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Mona Lisa Smiles
1st PlaceMona Lisa Smiles
scarbrd


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Group Portrait (Advanced Editing V*)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D
Lens: Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Location: Houston, TX
Date: Sep 30, 2007
Aperture: 6.3
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/60
Galleries: Family, Portraiture
Date Uploaded: Sep 30, 2007

 Three sisters in the neighborhood.

I met the youngest on (on the right) at my son's religion class. Her parents were there too. I thought, what awesome eyes! I was talking to the parents after class when her sister (the one in the middle) came over. I though, wow, 2 beautiful children, I need to keep them in mind for the right challenge. Then the oldest daughter (on the left) walked up. I couldn't stand it anymore and mustered up the courage to ask if their daughters would pose for me if I gave them a free print. I didn't have Mary, my wife, with me, to comfirm that I wasn't some sort of weirdo. They seemed receptive to the idea, so I gave them the URL to my profile age and told them to have a look. Their mother emailed me the next day and we set up the shoot for Sunday. I went to their house on Saturday to scope out the best shooting position and look how the light was in the morning.

They have a swing hanging from a tree in their front yard with the green foliage behind it. Perfect! Dappeled sunlight through the tree, a little back lit too.

They are thrilled with the photo.

I used a reflector and a flash to bring out those amazing eyes.

Open in RAW
crop
edit eyes a little
select BG and desat a little
Cloned out a hot spot in the BG
Shafow/Highlight on the white tops to bring out detail
Lots of little touch ups
size
USM
border Save for Web

I like this as much as my Natural Light Portrait that won the red ribbon. I hope this one does as well.


Post challenge - WOW on the front page with Shannon and Jorge, doesn't get any better than that!!!

Thanks everyone!

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 86
Avg (all users): 7.4400
Avg (commenters): 8.6591
Avg (participants): 6.8333
Avg (non-participants): 7.5156
Views since voting: 14280
Views during voting: 806
Votes: 325
Comments: 92
Favorites: 35 (view)

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AuthorThread
 07/27/2009 12:17:24 PM
Great work, there skin and eyes look so clear.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2007 02:43:49 PM
Children of the corn?
 10/15/2007 04:23:45 AM
cool. simple and great ... congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/13/2007 11:18:25 AM
Great to see an overprocessed image did not win for a change! This is a real gem.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/12/2007 05:14:28 AM
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:


Originally posted by scarbrd's notes:
I didn't have Mary, my wife, with me, to comfirm that I wasn't some sort of weirdo.

Would she really confirm that?? :P


Well, we were at church, so I hope she'd back me up! ;-)

I can not tell what an odd feeling it is to walk up to people you don't really know very well and say, "You have beautiful daughters! Is it OK if I take their picture and put it up on the Internet?"


Message edited by author 2007-10-13 09:45:31.
 10/11/2007 11:44:35 PM
Congrats David! This is an awesome group photo - all the eyes are amazing and the smiles definitely suit the title (or vice-versa).

Originally posted by scarbrd's notes:
I didn't have Mary, my wife, with me, to comfirm that I wasn't some sort of weirdo.

Would she really confirm that?? :P
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/11/2007 04:34:37 PM
Fantastic portrait of those young ladies...congratulations on winning the blue ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/11/2007 12:54:38 PM
This is one of the most haunting and amazing portraits I have ever seen. The lighting, the facial expressions... and those eyes! If those were my daughters, I'd pay top money to hang this on my wall. You have captured something those kids and their family will treasure forever..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/11/2007 11:50:30 AM
Hey not bad dude, you beat two ribbon hogs! Congrats :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 06:18:41 PM
Congrats David. I hope those that read your notes will take note of your meticulous attention to detail. You didn't just settle for a good shot but something even better, which you most certainly achieved.

