Canvas or not?

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

I took this photo before I really got into learning all about my camera and finding this site with all it's great information. It wasn't composed and it was just a fleeting moment but with what I know now I would have better been able to shift my position to better compose the shot. So the question is can I rescue this, I'm wanting to put it on canvas for her parents. I'm learning Photoshop too so any suggestions there need to be resonably basic. Obviously I need to lose the power boxes, how would I go about do that (I can crop the grey one out), and I probably need to lose the weeds at her feet as well. Does the patchwork of concrete and cracks detract from the shot too? And of course there is nothing to crop that will place her in the thirds rule. Maybe I'm just being too hopeful that there's a keeper in there somewhere. Thanks for any suggestions.




Exif data
Camera Sony DSLR-A350
Exposure 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture f/9.0
Focal Length 60 mm
ISO Speed 100

[EOBeav]

I would say no, because your lighting is all wrong. And that's something you can't fix in photoshop. Also, it would be nice to see at least some of her face.


----------------
Now playing: Sting - All This Time
via FoxyTunes

[JFSanders]

I would say yes. Because that moment is never coming back. It could be anyone's little girl, so it works even though there is no face. When I looked at this photograph I immediately thought of my daughter and her predilection to picking flowers, bugs etc... and bringing it to me and Mommy! So yes let us try to fix what little nagging details that distract from the emotion and memory triggers that are present in this wonderful photo.

The first thing we are going to do is crop this in a square format and run the left edge almost touching the shadow to eliminate the phone company boxes. There will be a small piece of the black box and it could be cloned out without issue. Secondly we are going to adjust our gray point so that the colors show correctly. You can do this in levels and curves by sliding the gray point slider slightly to the right until you see the colors pop. Then we are going to just slightly bump the contrast down to help with the clipped rocks. Now here is the hardest part, you could go all out and artistically change the rock's hue but I think it works without all of that fuss.

If your file is large enough it would make a pretty good 8x10 but I think this photo is a 6x6 or 7x7 and matted in square it would look fantastic on Dad's desk or in his work truck. I know because I have one similar to it in mine!

Jim

[sinque]

This is precious. You could not have posed her any better.
So cute, feel sure her parents will love any way you print this.

sinque

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

Thanks guys, I love it that you can get answers from one end of the spectrum to the other!
EOBeav I actually like that you can't see her face. I feel it will mean the print doesn't age. I did think the lighting was a bit harsh though.
Thanks JFSanders for all your helpful suggestions, I'm going to work on them in Photoshop in the next few days. I'm not too sure what you are referring to/meaning about the rocks hue, changing their colour completely? In any case as you say there's probably no need, I was just interested to know what you mean.
Thanks sinque for your compliments, the shot just appealed to me from the moment I downloaded it. It was a very long walk home that day. She was stopping to play all the way along, everything she spied was something to investigate.

[JFSanders]

Yes, changing the color to a warmer white or a less bright white. As it stands the white square pulls your eyes away from the subject. It is a detail but in the end details are what add up to exceptional photographs. Darker rocks on the right and warmer rocks on the left.

Jim