Baby Candid - thinking of printing for a gift, please be harsh

[MattyB]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/chevs_n_holdens/Aiden1.jpg

[stupot]

not bad! although i think the hoods covering up too much... perhaps a portrait crop too...

[Radtech1]

Very nice!

I might think of doing a partial de-saturation of the background (maybe 30 - 50% tops) and cloning out some of the reflections from the eyes.

Rad

[Hellashot]

No parent could possibly be disappointed by receiving that shot as a gift - as is. Any little change you make will hardly be noticed by the recipient. Just get it printed properly. :)

[MattyB]

i have cropped for an 8x10 print, is this better?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/chevs_n_holdens/cropped.jpg

also, i've got a fair few to choose from, these ones below are all sharp enough at full res to be worth printing, so which 2 would you pick for me to process?

1.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/chevs_n_holdens/IMG_2111Small.jpg

2.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/chevs_n_holdens/IMG_2106Small.jpg

3.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/chevs_n_holdens/IMG_2105Small.jpg

4.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/chevs_n_holdens/IMG_2102Small.jpg

5,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/chevs_n_holdens/IMG_2099Small.jpg

6.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/chevs_n_holdens/IMG_2094Small.jpg

7.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/chevs_n_holdens/IMG_2091Small.jpg

[saravrose]

really great shot. it will make a wonderful print. 8x10 and matted... the mommy will love ya!!

sari

[saravrose]

the fourth but maybe black and white.. give it a little feeling behind it.. nice photos...

[MattyB]

Also, heres the first one with -43 saturation in the background

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/chevs_n_holdens/partdesat.jpg


sorry to be a pain, i'm just looking at bringing out the best of the photo, thanks so far

[MattyB]

Yay or Nay?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/chevs_n_holdens/second.jpg

[saravrose]

looks good to me... I like the timeless feel of it...

sari

[MattyB]

come on people, we had a great run of replies and useful info, then it died for an entire hour!

so far i've decided to print the second last one i've posted (front on smile with half desaturated background) in 8x10 on that non-shiny stuff (matt?), and frame it.
and when i frame it, i'll have to 'matte it' (is that like the big bland white boxing around it, inside the frame?)

and i haven't decided on the second, do the majority of people agree on the 4th image?
or is there a better one? and if you do like the 4th, does the black and white do it for you?

Also, if anyone has the type of matching making mind, which frame would suit with these photos? a dark wood? light wood? metal? etc?

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I think the first one is great, from a photographer's standpoint. Wonderful bokeh, and lovely subject separation. I like to see all of the pleasing "creamy stuff" around him. Either way, yes, matte finish is the way to go. If you can spring for it, Ilford classic pearl is lovely.

As for the "second shot", I like number 5, actually. I'd have to do a little curves work to brighten it up, though. Seems dark. The one you already converted looks a tad dark for my tastes, too. Great shots, though. Oh, and as for that first one. As much as we might enjoy a good and creamy bokeh background, a parent with a limited "artistic eye" would probably just see it was "wasted space". that 8x10 looks good, though. Nicely done.

If you want, say so, and I'll post my "two". I had a play in CS2.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I like the lower saturation in the last crop of the first one. The colors are more pleasing and pastel-like now. They were looking a bit fluorescent!

[MattyB]

feel free to post your two Ronald :)

[MattyB]

the black and white one, and the less-saturated one posted above are ALMOST locked in.

i've asked lots of advice from other people as well as you guys, and they're all just yes men. lol

so, game set match, or i should pick differently?


heres an edit of photo 5.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/chevs_n_holdens/blah.jpg

[hania]

From a woman& mother of 4 - brilliant shot!

[rdsmith3]

As a new parent, and as an aspiring snapshooter, I like the modification you did of the first one with -43 saturation in the background.

You did a great job. However, parents are not fussy about pictures of their kids.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Well, this monitor I'm on isn't calibrated all too well, but I had a 5 minute play with them. Just lightened up the second one with curves, levels, and a tad of dodging.


80798

80799

[In2Photos]

MattyB- Unless the parent of the child is a professional photographer you have nothing to worry about. They are not into the technical aspects of photos, they only see the emotional aspect. Since you captured their baby with a lively spirit they will always think of that day when they see the picture. This is the most important thing to do IMO. Forget the "you need to change this or that to make the shot" responses from us because we have no emotional attachment to your pictures. To us it is just a picture of a cute kid that when we see it we might smile. The parents will replay that day forever.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Can't hurt to make it technically perfect, though, eh mike? Even if only for our own satisfaction. :lol:

[In2Photos]

Can't hurt to make it technically perfect, though, eh mike? Even if only for our own satisfaction. :lol:

Show the original to the parents, put it aside and talk about somthing else. Then 15 minutes later show them the "perfect" version without telling them anything changed. Think they will notice a difference?

