- Joined
- Apr 30, 2005
- Messages
- 34,674
Last night I attended a work-related party.
I brought my camera as I'm quite shy and it gives me something to do.
I also LOOOOVE to take candid portraits of people living it up after a beer or two.
I have a nice zoom lens and don't use flash and as the evening progresses can adjust the camera to take decent pics in candle light.
I think I'm quite good at anticipating people's expressions; I've often been told that was they best pic anyone has ever taken of me.
I consider this anticipation of how faces change to be an art form.
Anyway, the group was in the 45 to 60 year age range.
Let's face it, our skin ain't what it used to be and it was hot yesterday so people wore clothes that exposed lots of skin.
Razor sharp close ups can be brutal at emphasizing blemishes, age spots, wrinkles etc.
A year ago I took pics of my SO's 2-year old niece and her mom was mad I removed a blemish on her daughter's cheek which she considered to be a "cute dimple".
That got me reconsidering the assumption I had that retouching would always be appreciated, though of course how mom feels about her little girl is quite a different dynamic from how a 55 year old feels about his/her own appearance.
I'm editing last night's pics.
Then I'll place them on photobucket and email everyone the password.
The decision-making process while retouching is interesting.
I would never remove a distinctive birthmark or a dark mole from someone's face.
However, I have been removing the most some of the age-related unfortunate spots and visible spikerweb veins from both men and women face and hands.
If they are VERY distinctive I leave them there.
I am not editing out wrinkles like crow's feet, or trying to make a 50 year old look like a 20 year old; Subtlety is my guide.
I should mention this was not a paid gig; it's hobby photography.
I realize people vary so I want to gauge what you all think.
Would you want pics of yourself to be tastefully retouched?
I'm curious if there is a large majority who favor one or the other.
Should I leave everyone's skin alone or is it nice that I'm making people look a tad better?
(Edited for grammar and spelling)
I brought my camera as I'm quite shy and it gives me something to do.
I also LOOOOVE to take candid portraits of people living it up after a beer or two.
I have a nice zoom lens and don't use flash and as the evening progresses can adjust the camera to take decent pics in candle light.
I think I'm quite good at anticipating people's expressions; I've often been told that was they best pic anyone has ever taken of me.
I consider this anticipation of how faces change to be an art form.
Anyway, the group was in the 45 to 60 year age range.
Let's face it, our skin ain't what it used to be and it was hot yesterday so people wore clothes that exposed lots of skin.
Razor sharp close ups can be brutal at emphasizing blemishes, age spots, wrinkles etc.
A year ago I took pics of my SO's 2-year old niece and her mom was mad I removed a blemish on her daughter's cheek which she considered to be a "cute dimple".
That got me reconsidering the assumption I had that retouching would always be appreciated, though of course how mom feels about her little girl is quite a different dynamic from how a 55 year old feels about his/her own appearance.
I'm editing last night's pics.
Then I'll place them on photobucket and email everyone the password.
The decision-making process while retouching is interesting.
I would never remove a distinctive birthmark or a dark mole from someone's face.
However, I have been removing the most some of the age-related unfortunate spots and visible spikerweb veins from both men and women face and hands.
If they are VERY distinctive I leave them there.
I am not editing out wrinkles like crow's feet, or trying to make a 50 year old look like a 20 year old; Subtlety is my guide.
I should mention this was not a paid gig; it's hobby photography.
I realize people vary so I want to gauge what you all think.
Would you want pics of yourself to be tastefully retouched?
I'm curious if there is a large majority who favor one or the other.
Should I leave everyone's skin alone or is it nice that I'm making people look a tad better?
(Edited for grammar and spelling)