Kelly redo

[1shotmess]

I posted a photo of my daughter, Kelly, on the weekly challenge the other day. It was my 1st try at photography. First I would like to say Thank you all, for the nice comments and the critique's on her photo. Last night I downloaded gimp, to see what I could do to improve her photos. Knowing nothing about photo editing, I play with all the buttons and came up with this. I fill the photo needs more work with skin tones, and now I fill the photos went from being to soft and yellowy, to cold and greenish. I know it will take me some time, to figure out all the gimp tricks to better my photos.

Guess what I need help with is, if someone could tell me what all is wrong with the photo, I would have a better understanding of what to look for in the gimp program, and how to work it.

ALSO in the weekly challenge I posted a different photo then this one, the more I look at this photo the more I like this one, it has her face in the mirror, and in focus, and it shows more of her independence. If I understand its right, you can post another photo, should I. and could you edit your photo that you have already posted.

Before

After


Thank you for looking.................................Laura

The other photo can be seen, and commented on, @ flickr
Flickr: 1shotmess' Photostream

[ttosifa]

Originally Posted by 1shotmess

now I fill the photos went from being to soft and yellowy, to cold and greenish. I know it will take me some time, to figure out all the gimp tricks to better my photos.

Guess what I need help with is, if someone could tell me what all is wrong with the photo, I would have a better understanding of what to look for in the gimp program, and how to work it.

When you are taking pictures of your kids that are meant for you and family -- and even in many cases if you were taking professional portraits -- there is nothing "wrong" with a photo. I think instead there are elements or features of photos, and in these critique forums it is beneficial for those seeking critique, particularly beginning photographers, to have others point out what elements or features they personally believe to be very good or undesirable. It's your photo, so you are free to agree or disagree and adjust your photo accordingly.

When one is, say, selling products that REQUIRE accurate color representation, then wrong or right becomes black or white (hee, hee).

I am only saying this because I've seen a lot of new people here during my time at DPS, and some seem (IMO) to believe there photography must meet some agreed-upon set of rules. There are no such rules. As such, there is nothing "wrong" with your picture.

Someone pointed out that the before picture has a cast caused by the tungsten lighting. This is true. Some people find it undesirable. It is a feature of your original photo. However, the cast is also used purposely to create warmth. I recall that Dean Collins (a very famous photographer) who used the tungsten cast in a portrait of a high-profile CEO taken in his home to make the CEO seem warm and approachable. This is just one example of which the cast IS desirable. So the cast cannot be strictly wrong, but instead it is just there and you must decide if that's what you want.

I have not downloaded your second photo to check the color numbers (I rely on Photoshop, not my eyes, to tell me whether there are color casts), but it looks to me like the after photo more accurately reflects the colors of various items in the picture. I have not seen these items or your daughter in person, so I cannot be sure. I disagree that it appears cold and greenish (remember without my verifying via PS). Her skin tone appears warm, and the other colors seem good.

What I think, however, is that the after picture appears clinical. No emotion, just the facts. Color helps to give emotion, and removing the warmish tungsten cast removed the warmth, and left the photo clinical and lifeless.

BUT, I think the before photo DOES have a serious greenish cast that makes it feel not quite right. (I'm trying to avoid saying "icky", but that's about right.) I know nothing about gimp, but PS has a warming photo filter that can replicate filters you put over a lens, and let you adjust them. My suggestion would be to use the after photo to put in a new warm color cast that doesn't have the green of the original cast.

Another trick is to tell gimp you want x% of the original photo and y% of the after photo so that you still have the original cast, but only x% as strong.

So what I am trying to say, is if the after photo -- even if it more accurately reflects the colors of items in your scene -- leaves you unhappy, don't worry about it. Let those colors be "wrong" if it more accurately matches your happy memories when you took the photo.

[JFSanders]

ttosifa is absolutely correct. A beautiful memory captured. The WB correction did correct the color cast but it changed the feel of the image. Now if you like the color cast in the first image but wish to tone it down, do as ttosifa suggests and merge the two and change the percentage of overlay to give you the strength of cast that is most pleasing to you.

Jim

[1shotmess]

I would like to say Thanks to you both, for taking the time to explain that to me. I will do more work on the photo to see if I understand what you are telling me. In my mind I totally understand but getting it onto the photo will be a challenge, I am willing to work on. Thanks again for your time, and suggestion...............Laura