Exercise: Enhancement

This exercise involves making changes that many would say go beyond reality.

I had to photograph a close up head and shoulders portrait in natural lighting for this exercise.

The first selection is basic dodging where I have to draw attention to the face by adjusting the brightness and contrast.

The second selection and adjustment is of the eyes - by exaggerating the colour of the iris by increasing saturation and brightness.

And then by using the hue.

This is the original picture.

Original 

With brightness and contrast increased.  This brings out more definition in the face but the difference is subtle. 

The difference between the original and the image that has been adjusted is very subtle and can be seen close up.  I think that the difference would be less subtle if the subject was more in the shade.

Here is an example of the subject shot in deeper shade.

Original

With the brightness and contrast adjusted. 

The second image shows the effects of the adjustment more.  I think both look natural and the adjustments enhance the image.  

In this image the colour of the iris has been exaggerated using brightness and saturation.  Personally I think this looks fake.  The eyes stand out and look slightly odd.  

The colour of the eyes here have been changed using hue.  Again they don't look natural to me.  

I feel that simple dodging and burning techniques produce natural results therefore I would see them as acceptable.  However, when you start changing the colour of the eyes the image starts to look tampered with.  

In saying that there are instances where I would consider adjusting the colour of the eyes.  If you are looking for a creative effect with a high key black and white image colour in the eyes however unnatural looking would be interesting.  The very fact that the image is black and white makes it unnatural as it is not the way our eyes see what is in front of us.