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Edited

© Steven Couto

Edited

Uploaded: September 26, 2009

Description

Exif: F Number: 7.1, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/100 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 200, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 50.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 40D

Comments

Aimee C. Eisaman September 26, 2009

I think you did a fine job of fixing some of the issues that you mentioned and this is a wonderful capture...just look at the face of the baby.....awesome! Getting a baby to look at you let alone have a joyful expression is half the battle and the parents look genuine too! Next time I'm sure you will keep in mind the background and maybe if you had taken a few steps to the left it would have been better, but since that area isn't in the image I can't say that. But lets get back to things you may be able to change. What about the composition strikes you as wrong? YOu said it was bad and I'm just curious to know why you think it is bad. One thing that first hits my eyes here is the grass being overly green. You can easily adjust that via adjusting the hue and saturation on the green channel although it may be more yellow so try one and then the other if it doesn't work. I use PSE so I'm not sure what you are working with to give you specific directions. :~) #1185119

Steven Couto September 26, 2009

Aimee thanks for commenting. I do like that everyone seems to be 1)focused in this shot and two 2)appear happy and relaxed. So that was good. What initially killed this photo for me was the fact that the sun was behind the family (although clouded) and left a lot of shadows to have to clean up. I'm just learning PS Elements so I opened up the RAW image and up'd the fill light to 30. I also changed the WB to cloudy from daylight. This took care of the shadows, but left the greenery rather messed up.

Regarding the composition. The strong vertical lines in the dad's arm and leg seems to cut off the picture sort of speak. But that, like the background will have to be things to remember the next time I shoot. I'm going to try and re-do this one in hopes that I can keep the great capture of the family. Leave the background and such as is (aside from the bits of cloning here and there) and just deal with the shadows on the family themselves. Any input of things to do/try in elements would be appreciated. #7986750

Aimee C. Eisaman September 27, 2009

Well next time you may want to be out a little further comp. wise so that you have room to work with it by cropping. You can always work with having too much area. It's of course ideal to get it done in camera, but especially when just starting out you get nervous and can't remember everything you are supposed to remember. I still leave room....find it easier to focus on comp. later and put my focus on getting the right moment. As for shadows.....there are several ways you can deal with them prior to post processing. You can use a reflector although they usually don't work out well with young children (they instinctively squint) and they are difficult to work with if you don't have a stand or helper. You can use your flash. It will help fill in the shadows although it will leave harsher catch lights in the eyes unless you use a diffuser on it. Thirdly you can move your subject to better light if possible. Now in post processing you can use the RAW editor, but be careful not to overdo it or you'll have noise issues and if you even it out too much your image will lack contrast and seem flat. Now to fix the green you go under enhance-adjust color-hue/saturation. Select the green or yellow channel (try both to see what they do) and desaturate. :~) #7987827

Steven Couto September 27, 2009

Well I think I got it. I kept the white balance as it was. Worked on getting the shadows on the couple lightened up. Did some more cleaning up in the background and VOILA!

If you have any pointers on cleaning up stray hairs in Photoshop Elements, please advise. Boy that was a heck of a challenge trying to tame some of her hair without making it look like it was messed with. #7988399

Aimee C. Eisaman September 27, 2009

Nope...nothing short of zooming in close and cloning! :~) #7988438

Steven Couto September 27, 2009

any thoughts on this edit? #7988443

Aimee C. Eisaman September 27, 2009

O...sorry....everything looks great to me other than it is now a bit cold in tone. I prefer their skin color in the last one, but the tone of a photo is usually personal taste. :~) #7988463

Dennis Flanagan level-classic October 13, 2009

I think you're on the right track. That said, tinker a bit with slightly darkening the backgroud and brightening the family, or blurring the background slightly so the eye isn't drawn to in-focus background objects. Another suggestion is to crop it a bit on the right so that Mom's face isn't centered. #8035123

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