Color Snap Or Artistic Flair?

smoke665 · May 19, 2017

Had little bit on the deck yesterday, with the bubble gun. She wasn't that interested in the bubbles, but found the tiny stick in her hand fascinating. Grabbed a quick snapshot. Light wasn't great, so here is the original

no-image-available-grid.jpg by William Raber, on Flickr
And one with a little creative playing post.

no-image-available-grid.jpg by William Raber, on Flickr

Which one?????

Gary A. · May 19, 2017

Very sweet.

(Did you add noise to the B&W?)

DanOstergren · May 19, 2017

I personally don't see anything wrong with the lighting. Maybe bump the exposure up a little.

Milk&Cookies · May 19, 2017

I prefer the original shot. She's adorable, and the lighting plays up her rosey baby cheeks.

smoke665 · May 19, 2017

Gary A. said:
Very sweet.

(Did you add noise to the B&W?)

Among other things. It's a preset downloaded in LR called Chocolate Shadows. Boost to shadows, and clarity. A distorted "s" curve in contrast and the tint. I use it as a starting point sometimes.

smoke665 · May 19, 2017

DanOstergren said:
I personally don't see anything wrong with the lighting. Maybe bump the exposure up a little.

Thanks Dan. I'd like to say I was following your instructions on using natural light, but I'd be lying LOL Keeping up with her is like chasing a leaf in a hurricane, unless she stops to investigate something. The bright mid day sun in the background was killing me, even after burning it in and adding a radial filter. In the color version I was shooting for a softer, dreamy look, with emphasis on the eye lashes, the object in her hand, and the heart on her top. I missed sharp focus on the eye lashes slightly, and an arm on the bench she was on, forced me to crop a little higher than I wanted.

The second one, the exposure is the same, but the processing toned down the background considerably, and I think makes the face appear brighter. I like the way the grain adds to overall soft look.