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Angel Eyes
1st PlaceAngel Eyes
Qart


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Fill the Frame II (Expert Editing*)
Camera: Canon EOS-30D
Lens: Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon
Date: Jan 22, 2007
Aperture: f13
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/160
Date Uploaded: Jan 23, 2007

 Thank you very much for the great comments. With the editing skill level so high here, it means alot to place well in this challenge.
Of course the catchlights in the eye were wrong but after a few different attempts, I decided to go with the mirror effect and leave the catch light as is because I felt the symetry was visually more pleasing. It worked for me anyway and I think a number of others as well.
Thanks again!

Editing...
This was taken as a full face initially with the intention of filling the frame. I've mentioned before that I tend to let the moment go where it wants and after a while I realized that the eyes really stood out and should be the focus of the image.
I cropped around the right eye, duplicated, reversed and merged the two to create pretty much the composition you see here.
The skin tone was achieved by selective desat in layers and slight tone adjustment. The next step, and probably the most important was the gradual lightening of the skin to achive the porcelaine look. This is achieved by gradually using the dodge brush and selectively lightening while trying of course to not overblow any areas of the image. Most lightening is done in layers where you can erase the areas, such as the eyes in order to create a wider tonal range. Selective cloning works best for the eye ball I find and lightening with a midtone brush and then a highlight brush makes the eye glow and with a burn brush I go over the outer edges of the eyeball to create a 3d effect.
The rest is simple... a little sharpening and a few final touch ups to either lighten or darken certain areas of interest... :)

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 211
Avg (all users): 7.8133
Avg (commenters): 8.8529
Avg (participants): 7.6136
Avg (non-participants): 8.0385
Views since voting: 30500
Views during voting: 332
Votes: 166
Comments: 91
Favorites: 65 (view)

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AuthorThread
 02/07/2007 11:15:13 AM
This is cool..did you notice that the spots in the color of her eyes are in the same spot on both sides..they look identical to each other.. sweet!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/07/2007 01:41:27 AM
B-E-A --utiful :-) Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/06/2007 01:18:16 PM
Congrats! The eye/eyes is/are great. ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/05/2007 10:01:52 PM
Looks good to me!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/05/2007 08:45:02 PM
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.....I love those pair of eyes.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/05/2007 08:39:30 PM
If there was a Gold ribbon, you should get it. This is super, I hope someday you can make a tutorial out of this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/05/2007 02:14:49 PM
An interesting photograph, especially considering your comments. Very nice, congratulations on winning the blue ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/05/2007 10:38:34 AM
I LOVE THIS PHOTO. I often visit this website to find backgrounds for my computer at work. I was immediately drawn to this photo. Received many great comments from people at the office as well. Keep up the good work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/05/2007 06:38:23 AM
This is perfect for the challenge...and I see two eyes...so you are right. Don't listen to crap. They aren't worth it...!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/05/2007 01:38:34 AM
I'm not sure if anyone's commented on the beautiful subtlety of the plain white border, the way it moves in and out of your awareness. I don't know if you intended it that way or it just worked out like that, but it was a good call. Congrats on your blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2007 10:19:22 PM
You deserved the blue ribbon. This is awesome.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2007 06:16:09 PM
Great subject! Congratulations in winning first.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2007 04:49:10 PM
sorry, I am a newcomer here , so maybe i have no right to say that. But don't you think that this photo is too "artificial" I man not natural - /plastic skin/ at all, to much PS inside...????
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2007 06:40:23 AM
7.8!!! Dang man! Pull off a couple more of these in WPL and I would vote for a name change from Team Untouchables to Team Qart. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/03/2007 11:53:19 PM
really interesting. Normally because our faces are never symmetrical ut would look strange, but this looks natural apart from the catchlight. Nicely done. I might try some whole face ones!
Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/03/2007 07:32:43 PM
Thanks for posting the details, it is so nice to read about how you do a stunning job like this :o) Congrats on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/03/2007 12:16:59 PM
Awesome work, super job
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/03/2007 06:10:33 AM
Congratulations on a well deserved Blue! Beautiful work and a pleasure to look back at!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 10:44:07 PM
You kill
me I's More of the same Garbage you allways shoot And the crowd realley speakes.
so mutch for the crowd, HUGH?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 05:45:10 PM
Delicate and very beautiful! Congrats on your well deserved blue!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 05:38:54 PM
Very nice quality shot. Congrats on top spot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 04:51:05 PM
awasome!!!! I like the sharpness and the beautiful eyes!!! Congratulations!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 04:42:30 PM
The best close-up of a pair of eyes I've seen yet, gorgeous work.

