Inspiring Photo: Special girl #13400188

Special girl

Uploaded: October 05, 2012

Description

Exif: F Number: 1.8, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/200 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 100, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 85.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS REBEL T2i

Comments

Elaine Hessler October 07, 2012

Brandi-this is sooooo cute! I love the pose of your special girl. It almost looks as if her face is a tad over exposed near her eyes. Can you decrease the exposure a bit? Very cute!!!!!! #1490832

Dale Hardin October 07, 2012

Hi Brandi. This was an excellent choice as a first posting with the club. She is cute as can be and the pose is very natural and relaxed. Love the DOF, and the center weighted compostion works pretty well too.

However, you might try adjusting the comp a bit by using an 8x10 format crop, starting in the lower left corner. This will cut off some of the scene on the right and give a pleasing look to the compostion.

And Elaine was correct on the exposure. The skin is overexposed on the cheeks and arms but would suggest just lowering the highlights instead of the entire exposure.

A very appealing shot Brandi and one that must have pleased her parents a lot. #10359591

Brandi K. Mills October 07, 2012

Thank you Dale and Elaine for your input. I probably lighted up the face a bit when editing, which might make it look a bit overexposed. Good for me to keep in mind.
I usually don't care as much for photos that are centered so. Didn't even think to crop this one. Maybe I'll play with it a bit. #10359629

Dale Hardin October 07, 2012

It's hard to communicate crops in text only, so pulled a screen shot just to illustrate what I was suggesting.

Your second post was cropped but not in the way I meant. This may not be the way you want to have it, and it is only a suggestion. #10359876

Jeff E Jensen October 08, 2012

Yup, she's a cutie!

I like Dale's suggestion on the crop and agree that the exposure could be brought down just a tad. #10361089

Michael Kelly October 08, 2012

A real cutie. I like your darkened version and the concept of Dale's crop, but I think he went just a touch far. I would like to see it without her foot touching the frame with just a bit of space left there for clearance.

Welcome again and a nice first entry to the group. #10361126

Brandi K. Mills October 08, 2012

Maybe my inexperience will come out with this comment, but don't you need to be careful cropping if you plan to print?
I agree with with Michael that Dale's crop goes a bit too far. I like a little space. I'll post another.

I can't wait to give you all another photo to critique! #10361172

Teresa H. Hunt October 08, 2012

I have one question for you. How on earth did you get her to sit still long enough for this shot? LOL!!

I love this photo. She looks so sweet and thoughtful. I like your last edit. However I think you could go a little more with the crop. I liked Dale's crop where she was off to the side. And this last one does good leaving a bit of space for her foot. However I think you have enough space to slide her over just a tad more.

Cropping and printing can be a tricky business. There are other's here who can explain better than I can. But basically it boils down to an aspect ratio thing. I'm guessing your files will print a 4x6 without losing any of the photo. However weather you crop or not, if you print an 8x10 you will loose some of the photo because the aspect ratio is different. I'd better let the other's explain because I'm going to confuse myself trying to . . . :) #10361253

Elaine Hessler October 08, 2012

Hi Brandi! I just printed a bunch of photos to frame, and one of the things that sometimes works is to print with a small white border. I can have my local photo shop do this, and it effectively shrinks the photo just enough so you don't loose anything when putting the photo in the frame. You do have to be careful that the white border is completely covered by the frame, though. #10361286

Michael Kelly October 08, 2012

I think you got it pretty well Teresa. I crop in raw, setting an aspect ratio (2 X 3, 4 x 5, etc.) This gives you every pixel available in the crop with no interpolation. When you are ready to print you can set the image size for the print you want which will keep the same ratio. If you crop 2 x 3 the natural image size of most DSLR cameras you can then go to image>image size and set either axis to the desired size and the other axis will set automatically. Ex: you can set the long axis to 6 and you will get 4 automatically for the shot axis giving you a 4 X 6 standard print or you can set any multiple 8 X 12 for example. When you set this size the editor will either add or subtract pixels to make everything work to give you the selected size.

Of course you have to have things in the correct ratio. You can not print a 2 X 3 crop as an 8 X 10 for example.

