A babe in the woods

[kdoc856]

I love her pensive innocence. C&C appreciated, always.

[Mike Buckley]

pensive innocence

You definitely enhanced that.

Consider helping her stand out a bit more in the photo. Perhaps use a vignette or apply a stronger one if you have already done that. Perhaps simply brighten the skin tones and the lighter tones of her clothing. Maybe eliminate or minimize the sharpening on everything except the girl. Perhaps all of the above.

[Polar01]

Nice shot Kevin, like how you caught the sunlight on the back of her head, also agree with Mike overall she needs to stand out just a touch more.

Cheers:

Allan

[John 2]

That's a nice conversion Kevin. I agree that a bit of judicious burning will help her stand out more but not too much or you destroy the beautifully light feeling of the image.

[kdoc856]

Thanks much, Gents!

As you suggested, I masked her off, raised her luminance by EV .25, with local noise reduction; slightly reduced (essentially removed) sharpening everywhere else; and emphasized the vignette a little. My concern has been to not brighten her to the point of glowing.

ISO 1600 75mm f4.5 1/125

[Mike Buckley]

My concern has been to not brighten her to the point of glowing.

Your concern is admirable. However, this latest version takes a very nice image to the next level using judicious judgement that does not at all go overboard in my mind. Congratulations to you, your model and the lovely forest.

[kdoc856]

Thanks for help, Mike!

[John 2]

.................................... this latest version takes a very nice image to the next level using judicious judgement that does not at all go overboard in my mind. Congratulations to you, your model and the lovely forest.

+1 here.

[Brownbear]

Beautiful image... Love it!

[davidedric]

Great shot, Kevin. Strange, but I prefer the first image because she seems more part of the scene. Chacun son gout, as the French may or may not say

[kdoc856]

Strange, but I prefer the first image because she seems more part of the scene.

I understand, David. That is why I was a little reluctant to raise her luminance. I'll try a synthesis of the two and compare. Thanks!

[kdoc856]

Thanks, Christina and John!

[Dusty]

I think the first image is no different then the second image on my monitor. I would blur out the background more to isolate the subject and not make it like you have lightened the subject or even try a tighter crop.

Good composition and I like the image.
Dave.

[AndrewMcD]

My eyes kept bouncing back and forth between the tree and the subject in the first image. Something about the image felt uncomfortable; sorry for my lack of a technical descriptor! The second image hasn't changed dramatically but the subject now holds my attention.

I'm quite new to all this and really find the comments and technical information in these discussion very useful.

Plus............I get to see all these great images.

Andrew