New Editing Techniques, Put to Work! Please Critique!`

Hi, guys.

I've been stepping outside my comfort zone and doing some editing on portraiture, as I'm hoping to invest much more time in wedding and event work, where these skills are vital. I've bought and acquired a lot of literature, and spent much of this weekend applying what I've learned. To that end, here are my first few edits. I'd love everyone's feedback and constructive criticisms!!

I've included the original straight-out-of-camera, and my final edit (done using LR3 and PS Elements 9).

Groom, at a recent wedding. Vignette and skin softening applied.
http://tisdigital.com/EDITS/1_1.jpg
http://tisdigital.com/EDITS/1_2.jpg

My girlfriend at a friend's house. Vignette and color correction applied.
http://tisdigital.com/EDITS/3_1.jpg
http://tisdigital.com/EDITS/3_2.jpg

My friend Matt at the Intrepid. Vignette applied.
http://tisdigital.com/EDITS/4_1.jpg
http://tisdigital.com/EDITS/4_2.jpg

Bride at a recent wedding. Skin softening, vignette, and cloning (on dress) applied.
http://tisdigital.com/EDITS/6_1.jpg
http://tisdigital.com/EDITS/6_2.jpg

Ana Ivanovic practicing at last year's US Open. Background blur and vignette applied to bring focus onto the player.
http://tisdigital.com/EDITS/7_1.jpg
http://tisdigital.com/EDITS/7_2.jpg

My girlfriend at Celtic Fest in Bethlehem, PA last year. B&W conversion and skin softening applied.
http://tisdigital.com/EDITS/8_1.jpg
http://tisdigital.com/EDITS/8_2.jpg

Enjoy!!

TIS

Antonis, all look great to me.. but I will be honest, I do not see anything wrong with the originals either :cool:

ONLY PROBLEM I see is the subject matter is no large metal objects moving slowly while defying gravity. :tongue:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gonzalu

Antonis, all look great to me.. but I will be honest, I do not see anything wrong with the originals either :cool:

ONLY PROBLEM I see is the subject matter is no large metal objects moving slowly while defying gravity. :tongue:

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Thanks, Manny! Appreciate your comments, as always. As for the lack of planes, I realize it's blasphemy on this website. (I was hoping Phil would let it go, hahaha.) :tongue:

I'm glad I'm learning how to do actual photography a lot more effectively. While my aviation stuff has come a long way, my "traditional" work has always left me wanting more.

TIS

Nice work Antonis, as Manny said already, everything looks great !

BTW, if you want better looking vignettes, get a really old cheap lens designed for a crop sensor and use it on a Full Frame dSLR... you'd love the natural vignetting :-)

Also, for pure fun, invest in a LensBaby... man that little sucker will keep you awake for hours, much more so than a Fisheye...

HEar that Fred? You now need a LensBaby to augment your Fisheye! :tongue: