Progress? The editing progression....

Straight Off Of Camera Shot

1st edit- notice hot spots on skin

Final edit- smoothed skin, removed sheen, deepened sky, lightened eyes- fixed red?? I can't tell!

so bummed...

I am so bummed.  I messed up.  I did exactly what I was afraid I would do.  I ordered the wrong lens.  That "awesome zoom portrait lens" is not as awesome as I wanted it to be.  I wanted to be able to get a wide aperature (f2.8) and I wanted some zoom.  The other lens I got last year from my dad goes down to f1.8-- but no zoom.  It's hard to have the camera right up in someone's face.  So--that's why I wanted the other one,got advice from photography friends, talked to the guy repeatedly at Sigma (generic lenses basically.)  As I have been using it, I notice that when I zoom my aperture changes- number goes up which means I am not getting that background blurred out like I want.  It has been nagging in my mind and I have been meaning to try to investigate it- sure there is a scientific reason and my limited mind couldn't recall it.  Finally, last night I googled a question of sorts about it and come to find out: it's the wrong lens.  Mine says the focal length 17-70 and then f 2.8-4. That means the aperture can range from 2.8-4.  It will only be 2.8, though, at its shortest focal length.  That means, if it is zoomed to 70mm, you are NOT going to get a wider aperture than 4!! No wonder my portrait on the dock didn't fuzz out spider webs and dirt, etc.  Grr.  After some searching, I have discovered that knowledgeable people know you don't want to see that range printed on the lens.  The one I should have gotten is: 17-70 2.8(period, no dash 4!!)  I wish Mr. Know-it-All with the British accent had MENTIONED that on the phone! The right lens is about $170 more, but I would have done it and just not have gotten the accessories.  Well, that's a sore subject too, because the lens hood I purchased from amazon for $25 is stupid.  It leaves black corners on the frame of my pics- and I didn't know that until right before my shoot with my niece so I had to take it off and that is why there is a huge green ball of flare on one of my favorite shots!  Now what do I do? :(  My lack of knowledge wasted money.  Same story with my landscaping- 2 basically dead shrubs after I splurged on trying to make things look less neglected.  ho-hum....

Black and white

So there's  lump of something (apple, I think) in the grass.  I tried several different editing techniques without success.  I need to review how to clone an area properly.  It's distracting but I'm too lazy to fix it right now :) 

The Latest:

For my birthday I got a really nice gift!  I asked for a book that the instructor of my Portrait class suggested.  The author gives workshops in So. Cal, and offers this "Workshop Workbook."  Perhaps it is overpriced?? But, she runs a half off special all the time and this time it came with some bonuses that I am excited about.  You have to print it yourself! Ha! That amazes me- I suppose many people just like things digitally nowadays- but, I like pencil and paper.  Hard copy.  It helps me think better.  So, I am waiting to print it- apparently it is getting updated in September- I don't want to wait that long to print, though!  Anyway, as I have glanced through some portions- I am really excited about it.  Some really great, hands-on tools: pose ideas, how to engage clients, portrait packages, how to set up your workflow, even sample worksheets!  There are also specific steps for editing that she gives as tips and other great info like what is most commonly ordered from people.  (this is all for child portrait photography) This gift was combined from my immediate family, my parents, and my sisters.  I am so thankful!

I have also not had time to do any editing the past few days but I have been thinking how fun it would be to take a REAL class at MJC.  I don't even know how to start that- like if it's a big deal to register and how much it would cost for a class like that.  Wouldn't it be great though to have some color theory under your belt?  I love learning to do things and understanding WHY certain things work or should work.  

In the meantime, I watch tutorials on Youtube and I might subscribe to Lynda.com for a month- it's an online storehouse of training in just about everything.  I have watched a few sample videos on youtube and those are far superior to most everything else posted---of course you get all types of people who just want to video themselves- sounds like a stoned 16 year old rambling on and giving you basically no information with, "just, you know, however, you know, you think it looks best, is fine, you know, cuz uh, uh, you know, it's your own thing, ya know?"  ;)

Still working on this one....

Sittin' On The Dock

In this one, I like the light catching on the toe of her boot :)  I am wondering if I should try to remove those spider webs on the dock? Or if it isn't distracting?  Or if it looks better natural?

SOC shots from our daytrip