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 03:13:20 PM
RuRuRudy! this is gorgeous! please feel free to stop submitting such beautiful photos during WPL. thank you.

;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 02:34:23 PM
Wow, you guys are cleaning up around here, way to go!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 01:23:22 PM
Beautiful Image. You really should do a tutorial on this processing. I for one would like to know how it's done and I know others would as well. Pleeeeeeaaase? See?, I asked nicely and that is sooo not like me. LoL :D

Jaded_Youth
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 09:54:34 AM
Nice photograph. The one distracting thing is the lightbox reflection being on the inside portion of both eyes causes me to think cross-eyed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 09:45:32 AM
Absolutely Beautiful!! Congrats on the Blue Ribbon!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 09:24:19 AM
I loved this one when I saw it and am happy to see it win, great job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 09:04:34 AM
WOW - I didn't get around to all of the images but this is just awesome, Rudy. Is this Susan?? Just gorgeous. The catchlights and the intensity of focus is outstanding. I love the lack of skin color with that hint of pink around the eyes. Congrats, man. This is just gorgeous.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 08:55:11 AM
Fantastic photo,amazing,if i could ask you how you do it and details about the PP i am asking to mutch?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 07:44:17 AM
Rudy Wow!! What a MESMERIZING photo! Your work. It never ceases to amaze me! Congratulations on your blue ribbon for this fantastic photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 07:40:41 AM
Hi Rudy,

As usual, your work as a photographer is outstanding... cheers...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 06:24:51 AM
rudy ... congratulations on an outstanding photograph ... ONCE AGAIN!!
you are a gifted individual!! .... :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 06:20:14 AM
great work ! congratz ... oh yea, i can see that this angel wears contact lenses :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 06:06:24 AM
What a beautiful picture, well done
Spencer
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 06:00:52 AM
It is a great clock, congrats 10. Amazing color,contrast, detail and etc.
Yeah the two eyes looks like a chess clock!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 05:28:01 AM
I so glad this took the blue, it was my fav for the challenge!
Way to go Rudy, Congrats

Message edited by author 2007-02-02 05:40:27.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 03:28:19 AM
woa nice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 03:12:30 AM
Congrats on your blue, superior post-processing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 02:56:44 AM
Amasing
Congrats for the ribon

Would you please, reveal some details of the edinting ?

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 02:19:40 AM
My goodness....this is a great shot and awesome editing! I have already faved one of your shots....looks like I'll be adding another!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 02:13:42 AM
Great shot! If I'm not mistaken, you can even see her contact lens. :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 02:12:14 AM
A very Qart image! Congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 12:36:56 AM
AMAZING! congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 12:32:04 AM
Congrats Rudy. Well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 12:31:31 AM
Rudy, this rocks and rocks. Great win and well deserved. Sweet shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 12:13:03 AM
Congratulations, I love this one!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 12:12:32 AM
Congrats!! Looks like you're taking over DPC.
 02/02/2007 12:11:46 AM
Congrats. Neutragena smooth!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 12:09:04 AM
Superb Rudy! You're kinda good at this. ;-P

Congrats! Untouchables Rule!

