It is lovely! I'm not sure about the technical. The processed image looks like a painting. I feel that is more interesting than the render-only results. It may be a result of a sharp contrast effect. But, I am certainly interested in the left image.

Thank you so much elleque! I feel the same as you do. Sometimes I prefer the images without any postwork, but sometimes I feel it adds more to it.

Lovely portrait.

thank you so much!

it's absolutely charming and beautiful...I guess it's time for you to invest in a new GPU ! That's what Ive just done...my new card is not exactly cheap, I must say but it was worth the investment : an image like this one is rendered in less than 5 mn...my latest post (thanks for your comments) was rendered in less than 2 mn !

Thank you Gaius! Wow , 2 minutes? And I always heard people complain of extremely long render times in Daz. Although I guess you have to consider the render settings used and the image size too. When I render my test images it only takes a few minutes, and I am fairly certain that I could post those with no issues since a lot of people probably only look at the images on a phone. But I usually render at 60cmx45cm/150dpi. In any case I will have to make due with what I have, i got my iMac last year and next in line is a new camera sincethe one I have is getting old now, lol.

The time you invested in creating this beautiful work of art, was well worth it! Your technical ability to capture the essence of the original photo has come through for you in the most amazing way. I read every word you wrote, and I must say I am quite impressed with your talent for creating such awesome portraits! Keep doing what you do, so we can continue to enjoy your creative art works my friend! :-)

Oh thank you so much JohnnyM, that is very sweet of you to say!

The lighting and coloring is spectacular. Lovely portrait!

Thank you so much!!! <3

absolutely great!

Thank you!!!

Awwwww this is just breathtaking. Love it!!!

Thank you so much!! :) Goodness your avatar is just adorable!!!

Very fine image!

Thank you!

I think the most amazing thing about your render is how much "depth of soul" you conveyed through her eyes, which is something you can also see in the photograph. That's something I rarely see in renders (and probably most often in yours!), and I have no idea how you did it, b/c her expression appears fairly simple ("appears" being the operative word!) It's probably a combination of many things, including expression but also lighting, contrast, color choices, composition, framing, and more. I see it even in the "raw" render, but the effect is definitely enhanced in the post-worked version.

The only thing that (for me) gives away that this is a render and not a post-worked photograph is the hair, as I can recognize the polygon chunks that are typical of 3D hair, particularly at the top of her head and in the ponytails. The hair looks great and suits her style, so that's not a criticism, just one of those "ah yes, this must be a render" things. Her face looks straight-up photographic! Even the monkey could pass :-)

I love everything about this, from the girl herself to the way you've framed her in front of the wall and window, the lighting, the post-work enhancements, the monkey, her outfit, even her eye color. They're all perfect! Now I wish there was a button for "I extra special like and favorite this one" :-)

Amy, you have no idea how happy your words have made me, if I have achieved conveying "depth of soul" through her eyes then I have achieved everything, I really couldn't ask for more. I will say it again, the eyes are everything for me in a person (and animal), you know what they say, they are the "window to the soul". It's already hard enough to capture a living person's essence with a photograph, in 3D it's even harder. Hearing that she is literally a real person for you now fills my heart with joy...thank you from the bottom of my heart <3 <3 <3

PS: Is it weird that I feel like I know something about this girl from seeing this render? She's very much a real person to me now!

hey, thanks for posting the original render here as well as your finished piece. i love the process of thngs, getting a glimpse into someone else's approach to get from point A to B. i don't own any fancy app like Lightroom, so that too is interesting for me to see a comparison of what an program can do [and now i'm envious..heh] you absolutely chose the perfect finishing for your render - having seen it this way, i find it difficult to imagine it with a different process applied to it. and your photography experience really shines here - i always feel like i struggle with framing and such, so just another green mark on me for your great eye ;)

Thank you so much Giana, I really appreciate your feedback on this. I was happy to see that you can now post multiple images in one post because just like you I find it interesting to see the thought process behind an image and I think it's interesting to see the before and after. I use both Lightroom and Photoshop for my photo editing. However, in photography I use Lightroom as the first step (white balance, contrast, cropping, straightening etc etc) and then do the final touches in Photoshop. I hardly ever use filters on photos however, other than black & white (which I do like to use quite a bit). However I found that I really like how some of these vintage/movie filters look on 3D renders, so sometimes I will go that route. In any case, judging from your art I would never have thought it was a struggle for you, I have often admired your portraits, you do beautiful work!

