family photo - too dark?

[courtney23cy]

Does the overall photo seem too dark? Also, the light patch on the little boys forehead bugs me, do any of you find it distracting? Any tips on how I can fix it? Thank you



Nikon D90
50mm
f/2.8
1/400s
ISO 200

[EOBeav]

I'm not much of a portrait guy, but generally speaking, bright sunlight and shadows don't play nicely together on a digital camera sensor. I would have changed locations, or at least waited for some cloud cover to take this shot.

[RichardTaylor]

Just using the existing pic....
The white spot can be cloned out very easily.

The image looks a bit dark on my monitor.
Duplicating the layer with blending mode screen at 30% makes a huge difference.

[deck]

It's not dark, the patches of light makes it look dark, it's a normal reaction when we look at photos that have those elements

Next time try to control these patches of light, like moving to a different location, or using a flash

[sabrina860]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

Just using the existing pic....
The white spot can be cloned out very easily.

The image looks a bit dark on my monitor.
Duplicating the layer with blending mode screen at 30% makes a huge difference.

Is that how people normally brighten? I haven't thought of that!

[RichardTaylor]

It's from Scott Kelby.

[courtney23cy]

Thank you for all the input! And thanks for the tip on how to brighten my photo's... funny you referenced Kelby, I just signed up for Kelby Training today Excited to learn more.

[Photologyst]

Here’s is one quick solution, Courtney:



I decided to make it feel more like a portrait the background needed to be more blurred.

Adjusted exposure in Lightroom, added fill light.

Cloned light spot on boy’s face in PS layers @ about 80% opacity. Blurred background in new layer, erased faces and most of bodies @100%, edges @ 40% and 11% around the background and the grass. Flattened.

With your original you can of course be much more precise and sharpen as needed.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by Photologyst

Here’s is one quick solution, Courtney:

Very ethereal and mystical.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by Photologyst

Here’s is one quick solution, Courtney:
I decided to make it feel more like a portrait the background needed to be more blurred.

No. no. no. Put the blur brush down and step away. Seriously, that's not good.