how can i improve it?

[LuisCaz]

Hi every body.
I took this picture last weekend, im pleased with the DOF but im not to sure about the whole picture, i think that the brightness of the white shirts is distracting, and i think that the people skin tone is kinda flat, how can i improve this on PP? is the compositon okay?
any comments and advices are greatly apreciated

nikon D3000
55-200 mm lense
focal lense-105mm
f/4.8
shuter speed-1/250sec.
iso speed-100
metering mode-pattern
no flash

[MrJones]

I would just crop it tighter, putting the in the middle and not on the left.
the background is not that interesting and you'll get the outdoors feeling even with a tighter crop.
the kid's legs are cut off which is a bit disturbing but not that distracting.

[LuisCaz]

Originally Posted by MrJones

I would just crop it tighter, putting the in the middle and not on the left.
the background is not that interesting and you'll get the outdoors feeling even with a tighter crop.
the kid's legs are cut off which is a bit disturbing but not that distracting.

thank you, i cropped it and it does look a lot better!!
I didnt noticed the kid's feet until you mentioned, im really bad about cutting people's limbs (usually is the head) got to pay more attention!
Thanks for the reply.

[Benji]

Everyone has raccoon eyes, and I think with lots of Ps work they can be lightened but that won't really help with the overall flat lighting condition you have here.

Benji

[LuisCaz]

Originally Posted by Benji

Everyone has raccoon eyes, and I think with lots of Ps work they can be lightened but that won't really help with the overall flat lighting condition you have here.

Benji

So pretty much doesnt matter how much i try to fix im not going to be able to? how do i avoid this in the future? what could i have done to make the picture work? a reflector could have done the trick?

[LuisCaz]

Hello!!! anybody?? So many talented photographers in this forum and no one can give me an advice? please!

[BigFuzzy]

Originally Posted by Benji

Everyone has raccoon eyes, and I think with lots of Ps work they can be lightened but that won't really help with the overall flat lighting condition you have here. Benji

Just ignore those that don't have anything to add besides "it sucks, shoot it again"..some of us won't just tell you it's wrong, but also what we think may help in the future.
The main issue for me is the lighting. Though the sky was clearly cloudy and the light was dispersed somewhat, it's still harsh and from the shadows I'm assuming you shot when the sun was pretty high in the sky right?
Two ways to solve this: flash and/or shooting at a different time of the day. Flash would help fill in unwanted shadows and/or allow you to compensate (or even overpower) the natural light. But you do kind of have to know a thing or two.. but it's the route I'd go if you're not in a position to have nicely distributed light. Otherwise, shoot at a later stage of the day where the light is more even and more filling, it'll also help with the blown outshirts (yes, a bit distrracting to me).
Overall, try to avoid shooting when the sun is high in the sky. It'll blow out your highlights, create nasty shadows and wash out the colors and contrast.
If you have lightroom, I'd bump up the clarity and vibrance and recovery sliders.

Originally Posted by LuisCaz

Hello!!! anybody?? So many talented photographers in this forum and no one can give me an advice? please!

Patience young grasshopper, patience!

[LuisCaz]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

Just ignore those that don't have anything to add besides "it sucks, shoot it again".....
If you have lightroom, I'd bump up the clarity and vibrance and recovery sliders.


Patience young grasshopper, patience!

Now thats a great advise!! Thank you so much for taking your time and sharing your knowledge with us!! Is nice to see that theres people that understand that if we are posting in the "critique my shot" sub-forum is to get CONSTRUCTIVE critisism and LEARN how to get better pictures.
Thanks again and keep up the good critisism, i'll keep looking for it!