Portrait tweaking by maggiemae

Portrait tweaking

This was a first attempt at a portrait and is my sister kindly agreeing to pose. I did tweak it a bit with smoothing out wrinkles and providing a better light. When I showed it to her thinking it was good, she exclaimed, "Oh, thats awful, I look like a grandma"! Well, I said, "You are"

Three good things:
1. Egg sandwich at a cafe, my favourite eat.
2. Getting ready for an Auckland trip in a couple of days - its a Speedshow where Burt Munro is being honoured as a "NZ Speed Legend".
3. New GPS arrived.
I think it is interesting that we never see ourselves as others do. This is a terrific shot and the soft focus you have given it makes it very flattering!
July 16th, 2013  
Hehe... that made me giggle, your conversation with your sister. :) It's a lovely shot, and well done for doing your first portrait.

July 16th, 2013  
Good first portrait. haha, made me laugh her saying she looks like a grandma.
July 16th, 2013  
I think your sister has a very warm, fun loving face...rather an inquisitive one too I might add, hope she doesn't mind me being personal maggiemae!!! An excellent portrait & all the best people have a little work done these days!!!
July 16th, 2013  
Great portrait
July 16th, 2013  
Hehe, funny. Wonderful portrait though, she looks so lovely. And I lik all the matching tones.
July 16th, 2013  
Lovely shot and great soft focusing Maggie.
July 16th, 2013  
hahaha, that's why we hate doing portraits of anyone over 21.. bess her.
July 16th, 2013  
the one reason why I don't like taking older people.. and I am saying above 21 like @sugarmuser ...
July 16th, 2013  
I think she looks quite lovely. You did a nice job giving it a soft feel. I laughed at her comment--reminds me of one day years ago when I got some photos developed and looked at one and said, "Oh, my goodness, I look awful." One of my sons-in-law said, "What did you think--you were going to look like Julia Roberts????"

I like egg salad, too. Have a great trip to Auckland--and how fun that they are honoring Burt Munro. Hope the GPS gets you where you need to go!!!
July 16th, 2013  
Good portrait. I think you did well with this. I never think I look good in portraits either. I think all of us have this image of ourselves in our mind that does not match up with photos of ourselves.
July 16th, 2013  
@yonnie thanks Yvonne! Laughed at your son's apt response! Puts us all in our place!
July 16th, 2013  
Jo
I really dislike any photos of myself as I think I look unattractive and old! So I can understand where your sister is coming from. There is nothing wrong with removing a few wrinkles and adding some softness, I've done it to my own "selfies".
July 16th, 2013  
That's a lovely shot, a fantastic first portrait.
July 16th, 2013  
Great first portrait! Well done!
July 16th, 2013  
Lovely processing for the portrait. I love the wrinkle remover in Ribbet!!!
July 16th, 2013  
@onie_m There's one in PIcmonkey too but I think you have to upgrade to get it.
July 16th, 2013  
Well I hope your sisters remark doesn't put you off having another go at portraits.
July 17th, 2013  
It's a lovely portraint!! Love you "Three good things" lists!!
July 17th, 2013  
Love the softly focussed portrait and the POV. If that's your first the quality is a great achievement.
July 17th, 2013  
@happypat Thank you for those nice words! I thought she would not let me do this as she is a very private and independent person!
July 17th, 2013  
@tonydebont The aim was not to get shadows on the face, Tony so I used a dull flash so it wouldn't be too bright and the natural light came in behind.
July 17th, 2013  
Your sister looks lovely and I can definitely see the family connection! I can't stand pictures of myself either (that's why I hold the camera and take very cautious selfies!). But you did a great job no matter what she thinks (teehee). Sisters were born to give you a hard time anyway. At least that's what mine always told me. (o:
July 17th, 2013  
@olivetreeann You can be honest with sisters and vice versa, Ann!
July 17th, 2013  
what a nice smile she has
July 17th, 2013  
Very nice Maggiemae. I really need to work at portraitures. My intention is to work with a guy locally who offers instruction and technique. all I need to do is schedule some time. That's the hard part
July 17th, 2013  
Lol! Sisterly brutal honesty! Haha. I have only brothers...so cannot totally relate. I think she looks terrific!
July 17th, 2013  
Photos often show us the truth we try to deny....drat them!
July 17th, 2013  
i understand exactly how she feels...except i'm not a grandma.
July 17th, 2013  
Looks great!
July 17th, 2013  
Great commentary and lovely portrait!
July 17th, 2013  
Very nice portrait of your sister. GPS is one of the best inventions, I love it and have travel with it everywhere we go; enjoy it.
July 17th, 2013  
She looks lovely. You're very similar aren't you xx
July 17th, 2013  
lovely portrait of your sister
July 17th, 2013  
@psychographer not really Lisa - Joan has a very thick bottom lip! The similarity seems to be a slightly slanting look for the eyes which amazes me... Never really seen that!
July 17th, 2013  
Great lighting and tones! Love your story'
July 17th, 2013  
@orangecrush thank you ,Gerry ..I do appreciate good responses...but with indoor portraits the contrived light would be so much better..eg... White box and ...light box!
July 17th, 2013  
Do I take it you do not like your lighting? I think it is spot on (sorry no pun meant there), I like the warmth of it
July 17th, 2013  
I would like it to be whiter and more even in colour, Claire! I have a lot to learn but I'm loving the learning @claireuk
July 17th, 2013  
You just made me giggle :) Lovely shot of your sister. x
July 17th, 2013  
Lovely portrait of your sister! Aah Sisters, what would we do without them!
July 17th, 2013  
Lovely tones and your sister looks great here. Hope you have a great time in Auckland.
July 17th, 2013  
Love your processing, it gives it a nice soft and warm look!
July 17th, 2013  
Vee
I love egg sandwiches! Very nice portrait of your Sis! I definitely see the family resemblance!
July 17th, 2013  
your sister has a lovely smile. i know of a few grandmothers who wouldn't let their grandkids call them grandma or any variation thereof that would let other people know, especially strangers, that they're grandmothers. i don't mind being called grandma. i think 'grandma' or 'grandmother' sounds sweet. which we are, aren't we? hehehe!
July 18th, 2013  
@summerfield its no laughing matter Vikki! It's gettin old we may be and There's no gettin away from it!
July 18th, 2013  
Such a wonderful shot and we do never see ourselves as we look to others. Nice processing.
July 20th, 2013  
A very lovely shot. You look quite similar from what I have seen of your looks!
July 23rd, 2013  
a lovely photo Maggiemae of your Sister
July 23rd, 2013  
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