Mother and child-4

[RBSinTo]

Taken yesterday at Edward's Gardens here in Toronto.
I had just received a lens that was repaired and went to the park to check it out.
While walking around I spotted a mother playing with her infant child on the grass beside a bed of flowers. I was entranced by the mothers obvious loving and tender interaction with the child and grabbed this shot.
Nikon D3
zoom-Nikkor 70~200 2.8 G ED AF
2.8 @ 1/1000th ISO 200

[DanK]

A very nice capture. However, I have a suggestion that I have made before. You have underexposed the subject. You have a nice dispersion of luminance in the image as a whole, but the people are dark. I got R=74, G=57, and B=67 off the woman's chin. So the interesting expressions are hard to see.

I think you would have more more absorbing images if you exposed for the faces--if you can do that without blowing highlights elsewhere--or as a second best, brightened faces in post. E.g., something like this:



This was just two edits. I selected the person with the quick select tool, used levels to brighten the people, then used a curve to increase contrast.

[zen]

It may be odd, but I think I prefer the OP . . . Something about the low light that suggests intimacy, or privacy in a crowd, or . . . Can't really explain it . . .

Thanks for sharing your image. It's a real keeper.

Zen

[RBSinTo]

Dan, and Zen,
Thank you both for commenting.
Dan, The subjects were lying in the shade of an enormous Oak tree, no doubt because the mother didn't want the baby in bright, direct sunlight, so for me the exposure that I got seems correct based on my recollection.
I appreciate that you took the time to lighten the exposure on the subjects, but to me, your version seems over-exposed.
But as Uncle Sydney always said, "That's why we have Chocolate and Vanilla". Personal taste, so everyone's opinion counts.
Robert

[NorthernFocus]

Lovely moment captured. IMO opening the shadows on the woman is a major improvement. Shadowy faces and love/happiness don't seem a good match to me.

[RBSinTo]

Lovely moment captured. IMO opening the shadows on the woman is a major improvement. Shadowy faces and love/happiness don't seem a good match to me.

Dan,
Thanks for commenting.
Robert