Girl

Attempt at high key for the technique challenge. I have other versions with both eyes in focus but this one just feels better and was voted for by boy and girl when asked to select one. Is this high key enough?

[Call me Joe]

Stunning!

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@joemuli thank you very much.

[Karyn Ellis]

Stunning photo. I feel like this person is staring at me from the past.

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@mathilde22cat thank you so much. I really appreciate your comments.

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@mathilde22cat Strangely my wife had just made a very similar comment.

[Karyn Ellis]

If you don't mind me asking, was the selective focus done in camera? I love the impact of it.

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@mathilde22cat Yes it was. I have been using a lensbaby (I love it).

[Karyn Ellis]

I don't know what that is, but I'm going to google it! I'm new to this whole lovely world of DSLRs... and I am finding that trying to understand what's happening in a photograph is so exciting and inspiring. :)

[Karyn Ellis]

Uh oh! I just found at lensbaby's website and watched their intro video. I'm in trouble. Drooling!!!

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@mathilde22cat Do it!!!!

[Suse♡]

It does give this some interest, yeah I think I would have chocen this one too. Love the soft effect here! I´m not qualified to give any opinions about high key but I tend to think high key being with less details....

[Claire]

Love love love this shot, high key and lensbaby, what more do you want from a photo :-) fav.

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@susale point taken. Will try again. Thank you as ever for your comments.

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@clarita_71 thanks Claire. I really appreciate your feedback.

[Suse♡]

@spanner Oh please don´t take any points, I don´t know anything about high keys! Please don´t change this, I love this as it is. I only ment that I think high keys are less detailed but I don´t think less details would necessarily work here.

[Spanner]

@susale don't worry Suse I am not going to change this shot. I just mean I will try with even more white next time. I appreciate your feedback and will experiment more, that is all. Thank you again for your comments and support.

[kali]

I think you just look at your histogram and if the hump is on the white end you are on the money

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@kali66 thanks Kali. I have even whiter versions but prefer this one. Slowly easing into high key. Another effort tomorrow is required.

[still crappy sailor]

This is such a nice portrait. And without having seen the alternate version with both eyes in focus, I think this one works. The partial focus on the face makes it so much more (in my mind) effective. A fav for the portrait. And, as I'm not a huge fan of high key images, I'd have to say you hit the sweet spot. Really nicely done.

[Rachel Withey]

Fav. This is a stunning portrait. Love the processing

[Claire]

@spanner I've got some similar shots that I did with my lensbaby but on a dark background and I prefer your shot with the background being white...all I have to do now is bribe my son again to pose for me lol...

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@stillcrappysailor Thank you I really appreciate your comments. I like this one much more than the more extreme high key efforts I tried.

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@rachelwithey Thank you Rachel - high praise indeed (you are a master at this kind of technique/processing in my opinion) I really appreciate it.

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@clarita_71 sweets and chocolate work.

[Claire]

@spanner lol he's passed those bribes...it would be more like a new game for the xbox lol...

[Spanner]

@clarita_71 that is going to get expensive! good luck.

[Rachel Withey]

Thank-you. That's a very nice thing to say

[Channelf]

I too find something special about the asymmetry in the focus. Works very well.

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@channelf Thank you. I am quite pleased with this although it does make her look much older than she is.

[Paula W]

Very effective, your kids are obviously artistic too.

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@paulaw Patient with their Dad... although it is wearing thin.

[Tia]

This is a stunning portrait. High key and lensbaby - wow! Fav

[Sem]

i really like this one, looks old, like from the 30's or 40's
i think it works as high key

[trishaclancy]

Really feels like a photo of times gone by. Love the focus. Fav

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@teejay14 Thank you Tia.

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@semjaja Thanks Sem - a little dark perhaps but first attempt.

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@trishaclancy Thanks Trisha. I am really pleased with this portrait.

[Ruby]

I dont know how to do high key shots, but this is gorgeous, fav for trying

[Angela Tavan]

Don't really know anything about high key or lensbaby - maybe one day - but I do love the eyes in this shot!

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@ourrube thank you Ruby - where in NZ are you?

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@angelat hank you Angela. I am really pleased with his photo.

[Angela Tavan]

@spanner -so you should be!

[Gene McDaniel]

Love this! I think that Lensbaby sales will be going up after this!

[Lisa Pouncy]

Wonderful. I love the focus on the left (right) eye. Fav xx

[Wendy Bowden]

Fabulous portrait

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@regex thank you Gene.

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@psychographer thank you Lisa.

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@wenbow thank you Wendy.

[StevieP]

Yeah the focus on this is really cool, nicely done

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@steviejp thank you.

[Katie]

Really interesting look and great demonstration of the beautiful/peril of the wide aperture and narrow, narrow DOF.

[Ruth Hill]

That's a really striking portrait, looks old and a bit sad.

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@archaeofrog Thank you Katie.

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@ruthhill75 Thank you Ruth - i think she was getting fed up with me taking lots of pictures.

[Shandy]

stunning portrait. Love it!

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@dandelionmama Thank you very much.

[Kate Carling]

Such an earnest face. Really great portrait. Fav.

[Spanner]

@hh Thank you Kate.

[Lionel]

Great portrait. I was wondering if a lensbaby did the job.. yes it does !