ETA: Just realized you and Ivory are on the front page both with the blue! How very cool! :-D

Message edited by author 2007-02-02 00:13:32.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 12:08:42 AM
Amazing color, post proc. and extreme detail in just the right places! Congrats on a well deserved blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 12:05:13 AM
Congrat on Ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2007 12:05:10 AM
great job
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
02/01/2007 10:56:13 PM
Very nice..Congrat
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2007 07:36:18 PM
Beautiful shot. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2007 05:56:31 PM
Absolutely beautiful high key image with outstanding composition and processing. Even knowing that it's a duplicate of the same eye, this photo is still just extraordinary, perhaps even more so.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2007 03:19:40 AM
Wow, striking. Great processing job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/31/2007 11:12:08 PM
Excellent shot and processing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/31/2007 12:46:30 PM
Normally the extreme smoothing I do not like, BUT this one was done at the right time and right reason, a ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2007 02:47:48 PM
This is just a sweet shot, love the colors and lightness. Eyes are incredible, sharpness is right on. Was there any way to remove that glare in her eye? Other than that, a for sure top 5 IMO. Great shot. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 10:12:39 AM
I think this photo is bewitching to look at and would hang it on my wall.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2007 06:32:30 PM
awesome
the eyes are amazing
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2007 03:06:06 PM
Beautiful, the detail (focus) in the eyes is superb.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2007 10:11:14 AM
not only does this "fill the frame" but it is an outstanding image technically and asthetically as well. VERY nice!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2007 02:14:27 AM
well done...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2007 07:42:46 PM
outstanding shot - beautiful - my favorite so far
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2007 12:07:34 PM
Great use of the expert ruleset! Beautiful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2007 11:45:51 AM
I absolutely adore this photo, for me it's a 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2007 07:09:22 AM
I like this editing, such a nice lilac hues matches perfectly with those gorgeous eyes.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 11:43:35 PM
Flippin' heck! This is amazing work!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 11:17:59 PM
gorgeous!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 09:16:06 PM
Yes..this is really good. I think you've hit the top ten, if not the top three!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 08:38:32 PM
Great use of the horizontal flip to get the matching eyes, MC, great work...10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 07:49:21 PM
Unbelievably gorgeous! Superb processing....shadows....everything!! *10*
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 06:00:35 PM
VERY cool! Those eyes are just awesome in color and detail, but the effect on the skin almost looks like a mannequin.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 04:07:54 PM
oh yeah ..... ppl do close ups of eyes A LOT, but seldom get a stunning result like this ....... fantastic detail, excellent crop, awesome edit, love the tones .... =9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 01:10:18 PM
is this within the editing rules? looks like you used a brush for a lot of it...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 12:46:40 PM
Fabulous clarity, detail and lighting. 10. Wish I could give more points!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 10:58:30 AM
I love this shot. Definately ribbon worthy. She looks like a porcalain(sp?) doll!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 10:39:36 AM
Nice effect!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 10:11:48 AM
amazing sharpness in the eyes ...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 10:09:07 AM
wow! very cool and peacful looking
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 07:29:28 AM
lovely simplicity and superb image overall, good luck with this
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 05:24:30 AM
Oh WOW - such a striking photo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 02:03:14 AM
The best eye photo by far.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 01:33:45 AM
The reflection of the window is wrong. you did poorly copying and flipping without watching for direction.
the reflection should come from one direction only.
 01/26/2007 01:07:14 AM
The return of the porcelain goddess! This is exquisitely crafted. My only problem here is the catchlights, a dead giveaway that the image is composed of the same half-face stitched and merged.I wish you'd moved one of the catchlights...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 01:02:06 AM
Great processing! 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 12:59:19 AM
WOW, gorgeous eyes and porcelain skin. Just beautiful.

Interesting that you chose to mirror the face (I noticed it first in the catch lights of the eyes).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2007 12:47:10 AM
Love it! 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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