My Niece, trying to figure out photoshop!

[224]

Hello all,
I'm pretty new to photography, and just trying to learn all of the finer details about taking good pictures and then also editing them well in photoshop.

Here's an example of one that I took of my niece. I put a copy of the original before any photoshop work, and then my attempt (attempt really is the keyword) to make it better. I tried to make a new layer with her, and change the contrast and brightness of her, as well as doing a little bit of sharpening and dodge tool to her eyes to try to make her overall pop out more, while blurring, desaturating and darkening the background. I tried to make as smooth a transition between the two layers as I could, but that still looks pretty bad (does anyone know a good way to blend the two layers together better?)

Anyways, I'm trying to learn as much as I can, so I would love to hear any critiques, comments or advice about it, either of taking the first picture or ways that I can better edit it after, either for this picture or the future.

One request, if you give any advice, just remember I'm still learning, so try to make it as simple as you can, otherwise I probably wouldn't be able to follow your helpful advice, haha.

I appreciate it!

[Raigoki]

hey! your attempt seemed nice!
what effect would you want to achieve?

for starters in PP, (as someone instructed me to do so...)
sharpening photos should be the 2nd to the last step in PP. (cropping would be the last.)

i think you might want to check these link...

Adobe - tutorial : Advanced sharpening techniques

goodluck!

[224]

Hey thanks for the advice and the link to that site!
I was trying to get her as the subject to pop out a little bit more, and for the background to be less distracting. I may have gone overboard on processing a little bit, but for now I think that's alright as I'm just playing around with different settings and trying to figure different techniques and skills out.

Thanks again!