Little Girl beside a tree: Before and After

[TNH]

This is my first time posting in the 'Before and After section,' and I'm excited to try!
Ok, I used Picnik to edit this photo.

Here is the original photo- No cropping or anything done, this is how it looked straight out of the camera:

Before-


And After-


Exif data: (Not sure if I need to put this in or not, but here it is!)
Taken on March 20, 2011
Camera Nikon Coolpix S3000
Exposure 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture f/3.5
Focal Length 5.8 mm
ISO Speed 80
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Auto, Did not fire

How I did it:
-First, I cropped it in.
-Then turned down the exposure
-Turned up the contrast
-Turned up the sharpness
-Then lastly, applied vignette to the edges.

I hope I've done this right. If I haven't, please let me know! Thanks for looking, and any advice is appreciated.

[Tito87]

The contrast looks better on the second one. I don't think (this is just my opinion; take it for what it's worth) you need to crop that much. I kind of like the feeling of the whole scene from the original picture.

[Tito87]

Let me know what you think. If you don't like it, I'll delete it immediately.

[JFSanders]

Nice work but the vignette is terrible. I do not like vignette on most images as it looks contrived.

Jim

[TNH]

Originally Posted by Tito87

The contrast looks better on the second one. I don't think (this is just my opinion; take it for what it's worth) you need to crop that much. I kind of like the feeling of the whole scene from the original picture.

Thanks. That was what I was mainly wanting to fix, the contrast.
Yes, I'm planning to take the 'before' photo and fix the sharpening on it and leave the whole scene, so you can see the landscape. I cropped this one in closer so it would look more like a portrait. Then I'll have the picture both ways, because I like them both.

Originally Posted by Tito87

Let me know what you think. If you don't like it, I'll delete it immediately.

Oh, yes, I'm planning to do one to look like that, too so I will have one with the landscape and a close-up. It looks good.

[TNH]

Originally Posted by JFSanders

Nice work but the vignette is terrible. I do not like vignette on most images as it looks contrived.

Jim

Thanks.
I don't think it looks terrible, that's just your opinion. There's not too much vignette, and I like it, so I'm going to keep it.
Thanks for your comment though.

[JFSanders]

Originally Posted by TNH

Thanks.
I don't think it looks terrible, that's just your opinion. There's not too much vignette, and I like it, so I'm going to keep it.
Thanks for your comment though.

You are quite correct that it is my opinion. I thought that was what you posted the image for. To get an opinion. I am sorry that you were offended by my opinion. And you must always do what makes you happy, so if it makes you happy to have a vignette around your image then so be it.

Jim

[TNH]

Originally Posted by JFSanders

You are quite correct that it is my opinion. I thought that was what you posted the image for. To get an opinion. I am sorry that you were offended by my opinion. And you must always do what makes you happy, so if it makes you happy to have a vignette around your image then so be it.

Jim

Oh, that's all right. I've had a lot of people tell me what they think. And it's always nice to hear someone else's opinion on your work! So thanks for telling me just what you think. I appreciate any comments I get on my photos! And that's what DPS is for-to learn how to do better.

[TNH]

Originally Posted by Tito87

The contrast looks better on the second one. I don't think (this is just my opinion; take it for what it's worth) you need to crop that much. I kind of like the feeling of the whole scene from the original picture.

Do you like this one better? I fixed the contrast and sharpening, but didn't crop it in as much. Do you think it needs more contrast? I like it both ways, close-up and farther away.

[Tito87]

Originally Posted by TNH

Do you like this one better? I fixed the contrast and sharpening, but didn't crop it in as much. Do you think it needs more contrast? I like it both ways, close-up and farther away.

Yes, I like it better. Try to see if you can do something with all the weeds in the background, just behind her head ( the golden ones that go all the way back to the horizon line) They are almost too bright. Do you have shadows/highlights sliders in your editing program? If you do, you can play with them until you find the balance you like. That might help a little with the sky too-- the key word being might-- but I'm not sure, it looks blown out.