Help me crop this image - lomo + portrait

[johassler]

My daughter was kind enough to model for me so that I might have a photograph to play with. I recently ran across some lomo-like images and really like them. I've fiddled with this one until the saturation/exposure are pleasing to me (although I don't care for the redness on her elbow but couldn't make it go away to my satisfaction so I just left it).

My question here is: is this crop okay? I didn't take much off the original photo? Do I need to pursue the removal of her rough red elbow more? Is the pose pleasing (to anyone besides me)?

Thanks in advance for any helpful suggestions.



Added:
Camera: Canon EOS 300D
Exposure: 1/19
Aperture: f/5.4

[johassler]

I wouldn't ordinarily bump my own thread, but I honestly rather like this portrait and am hoping it might be made better through some input. I posted last night, at the point where things exit the front page in a matter of seconds - ha ha! - and since it isn't an amazing portrait (like so many I see here - oh, my you people are inspirational!) it didn't bob right back up.

I won't bump again, and I won't be offended if the thinking is "meh, it won't ever be better than it is now" and so no one comments.

/bump

[CaptainNH]

Firstly, the Lomo aspect of the photo - I think you've got the facial skin tones spot on for a faux-lomo, though I agree that cloning out the red elbow would enhance the photo. I like the pose too.

I'm no expert in lomo - but to me, it's about slightly soft focus and over-saturated colours - you get these from the neck up - but I'm not sure if the black jumper works in lomo-land? Maybe someone with more knowledge of lomo can comment here.

Without seeing the original shot, it's difficult to say if you could do much to improve the crop, though it often looks more natural to have a model be looking into, rather than out-of the frame as with your crop. Hope that makes sense.

You've inspired me to give lomo a shot myself.

[Chip]

For what it's worth, here's my take:

I suggest cropping quite a bit off the bottom. I'd crop it just above where the necklace on the right side of the photo begins. Then, just to clean things up, I'd clone out the necklace on the left. With a tighter crop, we'd be able to focus more on your daughter's face. And, any more room on the right to bring back in, to balance things a bit?

For the red spot on the elbow, it is a bit of a distraction. Can you use free select/lasso tool to select that red area, and then either remove a good bit of the red and/or magenta from just that area?

As for the pose, I'm not sure what to think about it. When I saw this photo initially, I didn't notice the elbow and arm on the left side of the photo - I just noticed the face and necklace. But, the more I look at the photo, the more I notice the elbow and arm. But, without the red, I might not notice it as much.

Hope this helps.

[gdowden70]

Since lomo is supposed to be about see it and shoot it, sort of spur-of-the-moment, photography; I'm not entirely sure this image would qualify. Don't get me wrong. I really like the image that you've captured. I'm just not sure how it would be categorized other than a really processed portrait. I played with it a bit using some of the other ideas and some of my own to hopefully enhance what you've already done. I cropped the shot (obviously). I then cloned out the red on the raised arm of the subject as well as a few small blemishes. I also got rid of and/or re-distributed some of the shadowing in the image. I then cloned out the necklace chain as I cropped the actual pendant. Hope you like. I'll be happy to take it down at your request. Cheers.

[elora.daphne]

I really like what gdodwen did to the image, I think it looks a lot more "lomo".

I probably wouldn't have put her in that pose though, I would have maybe had her stand a bit sideways and look into the image...but this is a personal preference

[johassler]

I think I've incorporated (as best as my meagre GIMP skills will allow) the changes folks have suggested.

Thank you all for your comments.

Things I've learned:

1) We'll go for more natural shots next time - more spontaneous-looking (this one felt spontaneous to me because I just grabbed the camera and told her to do "whatever" while I shot - but I see now that it's definitely a highly posed look).
2) I need to learn more about how the "healing" tool and the "cloning" tool work in GIMP. Plus the lasso, and other things. Heh. I guess this really sums up as "if you like post-processed photos so much, why don't you know how to produce them well yet?"
3) DPS folks are great (but I knew that already really).

We're planning to do some more shoots, most weekends I'd guess. I like the colors and focus and exposure associated with Lomo-esque photography. And I think with some work I could produce some portraits of my daughter that we both really like.

Thank you all again for the input. It is very much appreciated.