Tuesday, June 02, 2009

"Cover Girl"

"Cover Girl"
©David A. Ziser

This image was made about 6 months ago as part of the lighting tutorial I’m running in my Technique Tuesday section today. Pretty nice portrait, don’t you think? This image was made in the waiting area for the elevators at a hotel LaDawn and I were staying in earlier this year. We had a decent sunset happening and I wanted to use minimalist lighting technique to create a soft lighting pattern on her face. Notice the characteristics of the light and shadows on her face – the light has direction, softness, and a flattering contrast lighting ratio – the ratio of the bright to dark areas – on her face. You’ll have to watch the video to see how I pulled it off. Camera specs; Canon 5D Mark II fitted with 24-105mm IS lens at 71mm F10 @ 1/200 second, ISO 800. Enjoy! -David

10 comments:

  1. That is truly beautiful! Where is that video??

    :o)
    sandi miller
    Queen Creek, AZ

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  2. Very nice portrait, but it looks overprocessed regarding to skinn and teeth. Also the halo arround her looks a bit sloppy.

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  3. Thank you, but I am agree with Claus, it is absolutely terrible retouching work of her face, like barby doll.

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  4. my goodness there is a lot of hatefulness. let's try to keep things positive...are those comments really necessary? david gives so much to the photography community.

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  5. If you have met LaDawn during David's Digital WakeUp Call Tour, then you would know that her teeth are`truly this white and David has most likely not touched them in post production. She has a gorgeous smile. Maybe the skin has been over worked, but my guess is she is not very young, but middle aged and prefers to look enhanced.

    I find the portrait still to be quite beautiful and would like to encourage you to continue helping all us struggling photographers as you do so unselfishly. I can't egin to tell you how much I learned at your seminar in Baton Rouge. Thanks on behalf of all us!

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  6. The tour will be in Oklahoma tomorrow. I, for one, can't wait. I have heard and read so much about David Ziser. Anticipation, what else needs to be said.

    To me, the image is stunning!

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  7. Amen to the latter 3 posters. And this was a 3 minute lighting trick--the aim being to avoid straight-on flash--for goodness sakes. How David can continue helping us like this while traveling is unimaginable (as are negative comments). Brian F.

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  8. If that's an overprocessed photo, where's the video so I can learn how to make a few of these kinds of photos myself! As usual your work is stunning, David and I appreciate all your help and instruction. I appreciate that you always show a lot of class and are above the pettiness of some. (Oh well, that's the freedom of the net.) The lighting in this one is awesome and you have a very beautiful "bride" too!

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  9. The problem in blurring skin is it becomes plasticy looking, and doesn't print all that well. If you look at fashion retouching of models in magazines, they all smooth out the skin but you can see the skin's pores. That's the secret to making it look real, bring back the pores.

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  10. I have been trying to learn how to make the skin look so flawless like you have done in this phote?!?!?

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