Critique & processing suggestions please

[Devon]

This is one of my favourite shots from a small hamlet in the That Desert north of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.



Constructive feedback welcome.

I'm thinking to get a print made but not sure what to do in the way of processing beforehand. Any suggestions?

 

[sscarmack]

Little underexposed and looks like the tones are off a bit too. I'm also not sure what 'story' your trying to tell here. One kid looking at the camera, another looking away, at what? Why aren't they both looking at the camera or both looking away?

The boy is a little soft, was this intentional or lack of DOF?

 

[The_Traveler]

The crop, while attractive is way off of any standard size and will be expensive to frame or just get a custom mat.
I think you could crop to 4 x 6 without much impact. (click on attachment to see)

I do think that a bit of sharpening is almost required as prints look much duller than online and this is a bit dull to start.
Read this Contrast Enhancement and try it.

 

[KmH]

The image as cropped has a 1.78:1 aspect ratio.

The print can be made on standard size paper bigger than the image. The print will have a border.
If a larger enough print size is ordered, and you want it done, most print labs will trim the border away for you.

A custom size mat window mat with custom size framing is only a little more expensive than standard size frames.

The short side of the image (1208 px) is going to determine the subject scale in the image frame/

If the OP wants the image to be 12 inches high - 2448 px / 12" = 204 ppi. 206 ppi is pretty good for print resolution. If the ppi is increased the print short side will be shorter.
At 204 ppi then the long side of the image will be - 4352 px / 204 ppi = 21 inches long.

If the OP wants the image to be 10 inches high - 2448 px / 12" = 244.8 ppi (245 ppi).
At 245 ppi then the long side of the image will be - 4352 px / 245 ppi = 17.76 inches long.

Mpix has 10" x 20" paper or 12" x 18" paper. IIRC Mpix will trim excess from any paper 11 x 14.

Printed on 10" x 20" paper the print will only have border at the sides of the print.
Printed on 12" x 18" paper the print will have border all the way around but mostly at the top and bottom.

 

[Devon]

Interesting questions Sean, thank you.

The previous frame does indeed have the boy looking away, and he is is in softer focus again. The girl is the focus - she just performed a dance for us and seemed to be having a moment's reflection. The little brother was reluctant to look at the camera and I guess I felt clever for capturing the moment when he did, and like the alignment of the eyes, tho' a pure fluke.

Maybe a bit of sharpening on the girl and softening on the boy, with another look at that previously ignored image.

Cheers
Ian

 

[Devon]

Hi Lew

Thanks for the tips. I will be adding some sharpening and contrast enhancement. I'll also be taking a look at softening the boy in the background (if necessary after these).

The image is straight off the borrowed camera. The owner takes mostly landscapes and I din't change it as we were taking diverse shots. I agree, cropping won't lose much tho' I'll have to work my way thro' the post below yours to see what's being said there. I'd prefer not to lose the necklace and hair tie. For me they help the horizontal balance. I live in China and can get printing done relatively cheap.

Cheers
Ian

 

[Devon]

Hi Keith

16:9 straight off the camera.

Thanks for the detailed printing options. Not sure if paper sizes are the same here. I know the local shop happy to play with things, tho' usually in their very own special way. Specific directions needed to say "don't change the picture".

Cheers
Ian