OK How does this look?

[WVCoalMiner]

I know the face is a little too dark but other than that??

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 37 mm
ISO Speed: 400

[wulf]

Artificial. I think the use of selective colouring draws attention to the lack of light on the left side of the frame. Even the colours look artificial - were they in the original photo or where they painted on afterwards? The separation between colour and monochrome is very stark and, from what I can see, the masking is a little bit rough (ie. some of the model's hair looks painted over).

On the whole, I'm not a fan of this style of work and this photo doesn't convince me otherwise.

Sorry,

Wulf

[WVCoalMiner]

Ugghh man now I see what you mean.....When I first loaded it to Flickr I did not notice how bad that looked. No the original photo was in color then turned to black and white then erased to show the color of the umbrella again. But for some reason it looks terrible here????? I'll have to go back and totally redo this one LOL.
Here's the original

[Murtasma]

I think the umbrella could be an interesting compositional device. I think the image where it stands now in the original is too lose and centered. I would have taken a head and shoulder type shot with the umbrella acting as a backdrop, be sure to shoot in the shade to diffuse the light on her. I would put myself at the trunk of a tree and shoot toward here with the umbrella behind her back lit by the sun. This could create an interesting color rim light around the hair while keeping the light cast on her diffused since she would be standing in the shade. It looks like the light here is pretty diffuse to begin (cloudy day?).

[WVCoalMiner]

Yes it had just stopped raining hence why we had the umbrella LOL. But I did get this shot which is almost like you described.....

[wulf]

The contrast is much higher in the first picture shown. That might work if it was all black and white but, by also intensifying the colours, it contributes to the unnatural look. I think there is much more to work on with the shot of the little girl.

Wulf

[Tori]

I love the shot of the little girl I think it's gorgeous.
It would have been perfect if the umbrella filled the entire shot and wasn't blurry a tiny bit.
But hey, with little kids, it's hard to get everything right plus have a brilliant expression and contrast with them while they're so easily distracted!
Personally I love photos like these with a bit of colour.
The first one does need to be lit up from the left, but apart from that I like it.
But I think if it was lit up from the left there might still be a little something missing...
I would have moved a little more to the right and gotten a little lower to get the perfect angle. But I didn't see the entire landscape you were working with,
I say good work.

[WVCoalMiner]

She was spinning the umbrella to show movement in the pic that is why it is blurry.

[Murtasma]

I like the 2nd image much better!

[bebo1998]

The Second shot has great potential - my moral to the story? shoot, shoot, shoot, then shoot some more when learning.