Can someone help me with this softball pic

[mwt]

I took this picture and wanted to no if someone could do some work on it to make it look good for the kids parents. I have no Photoshop skills.

I could send you the raw version if you wanted it.

Also any ideas on what would have made it better would be appreciated also.


Thanks

Mike

EDIT: The lens was a borrowed 100-400 Promaster that a friend had and wanted me to try because I have been wanting to try something longer than my 28-300 Sigma


Here is the exif data in case someone wants to make a suggestion.

* File size: 180416 bytes
* File date: 2007:04:30 13:28:50
* Camera make: Canon
* Camera model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
* Date/Time: 2007:04:29 10:03:47
* Resolution: 533 x 800
* Orientation: rotate 270
* Flash used: No
* Focal length: 244.0mm (35mm equivalent: 396mm)
* CCD width: 22.20mm
* Exposure time: 0.0012 s (1/800)
* Aperture: f/7.1
* ISO equiv.: 400
* Whitebalance: Manual
* Exposure: Manual
* Exposure Mode: Auto bracketing


http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d132/mwt60/IMG_8740.jpg

[Gatorboy]

I spent a few minutes on it, and this is what I came up with.

http://www.harfordsports.com/hidden/forumImages/IMG_8740b.jpg

... and then I created a Modern Antique look to it:

http://www.harfordsports.com/hidden/forumImages/IMG_8740c.jpg

[beichh4046]

gatorboy. You did a great job of sharpening the face up. Could you share how you did that?

[Gatorboy]

I just ran an Unsharp Mask. I think I used Amount: 200 / Radius: 0.6 / Threshold: 3

[Dan-o]

Could deff. clean it up better with the raw.

http://stantoneagles.com/me/soft.jpg

[mwt]

I would be glad to send the RAW file to you
THanks

[Curtis N]

Here's my version, for better or for worse.
The OP emailed me the RAW file, and I made the following adjustments in Lightroom:
Exposure -1 stop
Highlight recovery 25
Vibrance & saturation both +20
Straightened 0.64 degrees to level the fence.

For posting here, I resized to 800 tall and sharpened with a 0.5 radius.

[Curtis N]

Interesting efforts.
Gatorboy's looks too red,
Dan-o's looks too green,
Mine looks too yellow.
:confused:

[Dan-o]

Well my monitor must be ok because that is how I see it also Curtis. :)

[Palladium]

Here's another with a mix of 2 raw layers - 1 exposed for the background and the other for the player - than I masked together get to a finished layer. sharpened and saved as a jpeg - it's still a little OOF and and colors could use a little more color tweaking - about a 2 minute workup.

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/5384/softballdone1fu1.jpg

[mwt]

That looks a 100% better to me

A couple of other people have asked me to send them the raw and I did. Can't wait to see what they look like.

I have Photoshop CS2 and Classroom in a book. I just havent had time to sit down and do the lessons.

Mike