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ted neck · 06-21-2009, 05:47 PM

I recently had a shooting disaster. I added 10 years to a woman's face.
The images required a lot of Photoshop time to save.

Somebody please tell me how to avoid that again. For one thing it was a sunny day and the sun was overpowering my efforts at fill flash.

I was told by a questionable source that underexposing by an F stop helps minimize facial lines. Is there any truth to that?

I've also considered digging out a soft focus filter I used to use with a film camera and trying that.

Has anyone else encountered this?

How can I avoid it happening again?

Wheatfield · 06-21-2009, 09:50 PM

If you want a soft look, use soft light. Put the subject in shade. Shoot with the contrast and sharpness settings turned down a notch or two from where you normally have them.
If you are using Photoshop, there are several very easy tools for fixing skin problems.

alohadave · 06-21-2009, 09:58 PM

Use lighting from straight on to her face. If the light is at an angle to her face, the shadows are going to accentuate the lines.

stevebrot · 06-21-2009, 10:08 PM

Like Wheatfield says...

Hard light yields hard images

Direct fill flash can make things even worse. Wrinkles are canyons in the skin and the flash just introduces a second set of hard shadows to the various cliffs and ledges.

A softening filter can help as can appropriate cosmetics and a shallow DOF. You can also decrease contrast and apply softening in PP. But even with these tools, the best approach is to avoid hard light. Shade, north-facing windows, cloudy days...all of these are your friends.

Steve

(Assuming you want a natural affect. If not, you can always go the "glamour shot" route...pancake makeup and high-key technique makes all the wrinkles, blemishes, noses, etc. simply disappear!)

Last edited by stevebrot; 06-21-2009 at 10:13 PM.

MPrince · 06-22-2009, 03:51 AM

Good suggestions from everybody, and if all else fails, here's a very nice PS action that can be used to soften wrinkles.

CoffeeShop Free PS/PSE Actions!: CoffeeShop PowderRoom Free Action Is Here!

tonyjayice · 06-22-2009, 12:32 PM

one thing I suggest is for you, is to get a Reflector,
doesn't have to be expensive and gives you quite a nice solution for softening and filling of light..

alohadave · 06-23-2009, 06:33 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Like Wheatfield says...

Hard light yields hard images

Direct fill flash can make things even worse. Wrinkles are canyons in the skin and the flash just introduces a second set of hard shadows to the various cliffs and ledges.

How do you figure that direct light will make things worse? The light will be coming at the wrinkles from straight on, filling them with light, and softening any shadows that form from light coming in at an angle.

maxwell1295 · 06-23-2009, 07:58 AM

D. All of the above

Soft light, using shaded areas, reflectors......whatever it takes to fill and/or soften those shadows is a good thing. Try to get it right in the camera and use PP if you have to.

Wheatfield · 06-23-2009, 08:19 AM

Originally posted by alohadave

How do you figure that direct light will make things worse? The light will be coming at the wrinkles from straight on, filling them with light, and softening any shadows that form from light coming in at an angle.

The problem with direct flash on camera isn't so much where it is coming from as the size of the light source. Soft light comes from large light sources, on camera flash is very close to being a point source, even with those rubber doll diffusers, it is still a relatively small light source.
Small light source = hard light = ugly light.

06-21-2009, 05:47 PM	#1
ted neck New Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: on the border Posts: 3	facial lines I recently had a shooting disaster. I added 10 years to a woman's face. The images required a lot of Photoshop time to save. Somebody please tell me how to avoid that again. For one thing it was a sunny day and the sun was overpowering my efforts at fill flash. I was told by a questionable source that underexposing by an F stop helps minimize facial lines. Is there any truth to that? I've also considered digging out a soft focus filter I used to use with a film camera and trying that. Has anyone else encountered this? How can I avoid it happening again?

06-21-2009, 10:08 PM	#4
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Like Wheatfield says... Hard light yields hard images Direct fill flash can make things even worse. Wrinkles are canyons in the skin and the flash just introduces a second set of hard shadows to the various cliffs and ledges. A softening filter can help as can appropriate cosmetics and a shallow DOF. You can also decrease contrast and apply softening in PP. But even with these tools, the best approach is to avoid hard light. Shade, north-facing windows, cloudy days...all of these are your friends. Steve (Assuming you want a natural affect. If not, you can always go the "glamour shot" route...pancake makeup and high-key technique makes all the wrinkles, blemishes, noses, etc. simply disappear!) Last edited by stevebrot; 06-21-2009 at 10:13 PM.

06-23-2009, 06:33 AM	#7
alohadave Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Quincy, MA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,024	Originally posted by stevebrot Like Wheatfield says... Hard light yields hard images Direct fill flash can make things even worse. Wrinkles are canyons in the skin and the flash just introduces a second set of hard shadows to the various cliffs and ledges. How do you figure that direct light will make things worse? The light will be coming at the wrinkles from straight on, filling them with light, and softening any shadows that form from light coming in at an angle.

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06-21-2009, 09:50 PM	#2
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	If you want a soft look, use soft light. Put the subject in shade. Shoot with the contrast and sharpness settings turned down a notch or two from where you normally have them. If you are using Photoshop, there are several very easy tools for fixing skin problems.

06-21-2009, 09:58 PM	#3
alohadave Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Quincy, MA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,024	Use lighting from straight on to her face. If the light is at an angle to her face, the shadows are going to accentuate the lines.

06-22-2009, 03:51 AM	#5
MPrince Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WV Posts: 1,495	Good suggestions from everybody, and if all else fails, here's a very nice PS action that can be used to soften wrinkles. CoffeeShop Free PS/PSE Actions!: CoffeeShop PowderRoom Free Action Is Here!

06-22-2009, 12:32 PM	#6
tonyjayice Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Photos: Albums Posts: 151	one thing I suggest is for you, is to get a Reflector, doesn't have to be expensive and gives you quite a nice solution for softening and filling of light..

06-23-2009, 07:58 AM	#8
maxwell1295 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Long Island, New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,703	D. All of the above Soft light, using shaded areas, reflectors......whatever it takes to fill and/or soften those shadows is a good thing. Try to get it right in the camera and use PP if you have to.

06-23-2009, 08:19 AM	#9
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	Originally posted by alohadave How do you figure that direct light will make things worse? The light will be coming at the wrinkles from straight on, filling them with light, and softening any shadows that form from light coming in at an angle. The problem with direct flash on camera isn't so much where it is coming from as the size of the light source. Soft light comes from large light sources, on camera flash is very close to being a point source, even with those rubber doll diffusers, it is still a relatively small light source. Small light source = hard light = ugly light.