another family shot

Elaine

This was shot just as the sun was setting...
I'm hoping my processing is improving...it's tough working with all the blacks in the pants and dress. I'm on a new monitor that really shows me more shadow detail, but I'm not sure yet how that translates to prints.
I wish I had had them all take a step forward so the dad's shoulder wasn't covered by the tree, and there is a slight motion blur on the boy's head, but I liked the kids' expressions. (They were laughing at my son...maybe that's why I like it!)

Scott_Quier

This is looking pretty good to me. I really don't see anything to add beyond what you've already indicated, to the critic on this.

To bring out the detail in the dark, a run through either Lightroom or PSCS3 ACR will get the job done quite nicely. They both have a slider called Fill Light - works wonders on things like this.

Question - You have a new monitor. Is it calibrated? If not, get it calibrated!!! It will save you all kinds of heartburn/frustration/etc.

SitterS

Elaine I see an improvement here. Did you use curves and set the black/white points? Scott is right about the fill light but I know that you have PSE5. Also CS2 and 3 have an adjustment tool called shadow/highlight which I think is awesome. Use it all the time. Getting better on these and I do like this picture.

Shane

DavidS

What a nice family portrait. The kids all have such wonderful expressions.