Summer Portrait

[scott]

Hi all -

Shot one more sheet of 18x24 today. I'd mounted my 7" Petzval earlier this week to see if it covers 8x10 at portrait distances:

img092 by Scott, on Flickr

It doesn't. But I'm happy with how this turned out. UM-MA is sensitive to contrast, which I'm still cyphering out. But the boy can still sit real still when he has a mind.

Seneca Improved 8x10, ICA Niklas 7" f/5 projection Petzval, 18x24 UM-MA in HC-110 dil H.

Thanks for looking.
Scott

[GrahamS]

Marvellous stuff!

[scott]

Thank you Graham!

[scott]

I'm posting this here rather than a new thread since it's just a rework of the negative.

UM-MA is ortho film, and in the light this was shot in, brought out a bunch of blemishes and skin imperfections that, I felt, ruined an image I'd otherwise hang. Got a little busy with it on CS5 last night, this is the result.



I'm not a huge fan of skin correction in Photoshop, but this was kind of an extreme case to me. Also cropped from 18x24 to 8x10. I've sent to Momma but no reply as yet...

[PFMcFarland]

Nothing wrong with cleaning up blemishes, Scot, that's been the staple of portrait photographers over the ages. You also don't see painters including blemishes either.

PF

[GrahamS]

I have always cleaned up skin blemishes. I think it's the photographer's duty to show the subject at their best. Within reason. Scott, that smile is infectious. Nice portrait.

[scott]

Nothing wrong with cleaning up blemishes, Scot, that's been the staple of portrait photographers over the ages. You also don't see painters including blemishes either.

PF

Valid. My prom date had her eyes closed in our photo; the photographer painted in eyes for her. Wrong color, of course...

I have always cleaned up skin blemishes. I think it's the photographer's duty to show the subject at their best. Within reason. Scott, that smile is infectious. Nice portrait.

I guess my opposition comes from the Insta crew that goes overboard on filters and makeup nowadays. Completely unrealistic, artificial looking garbage. I want to avoid that, in general, and explicitly.

Thank you for your comments, guys. Like I said, I'm happy with how this turned out, it was a good learning experience, and I've got something to print and hang now. Run to Michael's today for a frame.