Candid Portrait, Overdone?

[ctcook]

I took this picture as an afterthought while I was shooting other material. I wasn't expecting to make much out of it, but I started playing with it in Photoshop to test some techniques I'm trying to learn. My question is: Is the post production way overdone, or distracting?

Info:
Nikon D40
200mm
1/640 sec.
f/5.6
ISO 800 (it was really cloudy)

Original:


Edited:

[zona5101]

for me, it's a little much. It does not look natural. I can't help but notice the majority of the picture appears to have been softened/blurred but the braces are still tack sharp.

[Judi]

Yeah, and too red, to me.

[B..]

IMO, the post processing is completely unneeded and far to much. What's with all the red?

The original photo is great fun and is way extreme, itself! *Blue* eyes. *Blue* braces. And a Million-Dollar Smile! Gorgeous!

[ctcook]

Thanks for all the comments. The redness was added by an action I ran to "smooth" the skin. I tried to tone it down, but obviously not enough. I think I'll have another go at it, keeping in mind to keep the changes to a minimum.

[l.k.madison]

I like the blue on the eyes, I'm not a fan of the braces and her eyes being the same color blue, though.

I like the softened effect and the cloning out of whatever showed up under her chin, but it is VERY red...

Try B&W with an exposure brush (available on later versions of PS) over her eyes to bring out the highlights in her eyes.

Great shot even before PP!!

[behrangkh]

I think a B&W PP will make a beautiful outcome. As for the current outcome, I think it's too softened, too much colorized.

[dudley206098]

like the angle..just not sharp enough.. not sure where to look...the eyes,...the braces..the great smile

keep shooting

[ctcook]

Originally Posted by l.k.madison

I like the blue on the eyes, I'm not a fan of the braces and her eyes being the same color blue, though.

I like the softened effect and the cloning out of whatever showed up under her chin, but it is VERY red...

Try B&W with an exposure brush (available on later versions of PS) over her eyes to bring out the highlights in her eyes.

Great shot even before PP!!

Is the "B&W with an exposure brush" available in CS3? I've tried to find it, but have not succeeded. I appreciate all the comments, they are very helpful

[l.k.madison]

It's meant as "black and white" then "exposure brush", I'm pretty sure CS3 doesn't have it, but I know CS4 does.

Basically, it lets you "paint" adjustments if you only want them in one specific area (for example, the eyes slightly more exposed than the rest of the photograph). If you had the time or patience, you could make it two different layers and "erase" the eyes in the top one so they show through.

She has great coloring in her eyes to begin with, so go easy on them

Hope that helps.