Egads... exposure!

, originally uploaded by mom24treasures.

Well, here's my shot from today. Got one of the boys this time! I'm still overexposed though and can't seem to get it right! I'm learning my camera meter doesn't seem correct as these showed just slightly underexposed in camera according to the histogram and once I got them to PS they were overexposed. Back up to try again tomorrow...

In other news though, I've been playing around with focus and I think I'm getting pretty good with that. Once I nail this exposure I'm going to upload some picts for critique at the photographer's web site I visit. I have more "in focus" shots now than not so I think I'm improving!

This photo has some PP done, but not much. Just took the red cast off his face and sharpened and used the Kodak Gem Filter. I figure now it's my time to figure out this exposure thing... I've gone from always underexposed to always overexposed, so NOW I need to find my balance!

Oh, and I got a call from someone I don't know (friend of a friend) who wants me to shoot her kids in April! Yikes! WOM has started already! I know I'll still be PB (portfolio building) come April so I'm going to offer her my pb deal. I'd rather have people pay less while I'm practicing and feel they "got a deal" than charge a lot for a product that isn't as professional as it could be. I know... will I ever think my work is professional enough... I don't know! :-)

Some PP (post processing)

Well, I went to do a shoot yesterday with Kylie and Daddy and my battery ran out! I know, I know... I should have a spare, but I don't. So, I fiddled a bit with pp. Here's an image that was overexposed, but it is the best thing I have to work with until hopefully tonight when I am able to shoot Kylie and Daddy!

I'm trying to get a simple workflow down. The first step of that is starting with a properly exposed and very sharp image. I'm still working on getting that consistent. I'm playing with back button focus... it's taking a bit to get used to, but I'm going to keep at it.

Then I did the following after reading a great thread on ILP about workflow. I'm excited that I could get to the point where it is really this simple!

I bumped the midtones up a bit.
Added contrast with a soft light layer (low opacity maybe 30%.. I can't remember.)
I took some of the red out of her face, but now I see on here I could have maybe done more.
I used the Kodak Gem filter to soften her skin.
I did a defog just to play (USM 70/6/2). I have heard to do this in the beginning, but I just tried it at the end here for my sharpening. I'll be playing more with this!
I resized and sharpened for web.

I know it's not a perfect shot, but it's fun to play. Hoping to get some shots of Daddy and daughter tonight!