How do make this better

Dekka · 08-31-2008, 09:35 PM

Still very much a newbie (have only had my K20 for just over a month now and had never played with an SLR camera before) I have been reading this forum voraciously and *I think, have been getting a small bit better.

I like this pic, but what can I do, or could I have done to make it better?

Jimbo · 08-31-2008, 10:54 PM

I like the shot.. but I have been told many times its all about the detail. I noticed the red line between the dogs back legs... may have been better without it.. There is one other thing that I get questioned about on my shots.. [underexposure] This may on been on the edge.. There are a lot of people in this forum that can assist you... Still a great shot. JIMBO

*Damn Brit* · 08-31-2008, 11:33 PM

Can you give us the exif data please Dekka?

Taff · 09-01-2008, 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by Dekka

Still very much a newbie (have only had my K20 for just over a month now and had never played with an SLR camera before) I have been reading this forum voraciously and *I think, have been getting a small bit better.

I like this pic, but what can I do, or could I have done to make it better?

Hi There

Do you wish to "make it better" in camera or pp

I believe an image is "best" when you are happiest with it, personally I would try levels in photoshop just to brighten it up slightly.

Not knowing what colour the white is in the dogs cheeks makes it hard for anyone but you to get it right

Hope this helps, I am far from expert and there are probably many more here that could help

Taff

Dekka · 09-01-2008, 06:52 AM

I can pp the red out. (might suck at photog stuff but I can manipulate already good pics)

What about the crop?

Any suggestions pp or from taking the pic would be GREAT!

How did you get the exif data? (told you I was a newbie)

pasipasi · 09-01-2008, 08:05 AM

I'd brighten this up a bit too

Dekka · 09-01-2008, 09:15 AM

So like this?

Jimbo · 09-01-2008, 10:15 AM

Big improvement on the second one.. JIMBO

*mithrandir* · 09-01-2008, 10:17 AM

I like your post processing adjustments.

song_hm · 09-01-2008, 10:20 AM

I like the pensive mood of this shot, and The focus is spot on where it need to be.

The negative space to the right is quite prominent, the eyes are drawn to it at the expense of the main subject, suggest cropping at least half off using 6x4. Or if it suit your taste, try an aggressive 5x4 that crop some of the shadow area to the left and that red line between the hind legs.

The image is underexposed with a touch of greenish cast. If you have Photoshop, use a Level layer with Snap-to-neutral option. The snap-to-neutral ought to take care of the greenish cast. Some of the white furs are likely to blow out, use a low opacity brush (say 25%) on the level mask to selectively restore.

I've glossed over a lot of details, PM me if you need more detailed explanation.

*Damn Brit* · 09-01-2008, 04:57 PM

Your PP has made it much better but I agree with Song's comments about the greenish cast and crop. A longer exposure would have been better and personally I would have pushed the Fstop a bit more to improve the DOF.

Hey, we are all learning and this forum is one of the best places to learn.

song_hm · 09-01-2008, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by Dekka

Those are things I have not yet done in photoshop. Most of the time I have played with photos that were already good. (ie not mine) Or didn't matter (ie mine with a point and shoot)

So a further explanation would be great or if you could point me to a tutorial that would be great!

Kerri

Kerri,

This is one way to do it in Photoshop CS2 or CS3:

1) Create a Level Layer using "Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Levels...". On the Level dialog, click on "Options" button, select Snap to Neutral Midtones. Press OK twice, the image should brighten up, and green cast eliminated.

2) You should see the Level layer [1] above the background layer. Prepare to eliminate the blown highlights. Click to select the level mask [see 1], the white box should now be double framed. Next select the brush tool [see 2], set the brush size to something small [see 2 at top], here I use 20. Next, set the brush color to black [3]. Finally, set set brush opacity to something low [see 3 at top].

3) With mask still selected (white box double framed), brush away blown out highlight (marked red) directly on the image.

4) Finally crop as desired. Here I chose middle of the road 7x5.

Dekka · 09-01-2008, 08:30 PM

thanx!! will try that.