marko]

Too funny - I guess I know it's light so i don't see it...until you point it out.

Thx again!

Marko

[gibbon]

It's funny what bothers people. Although I see how lightening the dark shadow on the nose opens up that section, it didn't bother me personally.

[tegan]

It's funny what bothers people. Although I see how lightening the dark shadow on the nose opens up that section, it didn't bother me personally.

More a matter of attention to photographic detail. :)

Tegan