alone in the crowd

[B Rubble]

My 23 yr old niece (an amateur photographer) took this photo at my wedding. I thought it needed a little focus, so using the GIMP, added a sepia layer and erased down to the color background. Although an amateur, she is a very talented photographer. Hopefully, you'll be seeing some of her work in the future. Comments and criticism appreciated.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2890232975_32f4a104ee_b.jpg

[Michaelmjc]

Doesn't do anything for me to be honest, it's such a busy picture.

[B Rubble]

Doesn't do anything for me to be honest, it's such a busy picture.

Fair enough. Now that you mention it, I see it too. Thanks!

[canonrebel]

It may be a busy picture, but it captures a very engaging moment between the happy couple.

Well done.

[Robert16]

^^Agreed. But I'd get rid of the selective sepia colour effect stuff. Underneath all of that it looks great.

[Svetlana]

+1 Robert!

[_aravena]

Looks like they were cut and pasted in IMO. The business doesn't bother me but the effect does.

[potn_momma2]

do a slight vignette so that they are the center of the pictures, i really like the idea

[Mike30D]

I agree on the selective coloring (get rid of it) and the vignetting. Really as long as your clients like it then our opinions don't matter.;)

[dadCameraGuy]

I'm a rule of thirds (http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/rule-of-thirds/) guy so I'd opt for bringing the color back but doing a different crop so that they're not in the dead center of the image. And that would also take care of much of the 'business' of the image that doesn't add to their joy.

Great expressions worth bringing out.

[B Rubble]

Wow! Some great comments.
I liked the engaging moment that my niece captured, but was struggling how to focus on it, hence the sepia. Some of my relatives also thought we were pasted into the picture, so that is something for me to remember.

I am also a "rule of thirds" guy, but when I GIMPed it, I didn't think of a crop to get it on the third crosshairs. Will play with it and re-post.

Thanks again.
Mr. and (the new) Mrs. Rubble

[James P]

I'm of the opinion that weddings are a great time to have a little fun with pictures like this.

[tsaraleksi]

I think a little dodging and burning would have been a good way to focus the image without having to resort to all that editing.

[jlrichmond76]

I agree that it looks cut and pasted... I think the size of the guy to the left of the groom makes it look strange. The idea is unique, but I'm not sure I like it, either. Nonetheless, something a little different...

[tmonatr]

I understand you are wanting to focus on the B&G, but a tighter crop would be alot better than the selective coloring. A larger aperture to seperate them from the background would also have helped.

[LeesaB]

nope, not working, if you want some selective coloring, try making the couple BandW and the crowd in color...but honestly it needs to be more centered and sepia has to go!

[samurairx7]

why don't u trying blur the people around the B&G?

[B Rubble]

why don't u trying blur the people around the B&G?

ooh, that might be the way to go.
As an aside, there appears to be universal disdain for the sepia coloring. Is that a standard no-no for wedding photographs, or it just doesn't work for this picture.

Everyone here has really been a great help. Thanks again.

[kelvinleung]

To my taste, I think selective color does help this pic. Instead, make it BW and dodge the surrounding people...

[clarence]

Most of my inputs have already been mentioned... B&W, close crop, soft focus.

Since you have "IMAGE EDITING OK", here's 3 clicks in Picasa:

[samurairx7]

=) much better

[LeesaB]

Now that is nice! GREAT job and Kudos for redoing it!

[B Rubble]

Most of my inputs have already been mentioned... B&W, close crop, soft focus.

Since you have "IMAGE EDITING OK", here's 3 clicks in Picasa:

Wow! Great job. Will show this to the bride as an example.

[RuthNaomi]

It's not really easily saved the way it is. But it's also a nice pic of the couple, just crop it down.