C + C please. 1st DSLR pic's
C + C please. 1st DSLR pic's
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ross-co

Original Poster:

411 posts

215 months

Thursday 4th June 2009
quotequote all
Firstly thank you if you are reaing this.

I have recetly bought my first DSLR a Canon 350D and have been playing around with it.
The bellow photo was taken in the back garden (which is being done up at present)and is of my nephew, the idea was to play about with the image and then get it onto a print/cavass for fathers day for my Dad his Grandad. Any input would be much appreciated.

By the way this is my first time using image editing software and a DSLR.

Original:



Edited:



Thanks

Ross


The Tea Boy

4,129 posts

265 months

Thursday 4th June 2009
quotequote all
IMO the image needs straightening up a little, can be done in something like picassa easily
and the second pic is better as you have cropped the trailer out at the bottom.

But dont listen to me im a new boy too!!!

Matt

ross-co

Original Poster:

411 posts

215 months

Thursday 4th June 2009
quotequote all
I agree with the rotation point.

Also if you think i have cropped the pic that is good as the wheel barrow was cloned out of the picture so hopefully shows it is not to obvious.

Major Bloodnok

1,561 posts

245 months

Thursday 4th June 2009
quotequote all
FWIW:

It's a nice picture of a little kid doing what kids do.

Well done on shopping out all the extraneous rubbish.

As said, it needs straightening: the left-hand fence panels are upright, but the downpipe is leaning. Maybe get the gate straight(er), since that's in the focus of the picture.

Spot colour rarely works (IMO). In this case, I don't think the wellies are sufficiently important to warrant being singled out. It's the pose - the whole child - that's important. Either leave it in colour or go completely B&W.

The overexposed sky is distracting. Maybe go for a tighter crop to eliminate the left-hand fence, the downpipe (thus fixing some of the straightness concern) and much of the blank white area, but leaving enough to maintain the context.

rasputin

1,449 posts

236 months

Thursday 4th June 2009
quotequote all
Major Bloodnok said:
I don't think the wellies are sufficiently important to warrant being singled out...

The overexposed sky is distracting.
I was going to make the same two points.

Could you maybe fade the colour in the rest of the image, just leaving your nephew in original colour?

And I was going to suggest adding some detail to the sky rather than cropping, but don't ask me how wobble

Simpo Two

92,874 posts

295 months

Thursday 4th June 2009
quotequote all
OP: I think that's an excellent start - it's just the levelling (or lack of it) that shouts at me.

Photoshop skills look fine to me, and I see you're experimenting. However don't overdo the polishing; I think the sign to the right and the scattered stones add character but the toy thing definitely had to go IMHO.

As you'll see from the comments so far, you're already falling victim, in the nicest possible way, to personal opinon. I never noticed the burnt-out sky and there's nothing you could have done about it. Filling it in with a chunk of something else, even if done well, would take the eye away from the boy.

Everybody has their own opinions about images and there's no 'right' answer. If you're taking photos for fun then the only person you have to please is yourself.

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 4th June 10:56

jon-

16,534 posts

246 months

Thursday 4th June 2009
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
I never noticed the burnt-out sky and there's nothing you could have done about it.
HDR hehe

ross-co

Original Poster:

411 posts

215 months

Thursday 4th June 2009
quotequote all
Thank you for all the comments many have been taken on board, however one thing i will point out is that it is not actually the sky. it is unfortunatly a (dare i say it on PH) a caravan.


JimNotJon

761 posts

239 months

Thursday 4th June 2009
quotequote all
A great shot for a first time DSLR user. Fantastic subject matter too.

I hope you dont mind but I have cropped your picture some more and added a bit more contrast, its just how I would have it not sure on anyone else. Its a shame theres no detail to add in the void where the white snail is eheh.




ETA: Could always extend the fence



Edited by JimNotJon on Thursday 4th June 11:58


Edited by JimNotJon on Thursday 4th June 12:04

rasputin

1,449 posts

236 months

Thursday 4th June 2009
quotequote all
I like that Jim - the extra contrast takes a bit of attention away from the wellies while still giving the colour effect that the OP wanted.

Not sure about the crop though (or the blurry pebbles?)

JimNotJon

761 posts

239 months

Thursday 4th June 2009
quotequote all
Thanks smile, I appologise about the blury pebbles, lens blur function was turned on whiles cropping and didnt relise until I had posted paperbag

ross-co

Original Poster:

411 posts

215 months

Thursday 4th June 2009
quotequote all
Hmmmmm i like the extending the fence idea.

Simple yet i didn't think of it. Thats experience and practise for you.

The little man is so much fun to take pictures of, and he loves it the little poser.







stigmundfreud

22,454 posts

240 months

Thursday 4th June 2009
quotequote all
not a fan of selective colouring but like the first shot. The last two are nicely exposed too. One thing about straightening up, if we look at everything as the eye sees it, it becomes boring. A tilt here or there can add a lot of energy/tension to a shot. I like the straightened crops but the original I dont think the tilt took away, it added the sort of feeling of looking/peering through

ross-co

Original Poster:

411 posts

215 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
You make a good point about the tilt. I think it can add to a picture in some cases almost making it arty providing it is of the right type of subject IMO.

stigmundfreud

22,454 posts

240 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
yep but ever since the first jaunty tilt shot the world has been full of extreme tilt trying to make a crap shot into something arty, bit like hdr wink

jon-

16,534 posts

246 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
stigmundfreud said:
yep but ever since the first jaunty tilt shot the world has been full of extreme tilt trying to make a crap shot into something arty, bit like hdr wink
I actually prefer HDRI to tilt. If i want to see it at an odd angle I'll tilt my head thank you!

Simpo Two

92,874 posts

295 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
stigmundfreud said:
yep but ever since the first jaunty tilt shot the world has been full of extreme tilt trying to make a crap shot into something arty, bit like hdr wink
Brave man, but I generally agree.

100 years ago I used to experiment with Cokin filters. Eventually I got to the point when I didn't notice the actual photograph, I just thought 'Star 4 and a graduated tobacco.' And now I think 'It's on the piss' or 'It's HDR' (although I agree some HDR shots can look very striking)

IMHO the photo comes first and should have the potential to standalone, any seasoning is an extra that may or may not work. There are infinite ways to tart up a photo, some taseful, some not - it all depends on the eye of the beholder.

Elderly

3,738 posts

268 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
I like the original colour version best.
I like the use of all the yellows and the blues, including the barrow (is there even more barrow?) and the stripe on the car*v*n.
I like the sign .... it does say 'Watch' I think and that's what the boy is doing.

IMO it would benefit from a little 'Lens Correction' and some cropping right and top.