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10/30/2007 09:13:25 PM · #1 |
Check out my photo please and tell me:
Click here to view photo
#1 Did I over do the gaussian blur?
#2 What do you think of the photo?
#3 Does it seem snapshot like?
Thank you!
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10/30/2007 09:25:40 PM · #2 |
#1...no i don't think you over did it on the blur.. i personally like that foggy kind of look.
#2 i like the photo, i just think that maybe the colored blanket is a bit distracting.
#3 not really just the blanket sort of takes away from it looking like a 'posed' portrait. |
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10/30/2007 09:31:26 PM · #3 |
The gaussian blur looks good although you could mask back any detail in the face so that the eyes and nose etc are clear.
The blanket is a little distracting because of the colour and pattern. For specialty photos something plainer might work better.
I think the composition is a little snapshot like. The gaussian blur makes it look less like a snapshot though.
My opinion for what it's worth. |
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10/30/2007 09:33:51 PM · #4 |
I like the soft focus effect, works well for this shot.
However, check your levels (i.e. if you look at the histogram you'll probably see a gap on the left). The contrast looks wrong, I think you need to adjust the levels a bit to create a dark-point (make the blacks look blacker. At the moment they're dark-grey, which gives a foggy look)
So, add a new adjustment layer for levels, open the levels adjustment, and move that left hand arrow up slightly until you see the darkest areas of the shot looking black. |
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10/30/2007 09:40:59 PM · #5 |
Something like this;
All I've done is change the levels. |
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10/30/2007 09:53:59 PM · #6 |
I would go with a bit less on the blur, but I'm a strong believer in subtlety in editing. That said, note that John's increased contrast effectively makes the blur less apparent.
It does look a little snapshot-ish, IMO. This is because of the brightly colored towel and the random background in the upper left. The difference between a snapshot and a more formal shot is often in the background/setup/props, and here we can infer that it was somewhat candid. Which is actually fine. But if you want a more-portrait-less-candid feel, spend some time on the setup.
I think the photo is a wonderful documentary capture of a family member - perfect for a scrapbook or photo album. The highest value of this kind of photo is for those people who know the subject. Will it win a DPC ribbon? Probably not - it isn't the type. Because to someone who isn't attached to the subject, it's just another dog shot. But don't let that devalue the shot for you if you enjoy it.
On DPC there's some magical combination of wowing the audience, being original, having great technicals, and fitting the challenge that is usually highly scored... but that's another discussion. =)
Cheers,
-Jeff |
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10/30/2007 10:00:06 PM · #7 |
Okay, one more post, sorry for spamming your thread :)
I've been looking at some of your edits the last few days, and while you're getting much better there are perhaps a few PS hints I'll give you (and forgive me if you already know this stuff)
1) Levels When you start editing in PS, one of the first things you should do is get the levels right. Use the histogram for this, don't trust your eyes or your monitor! - A good shot will have a complete histogram (i.e. you won't see any gaps on the left or right of the histogram). If you see gaps, it means there isn't really a true dark/white point in the photo, which means you're not making full use of the tonal range and you might end up with contrast issues. Most shots need at least a very slight levels adjustment, so add a levels adjustment layer, move the left pointer up to where the curve starts, and move the right pointer down to where the curve ends (adjust to taste). Now your histogram shouldn't have any big gaps at each end.
2) When you've got a nice histogram to work with, then start adding other adjustment layers. I use brightness/contrast, hue/saturation, and curves quite a lot. Another useful one is Selective Color (I would have used that layer in your dog shot to desaturate the distracting red colour on the blanket a bit)
3) A little goes a long way - Make small adjustments a little at a time. And always refer back to your original image for comparison. If it looks too far out, then you've probably gone overboard with something, unless you're going for the artistic look!
4) Don't be afraid to click 'Auto' - If you see an auto button on any of the adjustment layers, then click it to see what PS does to the image. Sometimes it works out okay. Other times it looks horrible. That's what Undo was invented for (CTRL-ALT-Z, the most useful key combo in PS) |
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10/30/2007 10:04:06 PM · #8 |
I like blur but like Monique64 said I would mask in some detail around the dogs face.
I like the photo as a whole but as a personal preference I'd prefer to see the dogs paws in the shot if the situation allowed. It's still a keeper though, and a good pet portrait.
As the others have said, the blanket and background at the top left make it look a like a snapshot. If you intended a candid shot then it works great, if you wanted it to look like a studio shot then you could have covered that part of the frame with a white blanket or a thick sheet--and the blur would have negated any texture from the blanket that maybe you wouldn't have liked in the shot. |
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10/30/2007 10:41:31 PM · #9 |
Thank you all! I have more photos of her, I am going to practice my levels, and hopefully Jhonan will continue to help me ;-) Can you also explain to me about masking out the face? Does that mean to apply the gaussian blur to everything but her face?
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