Informal Portrait

[Browzilla]

This shot was just a random shot taken on a moving bus with the only light being sunlight through the windows.

I adjusted the levels a tad and used Curves to adjust some contrast, and a little bit of adjustment to the red.

The thing that probably annoys me the most is the highlight under the eye on the left side of the frame. But I really don't know how to fix that, so I left it for the time being.



So, yeah. Any opinions or comments on how this could be improved would be much appreciated.

The full-size edited picture's here if anyone wants to edit something or other.
Original Image Link

And the really original can be found here:
Really Original Image Link

[clockdoc]

This is a tough one! The out of focus areas so close to the face are one problem as is the bright spot (child's hair?) on the right in the background. About all you have left are the very expressive eyes. You may try concentrating on thst area of the face alone and see what cropping can do for you. Great capture of expression though!

[Browzilla]

I dunno, I kinda liked the head on the left, I thought it sort of framed the picture nicely. I do see what you mean about the girl on the right though; I'm not sure why I didn't do that already.

So would something more like this seem better to you?

[purplepixie]

Browzilla, despite the small problems pointed out, I really like this image and I like the context of the original. Not too sure about the crop.

[Browzilla]

I think the problem with that crop is the fact that the hand is gone. The hand adds...something, I'm not exactly sure what.

I tried another two crops, and I think I personally like them better because they have the hand in there, but I'm not too sure.





I think the latter might just be my favourite.

[jiminyClickit]

Browzilla,

Agreement here with last edit, and a note: if you could include even a little of the blue collar of person on left, it added a point of interest, now missing.

Do you know what "stippling" is? That process would fix your cheek glare.

[xhan]

personally I'd do a bit of cloning but I'd duplicate the photo first do the cloning then use a layer mask to make it so the 2nd layer is just the adjusted bit under the eye and then make sure thec olours match - the area under the right eye is darker and thats where I'd clone from

[Browzilla]

I know what stippling is conceptually, but I've never heard it applied to photography before. Mind explaining a bit it's uses and how to achieve it?

Yeah, I guess I'll try that, after I get my other computer with the photos.

I think the forehead also adds something, it's just different without it.

I might try the cloning a bit when I have more time..

[jiminyClickit]

Browzilla,

Stippling in an edit is a way to use the cloning tool to blend color edges, in a subtler oil-paint-on-canvas way. Same function of cloning, except use small dots of one color to stipple into adjoining color, even four or five colors selected from surrounding area. Either blend, smudge or soften these dots when they're close to satisfactory, even add a little noise if needed. It can reduce the sun glare on your bus passenger, and lessen that orange-pink surrounding glare: