Does this appear to be over exposed?

[photomama3]

I added a vivid effect to this photo to give it a little pop, but I am not sure if it is too bright? Any suggestions or other cc of this photo is appreciated.


Isaac blow bubble by lindseymama3, on Flickr

Completely un-edited is too dull. Any suggestions?


not edited by lindseymama3, on Flickr

Thank you

 

[KmH]

No doubt, some parts of the photo are over exposed - to the point of being blown out.

Blown out means: having a luminance value of the maximum amount, for a JPEG anyway, of 255 , and there are no image details remaining.

Using image editing software, you can use some of the software's features to detect overexposure in a photo, rather than relying on your Mark I eyeballs.

Using Photoshop Camera Raw in clipping mode I can see that much of the boy's shirt is blown in the blue channel, part of the grass is blown in the green channel and parts of the fence are blown in a 3 color channels: red, green, and blue.

I can also see that the highlights on his skin, face and arm, are just slightly underexposed.

What metering mode did you use? Are you familar with the compositional guidelines for visual images? Guideline like the rule of thirds, golden spiral, and golden diagonals?

 

[photomama3]

This is completely unedited


not edited by lindseymama3, on Flickr

What would you suggest I do to give this photo more appeal - should I adjust increase the saturation?

 

[Kyna]

I like your first edit. There are some blown spots but I think it is still an adorable picture. I think you should do a tighter crop on top though. The building in the background is kind of distracting.

 

[photomama3]

Thanks Kyna, It seems when you add certain effects to some photos, parts of the photos can appear over exposed. I am finding a lot of people seem to favor these artsy (edited) photos...so I am confused.....for future reference - is it acceptable to give clients several edits (with different effects) for the same picture? Also, great suggestion re: the crop - will do.

If anyone has any other advice re: editing in general...do people seem to prefer the artsy photo or perfectly exposed one in great lighting. I seem to be more attracted to perfectly exposed, but many of my friends tend to be attracted to the artsy photo.

 

[boomer]

I like your first edit as well. The highlights don't even really bother me. Just a tighter crop and i think you are good to go

Not sure if you shoot RAW or JPEG but if you're using Lightroom or ACR, you could pull back on the exposure slightly then bump up the fill light to reduce some of those highlights. Or if you're using Photoshop, just mess with your levels.

 

[photomama3]

boomer, I am shooting raw and I did similar to what you suggested and cropped as suggested. Is this better?


slightly edited by lindseymama3, on Flickr

 

[photomama3]

boomer, scratch that - i am going to re-try pulling back on the exposure a bit...I didn't do that in the previous photo. I will be back ...and I really appreciate all the feed back.

 

[photomama3]

finished product - yay or nay. I applied everything that was suggested - took down the exposure, added a little fill light, and cropped it.


exposure down - fill light - vivid cropped by lindseymama3, on Flickr

 

[RauschPhotography]

Nay--still blown out. The PP isn't doing anything for me, either.

 

[photomama3]

Nay--still blown out. The PP isn't doing anything for me, either.

would you suggest something else or is this photo just not interesting to you? Maybe a different angle rather than straight on?? I am trying to learn how to edit a photo to make it more appealing. Thank you for your help.

 

[KmH]

Most photos can't be made all that much more appealing by editing the photo.

Learn how to make it appealing in the camera, and then just do the basic editing touch ups: setting the white balance, black point, white point, capture sharpening, and if desired, local sharpening any other local edits.

 

[RauschPhotography]

Most photos can't be made all that much more appealing by editing the photo.

Learn how to make it appealing in the camera, and then just do the basic editing touch ups: setting the white balance, black point, white point, capture sharpening, and if desired, local sharpening any other local edits.

^^^
Took the words straight out of my mouth. Can't do too much in editing, but at least this is something to learn from.

 

[photomama3]

Most photos can't be made all that much more appealing by editing the photo.

Learn how to make it appealing in the camera, and then just do the basic editing touch ups: setting the white balance, black point, white point, capture sharpening, and if desired, local sharpening any other local edits.

^^^
Took the words straight out of my mouth. Can't do too much in editing, but at least this is something to learn from.

I realize that and agree....however, I am trying to make it more appealing for those like a more artsy photos.

 

[KmH]

You didn't say that before.

That goes beyond the realm of photography, and into the world of graphic arts.