can this be salvaged?

pthrift · Aug 20, 2014

took a shot at dinner of my folks, and they weren't into doing a re-do. the sun was coming in a window across the room but I didn't realize it was as strong of a light as it actually was. Is this shot salvageable or is it just scrap and I should try again another day? I do realize that Dad is going to be more out of focus here than Mom, but as far as the lighting is concerned...

frommrstomommy · Aug 21, 2014

There are others on here who might be able to address the out of focus huge difference from him vs her but I had a quick play in lightroom.. I think the light situation is salvageable.. but only if you really don't have another opportunity to take the photo. I'd definitely try for another if you have a chance.

pthrift · Aug 21, 2014

Yeah its my folks so there is always opportunity, I just liked the expression on both faces, because I typically have one or the other frowning or otherwise hiding their face from me

Granddad · Aug 21, 2014

Keep it for the memory. Family snapshots don't have to be works of technical brilliance to invoke memories in years to come.

Other than that I wouldn't spend too much time on it, the amount of work it would require is too great (IMHO). Go for the reshoot; maybe sneak up on them with a long lens or shoot from between a couple of other family members and catch them unawares?

Braineack · Aug 21, 2014

pthrift said:
Is this shot salvageable or is it just scrap and I should try again another day? I do realize that Dad is going to be more out of focus here than Mom, but as far as the lighting is concerned...

Not much here to even salvage for anything but personal memories.

Dad is out of focus completely because it was shot wide open.

Beyond that, the light on Dad's face is overexposed, and Mom made sure to get directly out of the light and is underexposed in shadow.

But I'm sure there's wiggle room here if you want to spend the time on it.

CameraClicker · Aug 21, 2014

pthrift said:
took a shot at dinner of my folks, and they weren't into doing a re-do. the sun was coming in a window across the room but I didn't realize it was as strong of a light as it actually was. Is this shot salvageable or is it just scrap and I should try again another day? I do realize that Dad is going to be more out of focus here than Mom, but as far as the lighting is concerned...

As others have already said, except that it is your family and you like their expressions, there is not much compelling about the photo. But the next time this happens, it could be different. There is a little camera that lets you selectively set DOF and what is in focus, after the shot has been taken. It comes with special software. For those of us using a regular camera, out of focus will usually remain out of focus. Spot exposure correction is easier, within limits. If you have a raw file, those limits are wider. Lightroom has Adobe Camera Raw, which has great spot adjustment tools. ACR also comes with Photoshop, and a limited version comes with Elements. Other products have similar tools. Try your favourite editor. Your photo is not so blown out that you couldn't recover from the JPEG. Practice until you can get what you want.

astroNikon · Aug 21, 2014

OOF - that's what happens when people shoot less than f/4. In this case on f/2.2
retake at f/5.6 or greater unless they pose for you. Use your ISO to compensate exposure, and keep your shutter at 1/125 or greater so you don't get motion blur