My last blog I told you all that I would be sharing how I created this photo.


I will need to start with some basic knowledge.  I am using a Canon Rebel XS with a Canon 85mm F/1.2.  Also, I am using Adobe Lightroom 4.0.  Location is the Fayettville Town Center Parking Garage in Fayettville, AR.

I was using a tripod on this shot.  Anything over 1/60 sec. I use a tripod, which was the case here.

Settings:
ISO 400
F/5.6
1/6 sec.

I rarely go into full manual mode.  Most of the time I use Aperture priority (Av on Canon) for Shutter Priority (Tv on Canon).  Once in a great while I may use Program mode (P on Canon).  In this case I was shutting in Aperture Priority mode.  I was also using a 2 sec. timer as my tripod shook a bit when pressing the shutting button.  I do realize a cable release would be better, but don't have one.

Once the shot is framed and taken, I can then take it home on my SD card.  I should note, I don't do a lot of cropping.  I usually frame it with my eye and crop as needed.  It really depends on if I change how I want to do things in post processing.  In this case, no crop was used.

Onto Lightroom.  I love Lightroom, but also has its quarks and not as much functionality as Photoshop.

To show where I came from here is the original image.

I left the color as I shot with the camera.  I usually start by pressing Auto to see where it thinks things should be.  I always tweak that.  I add a bit more contract, darken the blacks, and adjust shadows and highlights as needed.  Much of it is playing with it until I like it.



Notice clarity is at +90.  I included graduated filter that is located on the left side off the photo to add more clarity at 100.  The reason for this is to pull out the defects and color changes in the concrete wall.

Onto the magic tricks.  I had to be careful with the clarity.  As the clarity made her shirt look very strange, such as below.


I love using the Adjustment Brush.  I painted her first and took out 100 clarity.  Then I did it again taking away 60.  In the mean time I also increased the exposure of her by +0.78.  This gave me the right exposure. One thing I always do is soften the skin on the face and enhance the iris.  I don't want the model to look fake, so I usually dial up the clarity when I use the soften skin effect.

Final touches are always needed to complete the image.  I allows Lightroom to automatically correct the lens to flatten it out.  I usually add a Post-Crop Vignette that is not very noticeable   However in this one, I added a lot.  Below are the setting of that effect.


That is it.  I don't have many, if any, secrets to how I shoot.  Most of it is based on my eye and skills I have learned.  I hope you enjoyed this blog.  I have to thank Madison for the shoot!

Thanks,
Andrew Krob
Krob Photography