What’s Your Preference?

dhart · #1 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008, 09:06 PM

I was wondering what you thought of this shot. There are a few things I know right off:

- The post on the left needs to be cropped, but since it is so close to my daughter, I didn't know if that unbalanced the photo or if I needed to crop off some on the right.

- The bar going through her head - detract too much? Or does it give context?

- Anything I could do to help bring out her eyes more? I think they are in focus, but the more I look at them, I might have missed a little bit.

Anyways, have at it. . .

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 116 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/6 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire
ISO Speed: 200
Digital Vari-Program: SPORT

sk66 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008, 09:31 PM

I think she's beautiful and the eyes are very good. It's a nice picture "as is". I don't think any cropping will help. A closer crop and a little different lighting (or post work) can really bring out the eyes.
I think the biggest issue is the composition as a whole. It's too tight for the bar/post to give much context, and it's too open to really do her face/eyes justice.
I can "figure out" what's going on by connecting her arms position to her knees position and the bar in the pic, but it's not "obvious".
I'm drawn to her eyes, but the bar really hurts that.

ToPpS · #3 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008, 09:34 PM

It's a toughie!
I want to like this shot and there's a lot in it that makes it a great shot as well.
Good depth of field, nice solid background, subject is nice and sharp and what an expression.

The pole on the left (silver) i can live with because it's out of focus and blends in. The green pole that runs across the top of her head just kills the shot for me. It seems to just "cut" her into 2 pieces.

When you say that you missed a bit in her eyes... are you talking about whitening them (which it looks like you've done) or getting the colour to "PoP"? I think they're fine the way they are. It's just the green pole.....

But it looks like you got some more great photos in the set as well.

Nathan deGargoyle · #4 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008, 09:43 PM

Sorry. If it wasn't for the bar this would be beautiful but the bar does ruin it.

peeperita · #5 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008, 09:53 PM

what a nice relaxed portrait this is....her skin is exposed beautifully and her expression is just so candid....

i agree with you about the post....but my thought is to shift the crop a little, trimming off a bit from the left, bottom and top....leaving the right edge where it is.....

i did this and liked where it placed her eyes.....but, that post was still there......i tried successfully to copy a portion of the background from the right hand side of the scene, pasted it onto a new layer, flipped it horizontally so it would blend easier and then fine tuned this layer with soft eraser.....

i don't like to give post processing advice without trying out myself to see if it's feasible....since you have some security safe guards, i won't make my edit public without your consent.....

i kinda like the bar and it's color and the way it seems to frame her eyes....

she's a beautiful, expressive girl....

peeper

dhart · #6 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToPpS

It's a toughie!

Good depth of field, nice solid background, subject is nice and sharp and what an expression.
The green pole that runs across the top of her head just kills the shot for me. It seems to just "cut" her into 2 pieces.

When you say that you missed a bit in her eyes... are you talking about whitening them (which it looks like you've done) or getting the colour to "PoP"? I think they're fine the way they are. It's just the green pole.....

This photo was taken at the Central Market Cafe and me trying out the new lens I bought that day. I was less focused on composition than on just working with the new lens.

BTW, this is straight out of the camera, no post work done at all! As evidenced by the spaghetti sauce still on her cheeks!

I think what would have made the shot better would have been to shoot in portrait and get her hands. That would have made a huge difference. I couldn't have gone too much lower to get her legs because of dignity reasons (which I addressed immediately after the shot! ::sigh:

I am happy that I managed to get her eyes in focus at the distance I was shooting. I don't have the steadiest hand and the 10 pound lens (slight exaggeration, it weighs a little over 3) doesn't help that much when I am running all over the playground. So, being able to catch her eyes was an accomplishment for me!

Is there anything else that needs to be worked on?

dhart · #7 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peeperita

i don't like to give post processing advice without trying out myself to see if it's feasible....since you have some security safe guards, i won't make my edit public without your consent.....

peeper

Thanks for the kind words. It's okay to repost here on the board. It's good to see what others can do in post that I don't know how to do, wouldn't even think of doing, and a new way of looking at things!

peeperita · #8 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008, 10:24 PM

i think i have it where the only place it shows is here on dps....

it's not the neatest work, but then again i only spent about five minutes on it......i believe it show's you what i mean about getting rid of the pole and how i think the bar frames her eyes.....

peeper

lputman · #9 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008, 10:52 PM

For a SOOC, this is great...I'm not the biggest fan of performing "eye pop" in photoshop and you wouldn't even have to for this shot. I like peepers edit.