Photoworkshop Forum

I hope this board grows... :(

Here's my first assigment from Chapters 1 and 2 (I had limited time, so I tried combining the two).  It's my 2 month old son.  The reason it reflects my style is the funky texture and the color.  I also like closeups and to keep things simple.  I used a pretty open aperature to try to keep a shallow depth of field....

Settings: f4.0, ISO 640, 1/160.  I also used a Lightscoop.

Original:
[IMG]http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q301/iamstarks/_MG_4012.jpg[/img]

My attempt to edit for truer color and better exposure.  Unfortunately, my editing skills suck, so this is not quite right yet.:
[IMG]http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q301/iamstarks/_MG_4012edited.jpg[/img]

Hi Sarah, 
Thank you for posting an assignment here!  Please recognize that every question and post
here will help others.  Nice to see that you are doing some post production and trying to figure it out.  It is such fun.  I am a great believer in "getting it right" as much as possible during the capture.  In this image of a darling baby, my eye is drawn to the texture of the blanket rather than the smooth and soft skin tones.  Perhaps it is the composition, and if the whole head was surrounded by the blanket, it would have emphasized by contrast the skin tones.  It's all about observation.  What do you think?  Have fun!  Ginny

Ginny,
Thank you for the feedback.  Now that I look back to that edit, I really hate it.  LOL  The colors are all off.  I felt like I had to edit it because the original turned out so dark.  I do not have a Speedlite for my Canon yet, and I was working with only a Lightscoop and 9 foot ceilings.  Not ideal for lighting.  Thus, I'm now reading Chapter 3!

I can see what you mean about the texture drawing the eye instead...I love the texture, though, so I'll try again and post one that follows your suggestions.  :)

How's this one?  Better?  I did some editing on this one too, but again, mainly because it was underexposed.  I'm hoping to get a Speedlite for my birthday in May.  :)  
[IMG]http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q301/iamstarks/_MG_4100edit.jpg[/img]

Hmm, I can see that it is cutting off part of the image.  I'm not sure why.  I'll try resizing it and see if that helps...in the original, part of his head is NOT missing...

[IMG]http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q301/iamstarks/_MG_4100edit-1.jpg[/img]

Even resized, it's still not showing the whole image....It looks right in Photobucket, so it must be something with this forum....Here's an even smaller copy.....

[IMG]http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q301/iamstarks/_MG_4100edit-1-1.jpg[/img]

Ginny, I'm leaving all three sizes up so you can see what is happening when photos are posted to the forum.  Is it possible to change settings so we can post larger files?  Otherwise, it's hard to see and critique things like focus, etc.  :)

Although I'm (still) a real amateur, I love the cropped version!

Thanks! The third one I posted is the closest to what it looks like....

I like both images.  I think you did a much better job with editing in the second time around though.  Editing is really a matter of opinion for some people.  You will start to develop a sense of feel for what looks good.  I usually start with exposure and contrast and then play with the saturation or temperature or both.  I then either go for a softer or more sharp image.  It is much easier when you don't have to mess with much of this though.  It's just like a dark room a print can be developed by a hundred different people and chances are it's going to come in different.  By the way your son is adorable!!!!

I notice his eyes first when I look at you latest pictures. And I love how his eyes match the background! 

For me it's where you focused.  If you have it in Green it is focusing on what's closest to the camera and it looked like it was the rug.  In the last photos though you are focused on that adorable baby!  Honestly my favorite is if you scroll all the way to the right on the image where his whole little body is the bottom left corner.  It makes for a better composition and practicing the 2/3s method.

Focus is the bane of my existence.  I toggle my focus points, and it still seems as though my focus falls elsewhere.  It is something I continue to struggle with despite months of practice.  *sigh*  This stuff is hard.

I like the second one...it follows the rule of thirds the best, and having it closer than the original lets you see the texture of the background better.  Nice pic!

I agree the first attempt focused too mush on the blanket, the next ones are great though and he is gorgeous!!! I even like the one that doesn't show his whole head, makes it a little quirky  :)