How to make my photo look better.

[Lorry]

Hello,

Can I please have some critique on this photo. I wanted to create light and shade on this person but feel like it is too much especially on her face. How would I improve this photo and make it look more softer and appealing

Thankyou.



Nikon D80
F 3.8
1/2000
-03 ex
ISO 200
Focal Length 22mm
No Flash

[SusanH1970]

Unfortunately you shot in really harsh sunlight and there's not much post processing you can do to "fix" the shadows and blowouts. Can you reshoot in better lighting conditions (i.e. much later in the day when the sun is lower in the sky, in open shade rather than full sun, or on an overcast day)?

[Lorry]

Hi,

Yes I can reshoot again and will try later in the day, thanks but would I still be able to get a soft shadow on her face on an overcast day?
Would a reflector help in this circumstance?

[PaulE]

I know I should get into the habit of asking permission first before editing a photo...
Here is a rescued photo, but unfortunately the blown out parts cannot be rescued!
Another comment: the skew horizon and trees, to me, distracts from the subject.

NOTE: I shall remove from my flickr stream as soon as you have seen this.

[Lorry]

Hi PaulE,

Oh wow...that's exactly the sort of lighting I was trying to get on her face...that looks great...yes I see what your saying about everything else being blown out...now If I can master how to get that sort of lighting originally I will be set...:-)....Thankyou for taking the time to do that.

Lorry

[Lorry]

How did you do that??

[PaulE]

This is basically the same that I did for this post:
Post processing tips?
A little bit of saturation, then minor changes in levels (stepped up the black and the mid tones down) then step the black up again. You have to play around to see what the result is. Sometimes the black areas go too dark. (Look at her left eye)
Did smart sharpening and then duplicated the layer, selected everything except the eyes and mouth with a quick mask. (Actually you select the eyes, eyebrows and lips and then invert the selection!) Did a Gaussian blur (30%) on the lower layer and changed the top layer's opacity to 80%.
This I do using GIMP, but the same principal can be used in photoshop.

[shauncunninghamphoto]

Hi Lorry.


For me, the photo lacks a commanding focal point. Therefore, by deafult, my eyes are drawn to the horizon, and then to the sky scrapers. I would suggest considering the following for a re-shoot:-

1. Changing position, or getting closer to the subject and using a lower f-stop to achieve background blur (a shallow depth of field to result in a less intrusive background)
2. Re-positioning the subject at an angle, so that her face is closer to the camera (taking up approximately the lower right hand third of the photo (as you image a rule of thirds grid over it). That is, bring her face closer to the camera (or move closer to her), but adjust her angle so that her bended knee can still be kept within the shot
3. Depending on the conditions, use a bounce disc to create fill/achieve the desired amount of shadowing. If it's an overcast day, try the reflector side of the bounce disc. If it's sunny, try the diffuser side.

The above recommendations will result in good lighting on the face and probably a twinkle in her eyes. Coupled with taking the shot closer to her face with a blurred background, this will create a focal point in the photo (probably her eyes, or her smile).

Hope this helps. Would love to see how you get on...
Shaun
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