My sister at graduation - C&C please!

Big Mike

Here is a picture my sister asked me to take at her graduation. I was more or less trying to get my exposure right and I have been practicing with the settings so I can try and get the whole subject in focus while blurring the background to help center the picture on the subject.

Let me know how I did on this one and what I should do better!

JavaLover

Hi Mike, I think you accomplished what you were trying to do. I would crop the top of the photo and then work on the skin tones to give it some pop.

Congrats to your sister!

super star

I second it....with javalover and also...try to control on exposture..which is bit high in the corner of face on right side... nice focus.. well done.

-Super star:davidto

Big Mike

JavaLover wrote:

Hi Mike, I think you accomplished what you were trying to do. I would crop the top of the photo and then work on the skin tones to give it some pop.

Congrats to your sister!

Is that something I should have been able to do with the exposure, or is that something that generally has to be done in post processing?

super star

Big Mike wrote:

Is that something I should have been able to do with the exposure, or is that something that generally has to be done in post processing?

You can use diffusers.. or you can also use photo editing software to...remove..

Majik Imaje

super star wrote:

You can use diffusers.. or you can also use photo editing software to...remove..

The picture is great!! I am sure your sister will enjoy it for many years to come. It appears that her face is picking up some of the green from the 'sash' or whatever it is called that is drapped around her neck.

Simple color correction of moving the Green/ Magenta slider in photoshop will accomplish the necessary slight correction needed.

A happy girl with a very happy face..! perfect is my score. You accomplished what you set out to do. which was produce a striking memory of an important event.

I have yet to see a photograph on any forum that is "perfect" someone always goes right past the subject to focus on something that is minor!


The whole image of her. is what is important.. it conveys a feeling of a proud graduate ! Mission accomplished you did a great job !!

Seneca

Well first of all congratulations to your sister. Ok a couple of things I see wrong here...

1. Either she is leaning or you don't have the camera straight. It's at an angle - looks a tad awkward...unless your intentions were to frame the image like this.
2. There is a huge blown out spot on her face from the sun. You have 95% of her in the shade...why have that sun spot?
3. Nitpick comment: Look at the whole image before you click that shutter - the 2008 jewerly piece is turned the other direction, and part of her pearls are showing. Again these are nitpick comments.

4. There was no exif data attached to this image - care to share?
5. WB looks a tad on the yellow side...but it could be my monitor - it hasn't been calibrated in so long!

Once again...congratulations to your sister.

Big Mike

Seneca wrote:

Well first of all congratulations to your sister. Ok a couple of things I see wrong here...

1. Either she is leaning or you don't have the camera straight. It's at an angle - looks a tad awkward...unless your intentions were to frame the image like this.
2. There is a huge blown out spot on her face from the sun. You have 95% of her in the shade...why have that sun spot?
3. Nitpick comment: Look at the whole image before you click that shutter - the 2008 jewerly piece is turned the other direction, and part of her pearls are showing. Again these are nitpick comments.

4. There was no exif data attached to this image - care to share?
5. WB looks a tad on the yellow side...but it could be my monitor - it hasn't been calibrated in so long!

Once again...congratulations to your sister.

Thanks for the comments.

I probably framed it crooked on purpose for some reason

I noticed the blown out spot on her face. I am still learning to pay attention to everything before I take the picture, but there is so much to pay attention to!

What is the best way to get the exif data?

I don't see a yellowish white balance, but being that I am new to all of this I could miss it just like other things

Again, thanks!

Swartzy

Hi Mike,

Forgive me for taking the liberty to work on your sis's photo but wanted to provide a visual example of what Seneca was speaking of. This edit addresses those issues of color balance, blown out facial features, orientation of frame, etc. I also did some other work as in whitening teeth, eyes, a slight amount of skin treatment, highlights/shadows...it takes me more time to write about it than do it...so....hope you don't mind.

There are many things to think of before you push the shutter button....you've got it....eventually, many of those things will become second nature but it will take dilligence. Not only do you have to learn "how" to make a photo with the camera but also understand some post processing. Yes, we all try to get everything perfect in camera....well we don't live in a perfect world

Here's your sis:

Big Mike

Swartzy wrote:

Hi Mike,

Forgive me for taking the liberty to work on your sis's photo but wanted to provide a visual example of what Seneca was speaking of. This edit addresses those issues of color balance, blown out facial features, orientation of frame, etc. I also did some other work as in whitening teeth, eyes, a slight amount of skin treatment, highlights/shadows...it takes me more time to write about it than do it...so....hope you don't mind.

There are many things to think of before you push the shutter button....you've got it....eventually, many of those things will become second nature but it will take dilligence. Not only do you have to learn "how" to make a photo with the camera but also understand some post processing. Yes, we all try to get everything perfect in camera....well we don't live in a perfect world

Here's your sis:

Very cool! The next step is for me to learn how to do that with my photos. I know how to do some things, but like taking the picture, there are so many things that can be changed and adjusted.

LittleLew

Swartzy wrote:

Hi Mike,

Forgive me for taking the liberty to work on your sis's photo but wanted to provide a visual example of what Seneca was speaking of. This edit addresses those issues of color balance, blown out facial features, orientation of frame, etc. I also did some other work as in whitening teeth, eyes, a slight amount of skin treatment, highlights/shadows...it takes me more time to write about it than do it...so....hope you don't mind.

Here's your sis:

You neglected to turn the medallion on her hat around. barb

Majik Imaje

Well I just gotta add my two cents. !! (again) !!
We create an image once. then process it and adjust it and do all those 'things' that are necessary to adjust. This is fun !

but the best part is when you can sell that image over and over and over for years. that is the best part of photography. Marketing is an art that most people never venture into. Its a lot of work but the results are amazing.

I just love that smile on a happy woman in a happy time at the end of a long road to graduation; the positive aspect of this photo is amazing. All nitpicking aside, can't compare to the feeling this photo invokes. This photo tells a wonderful story .. .. that's what I am focused on. Brushing her teeth in a photo ? ROFLMAO !! Well, I guess that would really make it a " DIGITAL GRIN" !!