BTW Ronald there are some horrible artifacts or something in your first shot. Now THAT they would notice.;)

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Are you pulling my leg, Mike? I see nothing. You being a smartass again? :p

[In2Photos]

Are you pulling my leg, Mike? I see nothing. You being a smartass again? :p

No I am not being a smart ass. I only have MS paint at work so I tried to draw some circles around the areas. Does anyone else see it or is my monitor going nuts?

80807

[Ronald S. Jr.]

All I see is compression from the marks you put on it. I really couldn't see anything.

[odvdveer]

I like the one with less saturation, on the first version the color of the bakground is to similar to the skin tone of the kid.

I prefer shot 5 to 4, the facial expression of the kid is more different from shot one and the right eye is not partially covered.

Nice shots

Olga

[MattyB]

cheers people, i've made a decision, and i'm going to get them printed today :D

they're only candid shots, but still.. i hope she likes em :D

[AgandAu]

I really like #4 too. It shows just enough of mom with the baby still being the clear subject of the picture. I like it in color with a littler tighter crop. Even though the expression is a bit nicer in #5 I don't like that it is just the back of mom's head. I am sure she will be thrilled to get them, the first one is really great.

[Rubi Jane]

Oh my, there's an uncanny likeness to my young lad.
Being a mum and my lad being my #1 subject I'd love anyone of those shots. In my eyes as a mum, they are perfect! ;)

Since you've settled on the shots you're printing as 8x10, consider going including the rest as 4x6's to fill out the series.

[Titus213]

MattyB- Unless the parent of the child is a professional photographer you have nothing to worry about. They are not into the technical aspects of photos, they only see the emotional aspect. Since you captured their baby with a lively spirit they will always think of that day when they see the picture. This is the most important thing to do IMO. Forget the "you need to change this or that to make the shot" responses from us because we have no emotional attachment to your pictures. To us it is just a picture of a cute kid that when we see it we might smile. The parents will replay that day forever.

I was going to the bottom of this thread to say this exact same thing. We look at photos as photographers. Look at the emotion of the image and decide if you like it. The technical info is all pretty good and something to strive for but there is another dimension to a photograph - the viewer.

Oh, I think it's a terrific photo and the parents will absolutely love it, even if they are photographers.

[MattyB]

thanks everyone, i'll let you know the verdict sometime next week :D

Oh my, there's an uncanny likeness to my young lad.
Being a mum and my lad being my #1 subject I'd love anyone of those shots. In my eyes as a mum, they are perfect! ;)

Since you've settled on the shots you're printing as 8x10, consider going including the rest as 4x6's to fill out the series.
yeah, i did process and print the rest of them in 6x4, and put them in a little winni the pooh album, and the large 2 are in a medium coloured wood frame with a white (most) and burgundy (inner) double matte, looks really nice :D

[saravrose]

I was going to the bottom of this thread to say this exact same thing. We look at photos as photographers. Look at the emotion of the image and decide if you like it. The technical info is all pretty good and something to strive for but there is another dimension to a photograph - the viewer.

Oh, I think it's a terrific photo and the parents will absolutely love it, even if they are photographers.

the truth is were not shooting for photographers. were shooting for people... people who don't know what bokeh is, or white balance is... they don't understand the rule of thirds, and if you ask them they wouldn't care.. what they do care about is the capture, getting the memory and feeling of a time or place into a photo... all the extra's we put into it are certainly valid and worth are time, but it's not the most important thing.. okay.. there's my rant for the evening.. i'm done now.

sari

[Jon M]

Things that I'd try:
1. Improve the redness to the right cheek--healing brush or clone stamp
2. Brighten the eyes in PSCS
3. Open up the shadows reflecting from the hood on the left side of the face
4. Try in B&W

Jon

[Mike R]

I like the crop of the original however I would clone out the bright spots above the hood.

[MattyB]

too late, already printed and given too her, she loved them :D

thanks guys

[Rubi Jane]

she loved them :D

What mother wouldn't :D

[MattyB]

cheers rubi :D

[Kristy]

Can you choose your favorite 4 and make a story board?? 8x24 would work well... photos sized at 4x5, 7x5 and the remaining 3 at 4x5... I can post an example... I think the story board idea is a wonderful way to document the relationship photos, and the cute baby face photo would be the highlight at 7x5, What do you think?

[Kristy]

Oops... I just realized you already printed.... The mom would love a story board anyway... so many great moments were caught here. :)