is this image too flat?

[atashnic]

Hello, do you mind looking at this image and telling me if it needs more work? i feel stuck
much obliged,
ana



Camera Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Camera Model: NIKON D300
Date/Time: 2009:01:29 02:48:13
Resolution: 750 x 600
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 18.0mm (35mm equivalent: 27mm...
Exposure Time: 0.0063 s (1/160)
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO Equiv.: 250

[antikythera_]

Hm. I don't know. I see why you feel torn. Maybe try cropping it tighter? It could be that the tree in the background is pretty blurry, but neither fully blurred nor totally sharp. I would have used a wider aperature. Another thing you could try: Convert to Black and white & add more green to the B&W- this will make the leaves lighter and the pink stripes darker.
Hope you figure it out!

[monkeyfinger]

It is tricky isn't it? Looking at it carefully, I think there is actually a slight blue cast to the little girl, so I might try warming up the whole image. That might make the background more pleasing also. I quite like the crop - I like the space above her head...

[WooD]

Looks good to me. I would crop it down pretty close to her head.

[Scatterbrain]

I think it's lovely (& even like the space above her head), but agree that her skin tones could be a little warmer.

[OsmosisStudios]

The DOF could be shorter. f/5.6 is a bit deep for my taste, and that may be leading to you thinking it's "flat"

[zebthepilot]

I think it's got potential with some cropping. .... my biggest complaint is that the top of her head is exactly dead center putting her entire body in the bottom 50% of the photo. What we end up with, is more background than subject and our eyes have no idea where to go. While it's ok that she is centered horizontally, we need to move her vertically. Preferably to where a line across the top 1/3 of the image hits around the top of her head. This is a little lower than the "rules" would say, but would keep the upward potential feeling the picture is desperately screaming for.

At that point we'd need to start working on some levels/curves, maybe adding some vignette... anything help her distance herself from the background.


please do post any edits you do, we'd love to see future versions!

[antikythera_]

I don't think you need to crop any more than the top 25%.. Also, I think the levels are fine other than the slight blue cast. Might want to try to find a gray spot in the tree somewhere (zoom in really close) and use the dropper to re-set the WB.
I'm pretty sure the flatness comes from the aperature- and the light is very diffuse which doesn't help to add any depth or curve to her face. I like the compositon, though. I think that if you tried again it would work out fine. Just try lots of different settings- bracket if you can.

[atashnic]

Dear all thank you so much for all the help and feedback. I have done a bit more work on the picture. I've adjusted the overall crop and colors, added a burned edge, adjusted the wb, deepened the background color, etc. Your comments are greatly appreciated.
Kindly,
Ana

[ncbcymtechie]

The second one is much better than the first, in my opinion. The first photo was too flat for me. I think deepening the background color in the second one really helped. The manual "vignetting" is executed nicely, and cropping the top brings the girl a little more into focus.

Which reminds me—she's a cute model! (And of course, the second photo was edited nicely, too. )