Contemplating...

[speedneeder]

I took the family to Mammoth Cave this weekend. This is one of my favorite photos from the trip

[jiro]

I like it, Brian. A very strong scene for me. On a side note, I wonder if totally shifting the lighting emphasis on the boy and darkening the background foliage would further strengthen the image. Just a thought that came to me when I saw your image.

[Donald]

I agree with Willie- a strong composition. The idea of the image is super. I wondered if this was one where a bit of fill flash would have come into its own? The light on the shoes and the legs is fine. It's around the head it could do with just a small lift.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Brian,

I also agree, I had a play;
Dodging to lighten the boy (your son?)
Burning to darken the background
Blurring the background and foreground
Clone out leaves top right corner
Downsize and sharpen (downsize necessary to help hide noise I had brought up with dodging the jpg)



Click image to see in Lytebox (and be able to compare between)

HTH,

[FrankMi]

Hi Brian,

Yup! These guys can really read a photo like a book! The first thing I noticed was the bright leaf in front of the tree, then when I tried to look closely at the boy, he was difficult to see because he was dark and overshadowed by the background. The changes Dave made really help in my view.

For me, the stringy weed? in front of his shorts and shirt detracts from the impact of the image. If I were really picky, I would probably defocus the foreground leaves a bit more, except for the one by his leg and maybe tone down the contrast of the background a little more, but that's just my personal taste. Nice image, tells a story and has good impact!

[jiro]

Hello again, Brian. I worked on your image last night based on my interpretation of the shot. Unfortunately, I was so tired that I did not upload it after I finished the edit yesterday. Here's what I came up with if you may:

[Dave Humphries]

Hello again, Brian. I worked on your image last night based on my interpretation of the shot. Unfortunately, I was so tired that I did not upload it after I finished the edit yesterday. Here's what I came up with if you may:

That's different - and quite good (as usual) Willie

Cheers,

[jiro]

Thanks, Dave. I was trying to match the light distribution on the image based on the mood of the shot. I imagined that making the shot darker and only highlighting the kid would complement his serious posture and deep contemplation.

[speedneeder]

Thanks for the suggestions. Here is my version of Jiro and Dave's version of my version.

[speedneeder]

I couldn't get that leaf off his leg without making his leg look.... photoshopped!

[Dave Humphries]

I couldn't get that leaf off his leg without making his leg look.... photoshopped!

It doesn't bother me - and it clearly doesn't bother him, such is his mood of contemplation, so I'd leaf it alone (groan)

[speedneeder]

Just so you guys don't think I'm a freeloader incapable of learning...

Before:


After:

[jjbacoomba]

Wow! Brian that is amazing. Very well done!

[speedneeder]

Thanks Joe.

[FrankMi]

Being able to make that kind of a change to an image really makes a difference, Brian! Great job!

[speedneeder]

Thank you Frank. Part of me thinks of this editing stuff as cheating, though part of me is warming up to it as well.

[FrankMi]

Thank you Frank. Part of me thinks of this editing stuff as cheating, though part of me is warming up to it as well.

I understand how you feel, Brian, but if it was a portrait and you didn't do any retouching it would be totally unacceptable by most folks. Photography is an art form and to me, pressing the shutter gets you only half way there in most cases. I do photography strictly for the pleasure I get from producing an image like the one you just posted. If others like the image, that's great and when they don't, the feedback helps me learn. I have found that the better I get at layers and masking, the better the results are. To me, seeing the difference you made in the girl with the white dog image almost brings a tear of joy to my face.

[Donald]

Thank you Frank. Part of me thinks of this editing stuff as cheating, though part of me is warming up to it as well.

Brian - Like Frank says, pressing the shutter is the end of the first part of making an image. The second part starts when you begin processing in the darkroom (if you're shooting film) or on computer (if you're shooting digitally).

[Shadowman]

Thanks for the suggestions. Here is my version of Jiro and Dave's version of my version.

All versions are very nice but I think they tend to change the mood of the photo the viewer would get on first glance. Why not a black and white version?

[speedneeder]

All versions are very nice but I think they tend to change the mood of the photo the viewer would get on first glance. Why not a black and white version?

John, I don't generally like B&W. I'm this specific case, I would hate to throw away those colors.

Donald and Frank, thanks again for input.

Edit: B&W is fine for many images, I should say that I don't generally like B&W for photos I take. I have made a few B&W photos. Often the colors are part of what attracts me to an image.