What would you do? (Little Girl w/ Bubbles)

[Haj533]

Hello all! I'm having some trouble with the photo. I love the expression and the dof, but I feel like something is off! Does anyone have any pp ideas? Feel free to work your own magic or just give input! Thank you!

I seem to be stuck in a b&w rut! I want EVERYTHING to be b&w! lol!

[Haj533]

............

[pikchaser]

have you tried high pass sharpening? there is a tutorial featured this week. or perhaps soften the image around the edges even further? what is it you want to do and what software do you have?

[Serephinex]

First off, AWE! What a gorgeous photo, and an absolutely adorable subject!

With 3 years of Photoshop behind me, with a photo like this, I don't think you want anything too dramatic. Something soft would be lovely.
I really hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of playing with this photo.
(check the attachments if you're interested.)
Basically, I boosted the contrast, went more yellow and red in color balance (because yellow and red are warmer tones, I thought it would work much better then blue and greens; colder tones), added (and faded) the slightest of gaussian blurs, and sharpened (and faded) the image.

I hope I helped atleast some!

[pcr1968]

I will try and add another take on the pic if I get some time.
Nice pic by the way, My daughter is about the same age and I love to photograph her playing with bubbles.
Cheers Pete

PP, was a bit of skin smoothing, a tad of the Orton effect, and big crop

[clayfrog]

First of all, this is a beautiful picture! Looking through your album there are tons of really great shots and I hope you are not giving up yet!

I know this is purely subjective, but here's my take on your pic. It looks a tad too contrasty and the reds seem a little over saturated.
What I did:
Reduce midtone contrast with an inverted highpass layer set to soft light (similar to negative clarity if you have Lightroom), masking out eyes
Selective color adjustment on reds
Highpass sharpen
Slight dodging of eyes to brighten

[dannyrich]

Originally Posted by clayfrog

First of all, this is a beautiful picture! Looking through your album there are tons of really great shots and I hope you are not giving up yet!

I know this is purely subjective, but here's my take on your pic. It looks a tad too contrasty and the reds seem a little over saturated.
What I did:
Reduce midtone contrast with an inverted highpass layer set to soft light (similar to negative clarity if you have Lightroom), masking out eyes
Selective color adjustment on reds
Highpass sharpen
Slight dodging of eyes to brighten

I really like that version clayfrog its excellent.

Good processing always helps.

I photograph on 'stupidly saturated' which causes issues with my daughters face, gives her a blotchy complexion that she doesnt have. I have always untie that but reducing teh red saturation but i annoy myself sometimes.

Its a lovely picture and I think that you certainly should not be giving up, especially with someone so wonderful to photograph.

[Darth Marty]

I prefer clayfrogs to pcr1968 as for me its a case of less is more. I like the crop of pcr1968 but for me the face is too processed, good effort but a little too much for me.

[alex3410]

could colour pop it

[windrider86]

Super over sharpen background image and erase eyes on 2nd layer. Use skin smoothing tool. Play with levels to lighten up. add a white vingettte. aint tube for bubbles