Very nice work !

Thank you, much appreciated!!!

Stunning work that shows the time and thought process you invested. The original is a beautiful capture as well :)

Thank you so much! I have often used photos (both mine and photos from the web) as inspiration, but this is the first time I literally tried recreate one of my portraits with 3D art. It was fun and challenging though, and you can bet I will be doing it more often now!

Looking at your original photograph I will start by saying you're a gifted photographer that has obviously worked hard at refining her craft. That photograph is beautiful and I can see why it's one that you are particularly attached to.

I think your use of rim-lighting to imitate the lighting from the window worked well and gave a desirable and realistic contrast between light and shadow on her face. Allowing the graininess of the rendering engine to remain gave a sense of using a higher speed film in a real camera with lower light which added to the sense of a real photograph for me. The one on the left which is a bit washed to my eye felt more "old-fashioned" and the one on the right with warmer tones and a bit more saturation looked modern. I like the one on the left a bit more, probably because I'm old... old, I tell you. XD

The expression and posing was the hardest to bring one from the other and I'd say you were pretty successful. There is a very slight rise of the eye brows (the natural concern and inquisitiveness of the child?) that isn't as well expressed in your rendering.

Overall I'd give it more than 2 thumbs up but I have only the normal human allotment of thumbs. =P

Thank you so much for sharing this lovely picture and so much of yourself and your creative process. <3

Molly

Thank you so much Mollz, your thoughts really mean the world to me! I am indeed very attached to that photo since I have seen that child grow and photographed her and her little sister many times. That was one of the first photos I ever took of her.

Like you, I tend to have a soft spot for vintage, old-fashioned images. They remind me of my childhood pics. I also tend to like "grittier" images, especially when I use black & white, and in this case I added even more noise on top of what came out from the render.

I really, really like your observation regarding her expression in the original photo. You are right about the inquisitive look, she was most certainly trying to figure out what the heck I was doing with that huge camera, lol. And since I was standing she was also looking up a bit, that probably also added to the raised eyebrows look. I did try changing the camera angle in my render to recreate that at one point, and it wasn't bad. However, I have noticed time and time again that once I have gotten used to a certain angle and seeing it time after time in the test renders, if I change it even slightly it will feel like something is "off" and will have to go back to the way I like it (and luckily I have learned to save my poses, expressions and cameras because when I first started I would go crazy if I couldn't put things back to the way they were hahaha!)

A charming portrait and thanks for the write up as well

Thanks to you for taking the time to read it! :)

Touching, amazing and I shed a lil tear, thinking she is 18 now and I see how time flies with my baby nephew! Gorgeous look, oh those eyes, you re captured perfectly the sweet innocence. Marvellous And yes, we always share the music part, impossible to live without, in all I do, I know what you mean by that.

This new image/portrait looks fantastic once again, I love Lory's Gioia too!

You did a great job on this render, and reading your story I get the passion and drive you have for the craft. I remember as a child always wanting to be a Disney animator watching the artist bring to life the character they were working on. And I got that sense from you. Again great job on this piece, have a good week.

Thank you so much for your lovely words, I am so glad that my passion and drive came through with this render. It doesn't surprise me that you wanted to be a Disney animator as a child, it shows in every render you make and you have also brought many 3D characters and pets to life! I am sorry I am so late in responding, but I needed to take a little break from the 3D world. I think things are getting back on track and hope to be back soon.

So a lovely girl and work!!!

Thank you so much!

Definitely charming, brilliant awesome composition and render. Exquisite Artwork. I love it!

Thank you so much!

CONGRATS on getting 1st place in the portrait challenge!! Very much deserved!!!

Thank you so much Amy!!! <3 <3 <3 This render really means a lot to me and I am sincerely honoured that it was chosen. Hope to be back with more renders soon. Hope all is well with you!

OMG!!! First place! The competition was fierce, beautiful entries all of them but oh dear, you rock! <3 Congratulations <3

It was, there were some really amazing portraits submitted! And I don't rock alone, you created a little jem and it's only thanks to her (and to you) that I was able to create this. We did this together, thank you so much!!! <3 <3 <3

Smashing!👏👍🙋‍♂️