Message edited by author 2007-10-10 22:21:09.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 04:55:13 PM
amazing picture. nice job!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 04:43:30 PM
Beautiful young girls. I agree ... amazing eyes!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 03:58:41 PM
Congrats well deserved ribbon this awesome...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 01:28:26 PM
COngratulations David, it is a wonderful photo and the girls eyes are just amazing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 10:10:36 AM
Absolutely gorgeous group!! The ribbon goes w/the eyes! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 09:07:43 AM
Very well deserved Blue! The identical eyes make it hypnotic!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 05:26:35 AM
Congrats on the win, This is a nice shot. The Dad should think about purchasing a shotgun. He is going to be needing to chase boys away from the house on a daily basis, If he isn't already.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 05:08:19 AM
Congratulations on your blue ribbon match those beautiful blue eyes, great portrait. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 05:07:03 AM
This is such a beautiful portrait that the family can treasure ! You did them a BIG favor !!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 04:02:19 AM
Way to go, congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 04:01:13 AM
Well done David!!! My pick for blue too!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 04:00:00 AM
Stunning portrait, David. Congratulations on winning the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 03:45:40 AM
Great job David & congrats for the Blue.
Da Vinci rules ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 03:23:21 AM
Wonderful image, stunning. Congratulations.

Mike

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 03:22:25 AM
it's perfect
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 03:14:20 AM
Originally posted by bassbone:
An excellent image - Congrats on the Blue
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 01:47:37 AM
An excellent image - Congrats on the Bluew
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 01:34:28 AM
Totally totally awesome, congratulations on a well deserved blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 01:24:06 AM
Congratulations for so many things, especially the cooperation of excellent portrait models! The Eyes ARE striking! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 01:13:49 AM
YAY David:)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 12:35:39 AM
I knew you were in the running for the blue! Congratulations to you and especially the beautiful girls with blue eyes!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 11:21:43 PM
Great image! Congrats on your blue - and on beating Shannon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 10:38:24 PM
Congratulations David, great shot, fully deserving of the blue ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 09:07:39 PM
Way to go, David. Excellent shot!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 08:46:03 PM
Congrats, David! A matched set of eyes and a great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 08:40:33 PM
Congratulations, David. :D Beautiful shot and beautiful girls.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 08:37:57 PM
You captured these beautiful girls perfectly. Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 08:31:47 PM
Congrats, I was one of your 9's, great work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 08:31:06 PM
Beautiful! Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 08:30:32 PM
Congratulations on the blue! Well deserved. Funny that my 4 top votes (8's) were among the top 5 finishes. Either I'm getting better at judging pictures or I've become DPCized. In either case I hope to some day learn how to do as well as all of you have.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 08:28:59 PM
Absolutely breathtaking! Perfect lighting and love those eyes! Congrats on the ''blue''!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 08:26:45 PM
They're stunning! Congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 08:19:05 PM
Blue Ribbon! Congrats. Lovely group portrait. Maybe a new career in portrait photography? You really seem to nail these shots.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 08:10:10 PM
Yup, knew it before you even took it. :) Way to go! Well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 08:08:15 PM
Terrific photo, David -- I love that the family is pleased (how could they not be?).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 08:08:05 PM
Stunning, quite lovely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/09/2007 07:38:07 PM
Well done, one of the best.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 07:20:31 PM
Beautiful shot of some lovely girls. Nice sharp image with good bokeh background. Good lighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 01:21:50 PM
These girls have some beautiful blue eyes, nice capture. I might have had the girl on the right a bit closer to the middle girl but still a really nice pic.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 09:20:42 AM
Nice skin tones.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2007 03:49:03 AM
Nice light in the hair.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 11:30:32 PM
I think you missed a Great opportunity here
They looklike they have lost their Pet Cat or something.
I think I know your reason behind the pose but it doesnt sit right for me as if they smiled it would lighten the whole pag up.
It will mark well for you as it is a Good portrait.
Good Luck ad keep smiling !
 10/08/2007 07:56:55 PM
Great eyes, and nice job using the sun for backlighting. Great exposure.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 06:29:54 PM
beautiful girls, beautiful eyes, lovely image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 05:05:43 PM
nice protrait, beautiful models, good lighting...8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 01:10:50 PM
perfect portrait. Nice strong lighting. Nice expressions on each one, slightly differing from girl to girl.. best one so far.. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 08:02:37 AM
If I could vote on just the one little girl on the right, it would be a 10! Beautiful portrait, great expressions. :o)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 06:45:02 AM
I'm stunned by this shot and drawn to their (beautiful) eyes. Lighting, composition, and faces are perfect. Nothing to improve.

