Desaturation

TonyCooper

Sometimes bright colors add to a photograph, but there are times when
they dominate the image to the detriment of the image. I liked this
image of the girl in the red hat, but the red seemed to just take over
the image. Looking back over some old images, I decided to see what
it would look like desaturated but not to the point of being a
monochrome.

This is the original:



and this is the desaturated version:



Comments and critique encouraged.

OrvSal

Hi Tony, this is a fine example where I too like the desaturated version best. It takes it out of the ordinary shot into one that is more artsy and more likely to be printed and hung for all to see. Good work.

Stumblebum

I like the original......better mood.....the other one has much more powerful eyes for some reason, but feels kind of sad.

Richard

The desat is better than the original, IMO, but the image is more powerful in B&W.

sarasphotos

Although I too prefer the desat to the original, I'm with Richard in thinking that BW would be even more evocative.

travelways

Very nice portrait and girl, but I think that the second one is a little too much desaturated for a child portrait...

I'm also not very found of the too sharpened eyes

A B&W version would be nice to see, yes

TonyCooper

travelways wrote: »

Very nice portrait and girl, but I think that the second one is a little too much desaturated for a child portrait...

I'm also not very found of the too sharpened eyes

A B&W version would be nice to see, yes

A b&w version provided, but I prefer the desaturated version. I wanted
that "lost waif" look.

In actuality, this little girl was on her daddy's shoulders watching a
Chinese New Year parade, and quite happy about it. I just caught
her with a solemn look.

OrvSal

Thanks for posting the B&W also, I still think the desat one conveys an emotion that the others don't.

TonyCooper

Correction: I got my nationalities mixed up. This was taken at a Greek Epiphamy
event - where they dive for the cross - in Tarpon Springs FL , not a Chinese New
Year parade.

Thanks for all the comments.