What’s Your Preference?

carlyfan · #1 (**permalink**) 08-26-2011, 02:26 AM

I believe this is a case of technically-terrible-photo-but-the-super-cute-subject-saves-it-right? My sister was playing at the park with her friend and her little sister when I got this shot. (So this is my younger sister's friend's younger sister. You still with me?

) I almost scrapped it, but her expression was just too cute so I decided to try to save it. I was fairly pleased with what I was able to get working with the RAW file in Lightroom and my limited post processing skill. But now I am concerned that it looks too processed.

Anyway, I was wondering if it looks weird or obvious what I did to it. Here it is.

EXIF
Camera Brand: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Date Taken: 2011:08:09 14:04:33
Exposure Time: 1/200 sec.
Aperture Value: 4.00 EV (f/4.0)
ISO Speed Rating: 100
Flash Fired: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode.
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Aperture priority
Focal Length: 85.0 mm
Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.4.1

I would love to hear anything else that sticks out to you guys. (yes, I realized I cut off her foot and have already kicked myself for that.

)

Thanks for looking!
Lisa

SusanH1970 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-26-2011, 02:28 AM

The shadows on her face/arm look odd, like they've been lightened. Did you dodge them?

carlyfan · #3 (**permalink**) 08-26-2011, 02:34 AM

Ding, ding, ding! That didn't take long. How bad is it really though?

SusanH1970 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-26-2011, 02:37 AM

It's a cute snapshot for the family album. But honestly, I'd probably put the ixnay on the edit and leave it original. I have tons like that in my own albums. Not every moment has to be technically perfect. And sometimes the edits take away from the moment, KWIM?

carlyfan · #5 (**permalink**) 08-26-2011, 02:47 AM

Dang, that's the same thing my sister said!

Oh, well. I did give her mom a 4X6 print of it and she liked it. (Then she said that I have a nice camera.

) Here is the SOOC to compare.

I guess I did over do it. Well, thanks Susan!

SusanH1970 · #6 (**permalink**) 08-26-2011, 03:11 AM

I like the SOOC much better. It's cute and doesn't look like you tried too hard to fix something.

The way I look at post processing is that it's NOT meant to fix a bad shot. It's meant to enhance a good shot. I used to try to "fix" mistakes all the time. I got tired of it. Too much work that never looked right. There's nothing wrong with snapshots. I take them all the time and don't give a rat's patootie if they're technically correct or not.

When I'm shooting for clients, that's a whole different ballgame - but I make sure I've got the best lighting, I watch my backgrounds, etc. etc. etc. There's a whole 'nother topic, LOL!

midnightpro · #7 (**permalink**) 08-26-2011, 04:32 AM

I like the out of camera better for sure. You did cut off her foot and that sucks but i would try and crop it tighter. You could even try doing a portrait crop instead of the landscape. My rule of thumb is don't ever cut off any joints. You can cut off in between them just not them.

scootermcq · #8 (**permalink**) 08-26-2011, 01:37 PM

Just on "spot the edit"... how high did you set your high pass filter? Her face looks a little like the tinman from wizard of oz..... (color wise, not actual face.... she is a cutie)

carlyfan · #9 (**permalink**) 08-26-2011, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

I like the SOOC much better. It's cute and doesn't look like you tried too hard to fix something.

The way I look at post processing is that it's NOT meant to fix a bad shot. It's meant to enhance a good shot. I used to try to "fix" mistakes all the time. I got tired of it. Too much work that never looked right. There's nothing wrong with snapshots. I take them all the time and don't give a rat's patootie if they're technically correct or not.

When I'm shooting for clients, that's a whole different ballgame - but I make sure I've got the best lighting, I watch my backgrounds, etc. etc. etc. There's a whole 'nother topic, LOL!

Yeah, your right. I guess I just wanted it to work too much. This is the biggest edit I have ever tried. I usually just do color balance, and levels (sometimes dodging the eyes if I'm losing them). I guess I should just stick to that. Thanks! And thanks for helping me realize that snapshots are not a bad thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by midnightpro

I like the out of camera better for sure. You did cut off her foot and that sucks but i would try and crop it tighter. You could even try doing a portrait crop instead of the landscape. My rule of thumb is don't ever cut off any joints. You can cut off in between them just not them.

I thought about cropping in tighter, and I tried a horizontal crop, but I didn't like it. Maybe I'll try a portrait, Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by scootermcq

Just on "spot the edit"... how high did you set your high pass filter? Her face looks a little like the tinman from wizard of oz..... (color wise, not actual face.... she is a cutie)

I'm really letting my post processing ignorance show here, but I don't even know what a high pass filter is. Is that a sharpening thing?

*runs off to look up high pass filter*

edit:
Ah, it is a sharpening thing. I didn't intentionally sharpen it. I still don't really know what I'm doing in lightroom though, so it may have been set for some kind of sharpening either in the importing, exporting or in the main edit. I don't really know. Thanks for the reply.