Contemplation

[vjhoward]

Contemplation on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

This is my first post to the critique site. I am an absolute amateur but have truly come to love photography in the last year. Currently I am working to improve my portrait and lifestyle work. I am not sure how to post correctly, so I have attached picture and put a link to the picture on my Flickr site.

This shot: I took my 3 year old out for a photo shoot. In the hour or so we were out, the was still for approximately 1/2 second, and I happened to catch it in this shot. In my positioning for the composition, I wanted to get some perspective with her and the long bench. In post, I converted to B&W -- I thought her "thoughtfulness" in her look was conveyed better in B&W vs color.

Camera: D300S
Lens: 18-200mm
Aperture: F/5
Focal Length: 70mm
Shutter Speed: 1/200
ISO: 200
Mode: Manual
Meter: Spot
Exposure Comp: 0
White Balance: Direct Sunlight

Would value all critical feedback.

[LeeR]

I am going to break a couple of my own rules here and I hope we don't both regret it. I think this is a wonderful shot that just needs a bit of tweaking. As a matter of fact, I would normally allow more time for others to comment before I posted an "improvement" but as I was working with it I noticed I was getting some real power and wanted to post what I was getting. I hope you don't mind.

I have made my usual initial adjustments; first, some time in 'Levels', then crop what isn't necessary. I decided that there were some overexposed areas in the background that were a real distraction so I got rid of them completely. Then I changed the whole image to sepia using the Duotone method. That forced another 'Levels' adjustment, then some dodging around the eye and this is what I got. I think you have something really special here.

[Photolicious]

I actually really like your original photo. The background and bench gives depth the the whole picture and I think the BW looks beautiful.
I will politely disagree that it needs a tighter crop

[vjhoward]

Thank you Photolicious and LeeR. I appreciate both of your comments. Photolicious, I was going for some depth with the subject as the focal point. I really wanted the long bench to lead into the focal point and provide the depth, but I was really struggling in post with the blow outs on the bench and the foliage. I tried a tight crop, but did not like it in B&W. The sepia really makes it different and very inviting. As much of an amatuer as I am in taking the photos, I am even more so in post-processing. LeeR, I appreciate how you showed a different way to view and represent the shot. It will keep me thinking for future shots. What program did you use? I am using Capture NX2.

Thank you both. Hopefully I will get some more comments that continue to help me learn and improve.

Victor.

[ricklumpas]

I think what LeeR did effectively removed the overexposed portions of the photo. The DoF is enough to blur the background, so no need for tight cropping but I wish another angle was considered (not eye level) for this is not the usual portrait.

[superduperwesman]

Very nice photo but the eye definitely needs fixed a little. I just get this scary movie image "Everything ok Susie...?" "Yes mommy" Then Susie slowly turns to camera with blank expression and fully darkened eyes and... attacks! ahah ok maybe that's a little over the top but you get my drift. Like what Lee did with fixing the eye.

[LeeR]

Let me see if I can put my thoughts a different way. I have a lot of experience in photography, including a degree and 30+ years experience. On a few very rare occasions I have started working with an image and had this feeling that I was working on something truly special, something much bigger than me. When I got to the stage you see above I stopped working and posted it because I was getting that feeling. I don't think this is quite done, but I do think it is a wonderfully pensive and expressive image. What I was hoping for was A) that you would see what was possible, and B) that you would proceed in this vein to see how far it can go. I told someone earlier today that I didn't see any point in continuing to post process an image because I didn't think it had the 'bones' to ever become a great photograph. That is not the case here. This, in my humble but informed opinioin, is damned near perfect.

[Niresangwa]

I think Lee is right that there's much to be gotten out of this image. While it doesn't chill my spine the way it does his, it's definitely deserving of a few hours exploring different PP options in my opinion.

I can appreciate what you were going for with the original composition, but as has been acknowledged, there are problems where things get a little hot. I don't really think that the revised crop from Lee did it for me though. I can see where the sepia is attractive however, just feels a little heavy handed.

edit: couldn't resist playing with an edit.

applied a custom vintage treatment,
boosted contrast,
cloned/healed background (removed big white spike, then cloned in more 'bokeh'),
took it in a more high-key direction to take advantage of the hot bench,
dodged the eye up
and finally a ham-fisted gradient fill.
applied a warming filter (CS4's 85) which was boosted.
Finally added a 0.06 border.

i'm not saying its perfect, i only gave it 10 minutes, but there's a great deal to be done with this image if you choose to, as Lee's years of experience accurately perceived.

[vjhoward]

Thanks to everyone for taking time to consider the shot and provide your feedback. This is all very good and I am learning the science and art of photography, and working to develop my style. You have all given me things to consider.

[vjhoward]

Lee & Steve - thanks so much for showing me what could be done. What do each of you use for PP? I am currently using Capture NX2 (learning). With all of your experience, what software have you found that works best for you?