nude balance

[armando_m]

reprocessed a shot from a bit over 2 yrs ago

single studio light

head lost in the shadows

[elsa hoffmann]

Armando, my comment is about exposure (and therefor editing) Was this under exposed- ?

[Fons Baerken]

IMO too dark for the right balance

[armando_m]

Thanks for commenting

Underexposed about 1EV , but I used  ISO 100 , that gives the flexibility to do anything with the file.
I tried to get a somewhat dramatic look .. also tried only with LR and seems it doesn't create the effect I wanted

Here is a color version

[elsa hoffmann]

Armando - this kind of image is all about the right lighting set up.
Under exposing an image doesnt work - it limits everything you do - especially in post processing.
Adding shadows in post is not worth it - and you original is tons better than the processed image.
I really like the colour version.
In the processed one, the loose the whole bum and lines, and light which should be there.

[Gary]

I prefer the color to the B&W also. The B&W is too dark. The missing head ... well is missing. I think just a touch of light on the head would have been nice. But I salute you in shooting nudes ... that is a very tough subject to show well. You are well on your way. Elsa is right, the old school way is to get it right in the camera. I recognize that photo manipulation can turn daytime into night ... but being able to previsualize, manipulate the lighting to capture the final image in the camera (or at least get close), will make you a better photographer. Doing most of manipulation in the computer will make you a better digital artist.

To be honest, whether you are a photographer, a digital artist or somewhere in-between ... labels don't matter ... in the end the only thing that counts is the final image.

[elsa hoffmann]

This is what I see on NG - and it looks very different when you save the image off NG and open the image up in PS - perhaps that is why you may not understand why I am moaning

Let me know if you can see what I mean - the hard lines...

[armando_m]

Elsa, I agree it does not look good,and guess what is the same thing I see

I don't know why  sometimes I do not realize it is not looking good, maybe I need new glasses

no worries

I found this image  while creating a copy of my backup and decided to try a new version

[Airy]

Worthwhile. The color version is not bad at all. Please go on with the PP. Try and use a red or orange filter, to reduce the skin blemishes and help focus on the overall shape.

[elsa hoffmann]

Armando - I have had that same problem with my own editing before - its very very hard to add to the shadows after the fact. It shows up like a piece of sh•t on a wool blanket.