A fairly fast image this time – I’m trying to speed myself up.

Going to keep this post short and sweet.

I decided this time that I wanted to do something other than just “white people” – it’s been a fair time since I did a POC, and well, looking back, I don’t think I did the first one any justice. It was my first photo after all though, and I was so proud, but looking at it last night made me realize all the things I did wrong, and where I could improve. I hope I have done right by this lovely model.

In editing this image, I didn’t want to draw it out too long – I really want to speed up. I think that I’m pretty darn slow at the moment tbh. I also wanted to play a little more with colour grading – do you have any suggestions? I popped a little dark purple into the shadows, a bit more gold into the highlights (I did this in Capture1). I also increased the kelvin a little bit to give more warmth to the overall image.

I had a hell of a time editing her hand too – trying to get it to match her face. I had to walk away a few times, and come back. I think in the end I got it – I masked it with a path, and edited it with curves, crushing the black a itty-bitty bit, as well as the blue channel. I’m also slightly bothered by the fact that her eye isn’t in focus, but beggars can’t be choosers. Overall I crushed the blacks again, as well as the blue, and introduced a little bit of constrast. I wanted to ultimately retain the sunset/golden hour, hazy, vintage sort of look. I do need to really learn more about colour grading though (and everything else in regards to retouching – I really, really, enjoy it. Dodging and burning is starting to feel like meditation to me!

Anyhow, that’s all for now. I’ll leave you with a thought that came to me today while I worked away on this…

Retouching is art. It’s like story telling. It’s all mostly fantasy, and it doesn’t exist in the real world. It’s unattainable and unrealistic, and conceptual, much like the fancy, beauty couture dresses on the runways. Please don’t judge yourself on a retouched image – you are beautiful as you are.

Have a great day. 🙂