Picture of my son in his play gym

[Living Daylight]

Hey I am starting to apply more of my skills that I have learned from POTN. Here is my most recent shot of my son Ethan.

ISO100
50mm
f/2.8
1/200sec
430ex bounced off ceiling

I did more PP than i have in the past. I adjusted fill light, upped exposure, overall sharpness and softened the skin just a tiny bit. Also did some local sharpening around his eyes.

Some specific questions:

Should I crop out a little bit? The play mat in the foreground was a bit out of focus and I thought it looked odd. I could also give a bit more space at the top of his head and on the left of the photo.

thanks!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3627/3983492599_a6580f6afe_b.jpg

[SwiftFootTim]

First thing that drew me in was the eyes, which is great as they are sharp and vivid. I would try to edit out the black fuzz on the cuff of his left arm and maybe even the stray hairs if you're good. The two white dots on the right of his left nostril could also be shopped out.

The crop to me seems fine, unless you want a different perspective.

Overall, great shot and good PP!

[Living Daylight]

How are my cloning skills?

I had the most trouble with the hair right on the edge of his sleeve, as it was right on top of a shadow.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3494/3983610679_f34ff995d5_b.jpg

[SwiftFootTim]

This definitely is much better due to getting rid of the hairs and such, perhaps bring the fuzz area to the similar white of what is around it? It might be tough due to the location of light versus shadow but if that can be fixed I would frame this picture. Heck, even a tight crop of his head may look good, although I don't know if the orientation would suit it.

[Jesher]

You need to adjust the levels. I use levels in photoshop and just sampled white and black to fix it a little, did some minor sharpening, and fixed the small spot on his baby clothes.


397946

[Living Daylight]

You need to adjust the levels. I use levels in photoshop and just sampled white and black to fix it a little, did some minor sharpening, and fixed the small spot on his baby clothes.


397946

That looks great! Can you explain in a bit more detail how you did that? Also, I only have LR and gimp or paint.net. What is the closest I could get to that effect using the programs I have?

[Jesher]

That looks great! Can you explain in a bit more detail how you did that? Also, I only have LR and gimp or paint.net. What is the closest I could get to that effect using the programs I have?

If you want to do it in Photoshop or Photoshop elements: open the document, create a new adjustment layer (Layer->New Adjustment Layer->Levels), click OK, then choose the black eyedropper and I did the center of the eye, since that is black, and for white I just guesss-timated somewhere on the clothing.

If you are using Lightroom, you can do a lot of adjustments in the develop panel. I actually loaded this up just now and clicked 'Auto' for the tone and it pretty much looks the same as what I did.

Pretty much the exposure needed to be corrected. If you increased the saturation a bit too it's probably look even better! It's a nice shot, I like it.

[Living Daylight]

Newest edit:

I also used the heal took rather than clone for the hairs on his sleeve, that seems to work better.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/3984280273_1ae61450ab_b.jpg

[Gel]

I prefer the first shot, the edits appear overdone.
They are going in the right direction, just too much.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2452/3985092246_20507231f8_o.jpg

Quick and dirty photoshop

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2470/3984347733_7411b18a10_o.jpg

[Living Daylight]

I just toned down the contrast a bit, somewhere between Gel's and the last that I posted. It looks good to me so that the one I'm going to get printed!

[Gel]

Either way your boy's beautiful, keep snapping. I've got a puppy here and have made 1000's of shots already. :D

[shaftmaster]

Thanks for posting this picture! It gives me some new ideas for photographing my 4 month old.

[aroundlsu]

I really like the picture rotated 90 degrees CCW. I know that's not the correct perspective, but it looks much more pleasing to my eye that way. The way it is, I unconsciously tilt my head while looking at the photo which is distracting.

[SwiftFootTim]

If this is all we can debate, I'd say you got a good capture there!

[Living Daylight]

If this is all we can debate, I'd say you got a good capture there!

This is a glorious day. I have appeased the POTN overlords.

[Gel]

Don't you mean understudy's :D

[Jesher]

Either way your boy's beautiful, keep snapping. I've got a puppy here and have made 1000's of shots already. :D

I would not have edited out his birthmark on his forehead... just noticed that.

[Living Daylight]

I would not have edited out his birthmark on his forehead... just noticed that.

I didn't in my final edit, as I think it adds to his 'newness' or something like that.

Here it is:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3526/3988262938_58e669ed17_b.jpg

[Jesher]

[QUOTE=Living Daylight;8772585]I didn't in my final edit, as I think it adds to his 'newness' or something like that.

Here it is:

<image>
QUOTE]

Good, that's the way he is, you don't want to get rid of it! :)

[Grimlock]

Glad you left he stork bite on the forehead. It is part of your baby, and you'll be glad you did it in a few years.

Your last edit is great. Good job.