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[DocSmith]

Professional and constructive comments welcome...

Nikon D70 w/70-200 Zoom tethered to a Toshiba Satellite laptop running Camera Control Pro. For lighting I used a Nikon wireless CLS SU-800 Commander on camera to control 2 SB-800s in Westcott 28" SBs, A1 as Main (Camera left @ 0 EV) and B1 as Fill (Camera right @ -1 EV). I used 1 SB-600 in a Westcott 16" SB on a Manfrotto Boom as C1 Accent (Overhead @ +1 EV) and 1 SB-800 w/diffuser as C2 Background (Camera left @ 0 EV). Exposure at ISO 200 was F2.8 @ 1/500, and 105mm. Post-production was Photoshop CS2with selecively erased Gaussian Blur w/4.25% Noise Added, resized to 1024x 819, Smart Sharpen set at 100% and Saved for the Web. Location is in my home, model is my wife, Jan, and the water temperature was about 100F.

Not a friend of the Pen Tool,
Doc

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[Stecyk]

Originally Posted by DocSmith

Professional and constructive comments welcome...

Not a friend of the Pen Tool,
Doc

Yeah, that pen tool is quite a challenge.

It's a beautiful picture, Doc. If I had to make one suggestion, though, it would be to alter her pose somewhat. Her bust, elbows, hips and the waterline all seem to make that region of the picture a bit busy. I like how the light plays upon her hair, face, neck, and shoulders. Well done.

Best regards,
Kevin

[DocSmith]

Thanks, Kevin...

Did you notice the water drop on the surface just below her top on the right? I just noticed that this morning when I was cleaning up some Gaussian Blur I had added...

Doc

[Stecyk]

Originally Posted by DocSmith

Did you notice the water drop on the surface just below her top on the right? I just noticed that this morning when I was cleaning up some Gaussian Blur I had added...

No I hadn't, but now that you mention it, it does stand out.

You mentioned Gaussian Blur. Did you use the pen tool to select the background and then blur it? If so, well done.

[kgphoto]

Doc,

I would boost the fill and stop down the camera a little more. Her highlight side looks a little hot to me. I hope you don't mind me calling your wife hot?

I would also mention that I think her face is over processed in PS. It doesn't match the character of the rest of her. Both the skin tone is too smooth and a different color than her other skin. One way to do this is to do the skin softening and wrinkle removal on another layer and you can adjust how much you take away at any time and differently in different areas and if you feel you went too far, you can back up easily.

Another pose would probably be more flattering or it may just be the type of swim suit. The way it is now, there is a large expanse of skin with a strong vertical component that is competing with her face for attention. I am talking about her arms as well as her breasts here, so let's keep it professional guys.

Typically, I would drape, clothe or dimly light upper arms like these to minimize them. A one piece with more support(don't smoosh them) would probably work well to add definition to her bust (here I mean her breasts and the area above them, think half statue)

[DocSmith]

Originally Posted by Stecyk

You mentioned Gaussian Blur. Did you use the pen tool to select the background and then blur it? If so, well done.

No, I have been working with the Pen tool this weekend and have decided I had rather be tortured by a Chinese interregator than spend any more time on it. I went back to my old Layer ways: Get it right in the camera - then Levels and Color Correction w/Brightness and Contrast adjustments, body sculpting w/Liquify, retouching w/Healing Brush and Patch tool, then Gaussian Blur, selectively erase were you don't want it, then Add Noise - if needed - then re-size for the application and Smart Sharpen. Save for Web, if applicable.

By the way, that little tutorial on Maxim-style post-production is a gem. Practice what those guys did and you'll be set for that genre of photography. Get on that website and print off all the Archived articles. And don't tell G1 who told you to do this...

Thanks for the comments,
Doc

PS Post some of your images in the Portfolio section - you'll get more out of this website if you're a player...

[Stanbo]

Anyway you look at it this is a great shot of a very pretty lady.

[tomeboy69]

Originally Posted by DocSmith

By the way, that little tutorial on Maxim-style post-production is a gem. Practice what those guys did and you'll be set for that genre of photography. Get on that website and print off all the Archived articles. And don't tell G1 who told you to do this...

Thanks for the comments,
Doc

Is this something posted on this board somewhere? (if you don't mind me asking)

Tom

[DocSmith]

1. Get on Google
2. Type in: How to shoot Maxim-style photos
3. It's the first hit.

Doc

[tomeboy69]

Thanks Doc!