My 1st One

[W.E.S.P]

This is my first picture i have taken of my son Kai. Its was the first time i had used a DSLR. Just wondering what you guys think.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/3665483513_7d6100943b.jpg?v=0

[Robert_Lay]

It seems to be lacking contrast. Take a look at the histogram, and you will see that all of the tones are in the range 30 to 160, which is extremely limited.

If you edit your profile so as to allow us edit and re-post your image, someone can illustrate an increase in contrast.

The next thing that you will have to deal with is the lighting. Frontal flash is horrible unless it is carefully controlled. In this case the flash should be off camera and diffused if you are to have any chance at decent lighting.

[BigAlz1]

Good shot, great DOF, I think. Makes you focus right to his face. Is it just me or is there just a small hint of blue left in his right eye? Did you convert to B&W or just de-sat?

Make the Contrast pop and I would leave it all de-sat but his eyes. That would be a kewl shot.

[W.E.S.P]

Good shot, great DOF, I think. Makes you focus right to his face. Is it just me or is there just a small hint of blue left in his right eye? Did you convert to B&W or just de-sat?

Make the Contrast pop and I would leave it all de-sat but his eyes. That would be a kewl shot.


Thanks for the comments.

I did de sat, then just brought the original eye colour back in.

To the guy above you can edit this pic if you like, If you dont mind showing me how you can improve it.

Any better? To much?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3557/3666659231_ea77d2d4b1.jpg?v=0

[W.E.S.P]

It seems to be lacking contrast. Take a look at the histogram, and you will see that all of the tones are in the range 30 to 160, which is extremely limited.

If you edit your profile so as to allow us edit and re-post your image, someone can illustrate an increase in contrast.

The next thing that you will have to deal with is the lighting. Frontal flash is horrible unless it is carefully controlled. In this case the flash should be off camera and diffused if you are to have any chance at decent lighting.

My flash is built in to the camera until i can afford to buy an external one.
I can lower the exposure of the cameras flash if that would help? If thats what it is?

If you don't mind critiquing this as well
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2452/3667549656_4acd3e478c.jpg?v=0

[BigAlz1]

Here is what he was talking about, I did what I could with such a small image.
http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu185/BigAlz1/3665483513_7d6100943b1.jpg

I opened it in ACR, increased the CONTRAST a bit then opened it into Photoshop.
Next added a levels adjustment layer and moved things a bit to the dark side since that is where your photos was suffering.
I quick masked the eyes, bumped up the sat on them and added a catch light.
Not perfect but it was simple and all I could do with that file.
You can get into some real complicated stuff with B&W. You can increase or decrease the RBG channels to get totally different skin tones and contrasts. Good luck
and have fun.

*edit, top is before and bottom is after just in case you wondered why there was two.

[W.E.S.P]

Here is what he was talking about, I did what I could with such a small image.
http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu185/BigAlz1/3665483513_7d6100943b1.jpg

I opened it in ACR, increased the CONTRAST a bit then opened it into Photoshop.
Next added a levels adjustment layer and moved things a bit to the dark side since that is where your photos was suffering.
I quick masked the eyes, bumped up the sat on them and added a catch light.
Not perfect but it was simple and all I could do with that file.
You can get into some real complicated stuff with B&W. You can increase or decrease the RBG channels to get totally different skin tones and contrasts. Good luck
and have fun.

*edit, top is before and bottom is after just in case you wondered why there was two.

Thanks for your edit. I redone it again to your settings, but toned the eyes down some what.

[BigAlz1]

No image there bud

[W.E.S.P]

Weird, it was in the script.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39915683@N06/3666777195/

used URL

I see were your supposed to go with the tones now.

[MikeFairbanks]

I like the first one better. The "fixed up" one looks demonic (imo).

You definitely achieved the goal of drawing the eyes to the eyes. Really good composure.

[Robert_Lay]

Here is my fix for the first image that you posted. All I did was increase the contrast in PSE7

[Robert_Lay]

My flash is built in to the camera until i can afford to buy an external one.
I can lower the exposure of the cameras flash if that would help? If thats what it is?

If you don't mind critiquing this as well
...

It would be inappropriate for me to make a simple statement giving a procedure that would improve the picture. It is better when you learn to do that yourself by figuring out what is wrong with a picture and what needs to be done to fix it. What works for one does not necessarily work for another. There are too many different ways to improve a picture having low contrast. No one way is correct - thousands of ways will work. You may want to read my article on the Quality of Light as found in my signature.

Your second image has similar problems. On-board flash is seldom a good fix for lighting problems - no matter how much money is spent on them.