Now if I have totally lost everyone just ask for a clarification of any point. #10361298

Elaine Hessler October 08, 2012

You lost me. Did I misinterpret the question/issue? Now I am not sure what we are talking about. Sorry! #10361304

Teresa H. Hunt October 08, 2012

I'm lost . . . :) #10361369

Brandi K. Mills October 08, 2012

Believe it or not Teresa she really gets into helping me out and adds her own creative input a lot. Of course it usually only lasts 10-15 mintues :)
I am also a little lost over the cropping stuff, but no worries. #10361403

Aimee C. Eisaman October 09, 2012

I know what Mike is talking about I think. What he is saying is that a 4X6 image cannot be made into an 8X10 without cropping. If you wanted to turn your 4X6 image into something bigger without losing any of your shot you would have to go with an 8X12. Most digital cameras shoot in the ratio that will give you a 4X6....why I will never know because the portrait world only recognizes 8X10s and good luck finding a frame for an 8X12. lol

As for the image I think it is just so sweet love the pose and your last crop works very well in my opinion. I'm not sure what editing software you use or how much you know at this point about post processing so if you need me or any of us to clarify on how to do something just let us know. You may want to use the clone tool to get rid of the back speck on her one finger. You may also want to create an adjustment layer for hue/saturation and select the red channel and dial that down a bit, but then leave it on her lips. :~) #10361867

Peter W. Marks October 09, 2012

First of all Brandi, let me say this is a super image of a lovely kid. "Special girl" indeed!"
Sure the exposure thing on her cheeks could be improved but when it comes to "not centering an image subject " I could not be in less agreement. I know my comment will get a few jumping up and down but I would invite them to take a look at images by famous photographers such as Dorothea Lange, Cartier-Bresson and Yousef Karsh and our very own BP instructor and pro photographer, Jim Zuckerman. You will find dozens of centered portraits if you Google these folks. Now I will concede that most of them are vertical portrait format and square format not landscape format but not all and please note that of course there will be dozens that are off-center but what I am saying is that blindly following "rules" isn't always the best or only way to great photography.
Like Dale, I did a screen grab and changed the crop and then flicked back and forth from center to off-center and I find that Brandi's centered image looks quite a bit stronger. When I look at that one I see a triangle from the center of her hair-parting at the top of her head; my eyes then follow down an arm and across to the opposite elbow then back up that arm to her head where her cupped fingers point symetrically to those lovely eyes.
Please note that I am not saying my way is the right way or only way but I hope you will see that I can give the rationale for my statements. #10362077

Elaine Hessler October 09, 2012

I wasn't going to say anything because I know next to nothing about portraits, but I agree with Peter. I do like the centered portrait best and found the cropped one a little off kilter for me. Just my preference... #10362108

Aimee C. Eisaman October 09, 2012

I don't think there is anything wrong with the centered version...just happen to like the closer crop possibly for reasons of viewing on BP. So no jumping up and down here at all! Photography rules are more like guidlines just like the pirate code! Rrrr! That being said you have to know them before you can break them. #10362118

Peter W. Marks October 09, 2012

"Knowing them before you break them" is right Aimee, at least to the extent that this helps us see why something just doesn't seem quite right in an image. I think an excellant example of this would be when a subject is moving that mostly it is better to have them with space in front of them because that gives 'movement' ie we can see where they are heading. But even then that guideline could be broken if one wanted to give the impression that the subject wanted 'out-of-here' and was about to disappear (stage right!).

I have to ask, Aimee- what on earth is rthe 'pirate code?'I laughed as being a Cornishman, back in the 18th century
we had a well-earned reputation for being pirates and smugglers but I must have forgotten the code :0) #10362146

Dale Hardin October 09, 2012

Hey Brandi. Don't sweat the small stuff. Just take your pictures and have fun. Besides, it isn't as complicated as all the details suggest. :o) #10362161

Aimee C. Eisaman October 09, 2012

So right Peter I've seen some really interesting photos that break all the rules!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6kgS_AwuH0 #10362171

Brandi K. Mills October 09, 2012

I do actually prefer the centered shot on this. I'm glad other do as well! But I usually don't, as you will all see as I post other photos. I'm usually a rule follower, but feel like photography gives me a chance to rebel a little :) #10362840

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