I don't have to wish you good luck. This is the blue ribbon winner.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/07/2007 08:26:30 PM
10! stunning, totally beautiful. great concept, composition, lighting, focus. perfect!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/07/2007 07:29:47 PM
Wow, those eyes... i am guessing these are your kids? nice family! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/07/2007 05:11:18 PM
One of the best images in this challenge. If this doesn't earn you a well deserved ribbon then I will eat my hat (not that I wear one!) Seriously, great shot in every respect, especially in composition and selection of models...those eyes are all great but seem to be "saying" something totally different.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/07/2007 03:39:04 PM
makes me smile just to look at this, very well done and my ribbon pick, but that probably means bottom half, sorry LOL, lighting, focus, dof all are well done, 9 it is
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/07/2007 01:30:40 PM
Nice pose and tack sharp. Good job!!!!!!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/07/2007 04:48:05 AM
very nice,beautiful girls.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/07/2007 02:47:52 AM
What a photogenic trio! Great lighting!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/07/2007 01:53:34 AM
Excellent!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/06/2007 06:51:35 PM
I love this portrait. Very sweet. Lovely girls and lighting. Way to go. You deserve a Blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/06/2007 12:00:08 PM
Such a intense look in their eyes. You realy captured their attention. Great light. Incredible detail (i.e. in their hair). Bumping it to 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/05/2007 08:39:44 PM
Wow! What an exquisite portrait! Just wonderful! 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/05/2007 07:35:41 PM
NIce images eyes are totally identical. psart 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/05/2007 05:42:46 PM
And tell me about those eyes too... triple trouble... Beautiful models, very nice composition, wonderful portrait, congratulations!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/05/2007 05:39:33 PM
wow...I lvoe how there eyes stand out
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/05/2007 01:13:30 PM
beautiful
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/05/2007 12:52:36 PM
Wow these girls are beautiful!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/05/2007 10:46:57 AM
Beautiful shot of these blue eyed beauties
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/05/2007 06:49:52 AM
So sweet, so beautiful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/05/2007 06:38:37 AM
The blessed father of three such pretty girls (his wife is probably gorgeous) has rough times ahead in a couple of years. ;)

But on the picture: The picture has ribbon potential. Not only because of the subject, but because it depicts the beauty of the girls so well. The sunlight on the hairs is great, while keeping sufficient light on the faces (fill in flash I presume?). Great bokeh in the back. Minor points include some shadows on the middle girl and the crop (too wide imo) on the left. And in my opinion, it's a tad too sweet, but that's merely a matter of taste. (8)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/05/2007 12:42:52 AM
beautifull models and good lighting, unfortunately the bokeh highlights distract
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/05/2007 12:22:04 AM
very nice portrait!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/04/2007 04:29:11 PM
Wow! What beautiful children. Amazingly great genetics, whether siblings, or not. Just amazing! (10)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/04/2007 03:53:01 PM
Wonderful portrait. I think this will be in the top 3 for sure. (10)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/04/2007 01:11:28 PM
very nice...beautiful eyes. lighting is perfect here. gl 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/04/2007 12:46:05 PM
Wow! Beautiful portrait. Dare I say perfect? It's so natural, the light is wonderful, no gimmicks. Just pretty.

Back to fave and bump. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/04/2007 09:32:26 AM
2nd pick for me... 9. These 3 beautiful girls are so adorable and they were captured perfectly. Nice bokeh, too. ^_^
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/04/2007 07:35:27 AM
what a precious pic for their parents! as far as monalisa smile is concerned, your youngest one (rightmost) has nailed it. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/03/2007 03:33:04 PM
Great composition and lighting; has bonus of nice bokeh.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/03/2007 12:07:22 PM
if the girl on the left moved over a little she would be more interesting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/03/2007 09:22:46 AM
Oh gosh they are beautiful, lovely photo
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/03/2007 05:22:25 AM
Very pretty!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/03/2007 04:59:15 AM
Wow -- very nicely done! I love how uniform they all are, from the hair to the shirts to the sharpness and color of their beautiful blue eyes. Nice job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/02/2007 11:24:19 PM
Hey, very pretty girls. God bless them! :)
And a truly nice capture too
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/02/2007 08:27:00 PM
Amazing eyes. One of my top pick, ribbon for sure.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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