Toddler Close-Up Lighting and PP

[SumPics]

This is a close-up of my son using strands of white Christmas lights for lighting. I have done some skin smoothing, blemish removal, and eye enhancement using Lightroom. I also brought up the vibrance a small amount and warmed the image slightly.

Do you feel that the lighting is sufficient? Should I have tried for a longer exposure or bring up the exposure in post? Is the post production (particularly eyes) too much or does it work for you? Any advice/critique is welcome.

Also this is my first critique post so if I didn't get the format right please tell me what I left out.



EXIF
Canon 7d
F-stop: f/1.8
Exposure: 1/80
ISO-800
Focal Length 50mm
Lens Canon 1.8 50mm
No Flash

[praline3001]

Your son is adorable. I'm also just a beginner so take what I say with a big grain of salt.

I think the WB would work if we knew what was causing it. If you hadn't told me I would have guessed either your son was an oompa lommpa or you made a mistake on the WB. LOL

Scroll down in this article to the little girl and the snowman
16 Digital Photography Tips for Christmas

Her face is the same basic color as your son's but the viewer knows why her face is that way. They can see the reflection of the lights on her as well as the lights themselves.

Since the decorations are still up, why don't you try getting a profile view of him looking at the lights. Put the lights in the photo. This way your picture tells a story.

[carlyfan]

First of all, you have a really cute kid!

Second, I agree with praline3001 about the white balance. It's just too orange. You could cool it down a lot and still maintain that warm feel.

Also, the skin smoothing is a bit much for me, particularly on his forehead and between his eyebrows. It even looks like part of his eyebrows have been smoothed out and are no longer distinguishable. The trick with skin smoothing is to make it look like you didn't do it. (I'm not saying I can do that, but that is generally the goal) Great job with the eyes though, they look natural to me.

It wouldn't hurt to bring up the exposure a bit, but it all depends on what you are going for. I don't think it is necessary.

I love how you framed this shot! Nice focus and DOF as well.

Lisa

[Naala]

What a sweet child!
I love the framing too. I think skin smoothing is not necessary at all, the left side looks perfect to me. I think this close you are supposed to see some detail.
I agree about WB, it is too yellow but you can still change that. The catchlights are really beautiful but somehow they just dont fit completely in all that yellow.

[SumPics]

I cooled the image some, which removed the orange cast. I agree with both of you that it was too orange. I also brought down the skin smoothing a little and made sure that I wasn't hitting any hairs. Thanks for the great advice! Here is the second edit.

[carlyfan]

Much better on the white balance. Although it seems a little dark now, kind of dingy. (It could just be my monitor though)

As to the skin, would you mind posting a SOOC? I think what I had been attributing to skin smoothing may actually be out of focus due to the shallow DOF.

[SumPics]

SOOC. Thanks again for your advice. I think you are right that the DOF is causing some of the blur you attributed to skin smoothing... I also think I just goofed removing the original edits from Flickr. It's a learning process for me in using DPS.

And now the next lightened version. Once again thanks for the advice.

[praline3001]

OH I LIKE IT!!!!!! Much better

[carlyfan]

Yup, it was the DOF.

Much improved. Your latest edit is great! Nice job!

Lisa

[Naala]

Wow what a difference, I love it!