My photos look so dull
- Thread starter sandymandy
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What color space are you using, srgb or adobe?sandymandy said:Hi,
well im regularly browsing around several websites checking out portraits cuz thats what i like to shoot too. Usually i come across pictures where i just think they look so good because the photo just looks so "fully lighted".
Feeling a bit retarded at the moment but i will still try to explain what i mean.
For example this photo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8600629@N06/4448073209#
Its not about the composition or anything but the lighting in this just looks so good to me. It looks so bright and the shadows are so soft. Like so awesome contrast and colors.
Other examples (randomly picked from pixe-peeper.com with 50mm 1.4 and 1.2):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24285656@N07/7224316282#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41174696@N00/3606301684#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/97349383@N00/4021765535#
And in contrast when i take a portrait it just looks so...boring and dull and not brilliant.
Some of MY samples (SORRY FOR ADS ON THAT SITE):
http://s7.directupload.net/file/d/2932/v8c7htox_jpg.htm
http://s14.directupload.net/file/d/2932/e6d27om2_jpg.htm
and last one where i overexposured a little trying to get "that look" from the samples at the beginning.
http://s14.directupload.net/file/d/2932/kbxf5b2c_jpg.htm
Is it just my lens thats so crappy? 50mm 1.8II L(ens hood attached)? OR my 1100D camera? It just doesnt look so shiny awesome like i want. Like so "mellow" contrast only. Or is it just the post processing? Feel free to give my photos a try.
Thanks already
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sandymandy said:
My 50 f/1.8ii gives the same feel. It is an excellent lens as far as sharpness goes and the 1.8 is nice. But it has no saturation or contrast. I shot a wedding last weekend and the 50mm's images all needed retouching, to make them look punchy, where some of the shots from my 17-70 sigma almost seemed too punchy and saturated. every lens has it's strong points. My canon 28mm f/2.8 is very vivid and sharp! but not very versatile. I like lightroom but if you shoot Jpeg try making a custom picture style, thats a normal landscape style, but add +2 saturation. That livens up the 50mm a lot!
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A chance to try some post processing. Here's my attempt. I enjoyed seeing what others have done. I'm always trying to improve my skills in post processing. It feels like a battle I can never win. I've come to realize that its not easy at all. I should probably do some workshops to get some tips from some pros.
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westr70 said:@!ex said:My swing at it. levels, curves, contrast, adjusted color, fixed tones and skin, a bit of dodging and burning. All and all about 2-3 min of work.
Seriously nice work. Do a tutorial.
Why? No disrespect, but the image on the right is awful. Sorry.
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bdunbar79 said:westr70 said:@!ex said:My swing at it. levels, curves, contrast, adjusted color, fixed tones and skin, a bit of dodging and burning. All and all about 2-3 min of work.
Seriously nice work. Do a tutorial.
Why? No disrespect, but the image on the right is awful. Sorry.
Each to their own, to be sure... But that's harsh. And maybe a wee bit tactless. At least you said sorry.
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It's not that big of a deal. It's a photo edit. I love his photography. Which by the way, the above are not his shots.
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bdunbar79 said:
it was just a 2 minute edit. I think I did go a bit overboard on the eyes and maybe a little to much skin smoothing, but I wasn't really going for perfection (or maybe going for too much perfection...). Thanks for the compliment though.
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You have completely changed the subject's face, and honestly, it looks a little disturbing and alien-like. Go easy on the brushes. Sorry to be critical, but it just looks really strange.Roger Jones said:
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NotABunny said:
NotABunny's B&W edit gets my vote for best edit.
Most of the other edits I've seen do not improve the shot. Sometimes the inability to get a good edit is the result of the shot, sometimes it's due to lack of editing/post skills.
You gotta have a "feel" for this sort of thing, based on experience, observation, and intentions. People are quick to give guidelines and rules (and their own crappy edits). But you've just gotta be able to feel what's right while you're editing. No amount of suggestions will help in the long run if you don't have a good eye. BUT, if you do have a good eye, and you can tell the difference between a good shot and a bad one... then just keep practicing and you'll get it.
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sandymandy said:
Since you seem correctly fascinated by the light in the photos, here's my 5c:
a) look at flash photography - but be aware that the color of your flash will often clash with other sources of light.
b) try to look at light modifiers, especially a very simple, cheap and effective one - bounce board. There are several collapsible reflectors available online, with a white/silver/gold coating for changing the expression of the light. These will do wonders for all those dark facial shadows, while keeping the soft light quality provided by an overcast sky. If you use the golden film side, you can get very nice, warm light even under a dreary English sky.
They also rarely run out of batteries
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Post-processing helps, of course, but ... it is all about light. Shoot vibrant and colorful scenes, and you will get vibrant and colorful photos. As a poster above said, you have to have an eye for color; you have to be able to say which scene will make a great shot, and which - not so much.
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