First post of "the kids"

[DrMitch]

C&C welcome - I realize I am an amateur at best, but have thick skin, so no worries!!! :D Thanks for looking...

The first one is my daughter - shot at a restaurant with my Digital Rebel and the 50/1.8 plastic fantastic shot at 1/100 2.5 200ISO - converted to b&w and tweaked the contrast a bit.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj195/dr_mitch/Canon/Makenna01.jpg

I was experimenting with my Sigma 10-20 1/50 f5. I kinda like it, wish his face was a bit sharper...
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj195/dr_mitch/Canon/IMG_1944.jpg

Another experiment :oops:
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj195/dr_mitch/Canon/IMG_1943.jpg

50 1.8 plastic fantastic 125/2.8
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj195/dr_mitch/Canon/IMG_1927.jpg

Last, a pick of my son and niece. Shot with the Sigma 10-20 at 15 1/60 f5 used the pop-up flash with a diffuser in front of it.
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj195/dr_mitch/Canon/MasonTaya01.jpg

[Lori Putman]

I love #4. A little fill flash would have helped with the shadows on the faces, especially your daughter. It could stand a little brightening and contrast in post.

I like the photo but the conversion of #1 is a bit too much. The highlights have been blown and there is no smooth transition between tones.

[DrMitch]

Thanks for the comments - the fill flash would have been a great idea - I have to remember to put it on my camera right out of the bag - those little munchkins move so darn fast! Not sure if it's Kosher, but attached is the original untouched version of #1

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj195/dr_mitch/Canon/IMG_2371.jpg

[Lori Putman]

I really like the original. If you don't mind, I'd like to play with it this evening when I get home from work.

[DrMitch]

By all means, play away! :)

[newb2pro_1day_or_so]

I saw that you were allowing an edit of the first picture, and I couldn't help myself. The results are very subtle, but the far cheek is no longer a lost highlight.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh59/Iseethroughglass/PSpost-1.jpg

some linear dodge on the eyes and linear burn on the far cheek and some on the chin. A few healing brush strokes for some touchup and a facial scrub layer. I also added a vignette to the photo. No sharpening was done.

I forgot to add that I saved the PS file if you wanted it I can email it to you.

[jgrussell]

I really like the original color version better than the processed version.

[Lori Putman]

Here's my play. I did 2, one color and one B&W. The color seemed off to me so I added a levels adjustment layer and changed the reds only.
327916

For the B&W, I used the 'bitchin B&W' action from Totally Rad and added a warming filter layer to it.
327917

I didn't sharpen, but that's the only other thing I would have done besides the crop.

[newb2pro_1day_or_so]

Here's my play. I did 2, one color and one B&W. The color seemed off to me so I added a levels adjustment layer and changed the reds only.
327916

For the B&W, I used the 'bitchin B&W' action from Totally Rad and added a warming filter layer to it.
327917

I didn't sharpen, but that's the only other thing I would have done besides the crop.

I gotta tell ya, I can't believe I missed that in my edit!!! The color is off a little. Nice edits.

[Lori Putman]

Thanks, Dan.

[melissaandkris]

What beautiful kids you have! I couldn't resist a play either and I love B&W so I just had to! Here's my version, curves adj, channel mixer play, contrast and some sharpening. I hope you like it and welcome to the forum!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/3121797850_f10963f409.jpg

[DrMitch]

Nice work! I especially like Lori's B&W and Melissaandkris'. I really have to find time to start to play with editing. I was unfortunately always taught to try to "get it right from the lens" - and not having my own developing room, for years I thought of it as "cheating" or something - but the results are amazing. Until you see some edited pics, I don't realize how certain colour can be slightly off and how much better a phot can be - kind the difference b/t a snapshot and photograph. Thanks! :)