before her first dance class...

[jax314]

I'm still learning post processing techniques. Here is a picture of my little girl right before her first dance class. How is the PP on this shot? Could you offer any suggestions for improvement?


Camera Nikon D5000
Exposure 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture f/11.0
Focal Length 55 mm
ISO Speed 200


Thanks!

[windrider86]

A couple of things.
Watch your background for distracting items. Such as the leaves, windows and parts of walls.
also try and watch the strong sun.
Your post isnt bad but leaves me to wonder why one arm is out of focus?

[lputman]

I agree with windrider...where you attempting a fake bokeh in post?

[jax314]

It was part of a plug-in I used...it was a selective focus built into one of the effects in photo tools 4.5.....

...not really "fake bokeh."

Thanks for the critique.....any other thoughts out there?

[photofe804]

She's a cute girl, and very photogenic! It's great that you were able to get a cute shot of her before her first dance lesson. For the editing, it would be nice to have more of her in focus. I am just an amateur, but I've learned that many of those preset filters may look different and exciting, but end up not doing as much for the picture as we'd like. In this case, I would love to see her arm and hair in focus. Getting the background more out of focus (the fake bokeh) might lessen the impact of distracting elements on the doora little, or if you really find it distracting you may try to clone out those parts using some of the bottom portion of the door. She's definitely a cutie, though, and I'd definitely keep the shot.

[mandyatm]

My eye definitely goes to her blurred arm first. I would remove the blur from her arm and hair. Other than that it is a very cute shot.