Abstract Portrait for a friend

**Mooncatt** · 12-18-2020, 02:40 PM

A before and after image for a photo I'm planning to print as a gift for a friend. I'm kind of questioning the saturation of the backdrop, but otherwise I'm not seeing anything major on my end. I'd appreciate another set of eyes on it before I print it off.

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SpecialK · 12-18-2020, 06:31 PM

A little cropping all around.

pkboy · 12-18-2020, 07:33 PM

I don't like how dark that red is, the backdrop that is. It being dark, and the kid's face being half in shadow, makes it less... poppy.

I'd lighten the backdrop and brighten the face. The red would be more pink which is less festive but yeah

pentaxshooter89 · 12-18-2020, 07:54 PM

Yes, background is too bright.

**Mooncatt** · 12-18-2020, 08:12 PM

Originally posted by pkboy

I don't like how dark that red is, the backdrop that is.

Originally posted by pentaxshooter89

Yes, background is too bright.

So which is it? Lol.

pkboy · 12-18-2020, 08:24 PM

Originally posted by Mooncatt

So which is it? Lol.

I was speaking of the luminosity of the red, so if you raised it, it would go towards *pink* which produces a less *bright* red, which is what it currently is.

**Mooncatt** · 12-18-2020, 08:48 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pkboy

I was speaking of the luminosity of the red, so if you raised it, it would go towards *pink* which produces a less *bright* red, which is what it currently is.

I get your point and will look into that. My comment was mostly the juxtaposition of you saying it was too dark and the other member saying it was too bright.

pkboy · 12-19-2020, 01:23 AM

Originally posted by Mooncatt

I get your point and will look into that. My comment was mostly the juxtaposition of you saying it was too dark and the other member saying it was too bright.

Gotcha

Another suggestion, I see you're from WI... where's the Packers gear?! Maybe photoshop some logos on those green baubles! Go Pack Go

**Mooncatt** · 12-19-2020, 06:52 AM

Originally posted by pkboy

Go Pack Go

I'd rather they just go. Like to another city. I hate football and the traffic problems they create in Green Bay sucks.

pkboy · 12-19-2020, 05:01 PM

Originally posted by Mooncatt

I'd rather they just go. Like to another city. I hate football and the traffic problems they create in Green Bay sucks.

Traffic isn't much of a problem this year though, I bet

**Mooncatt** · 12-19-2020, 06:08 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pkboy

Traffic isn't much of a problem this year though, I bet

I'm a trucker, so the less traffic, the better.

Btw and to bring this back on track, I ended up sending that and a couple others to Walgreens to print (don't laugh, my monitor sucks too much for photo labs XD ), and they called to ask for a copyright release because they looked like a professional shoot. Guess I'm doing something right, and will pick them up either tonight or tomorrow.

**MSL** · 12-19-2020, 08:06 PM

The second version is better in that the toy soldier, snowman and tree decorations are all brighter and have more pop as does the baby's t-shirt. But there are two things I really don't like about the second image that are better in the first. One is that there is some contrast between the santa hat and the background, while in the second image they are almost, but not quite the same shade of red. The second is that the tweaking of the reds has made the baby's complexion worse, with parts of the lips and cheeks standing out in an unflattering way. I'm probably being overly critical, but hope this is helpful.

**Mooncatt** · 12-19-2020, 10:07 PM

Originally posted by MSL

The second version is better in that the toy soldier, snowman and tree decorations are all brighter and have more pop as does the baby's t-shirt. But there are two things I really don't like about the second image that are better in the first. One is that there is some contrast between the santa hat and the background, while in the second image they are almost, but not quite the same shade of red. The second is that the tweaking of the reds has made the baby's complexion worse, with parts of the lips and cheeks standing out in an unflattering way. I'm probably being overly critical, but hope this is helpful.

Nope, not overly critical at all. The print turned out much better than I expected, but I need to reprint it anyway and will try to get those touch ups done first. When I ordered it, I sent the wrong one and printed this 3.4MP low resolution copy with my watermark on it. Oops. XD

**Mooncatt** · 12-20-2020, 05:37 PM

I think this is going to do it for this photo. I basically started from scratch and didn't get so aggressive on removing the wrinkles of the backdrop and didn't pump up the saturation so much. The clashing of it with the Santa hat is still a bit there, but I don't think there's any avoiding that without a drastic color alteration. Still better than it was. I also worked on the forehead shadowing and facial blemish, and overall satisfied. The only thing bugging me, and I think is due to the lens itself, is some of the props are not very sharp. I tried putting it through Topaz Sharpen AI (the raw, tiffs, and jpegs), and it surprisingly made the results worse.

Alex_Ros · 12-20-2020, 06:44 PM

It is actually quite abstract. I like that is a truth.

But as they say, all baby pictures are beautiful.

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12-18-2020, 06:31 PM	#2
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	A little cropping all around.

12-18-2020, 07:33 PM	#3
pkboy Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Lantau Island Posts: 890	I don't like how dark that red is, the backdrop that is. It being dark, and the kid's face being half in shadow, makes it less... poppy. I'd lighten the backdrop and brighten the face. The red would be more pink which is less festive but yeah

12-18-2020, 07:54 PM	#4
pentaxshooter89 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 365	Yes, background is too bright.

12-18-2020, 08:12 PM	#5
Mooncatt Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2020 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,372 Original Poster	Originally posted by pkboy I don't like how dark that red is, the backdrop that is. Originally posted by pentaxshooter89 Yes, background is too bright. So which is it? Lol.

12-18-2020, 08:24 PM	#6
pkboy Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Lantau Island Posts: 890	Originally posted by Mooncatt So which is it? Lol. I was speaking of the luminosity of the red, so if you raised it, it would go towards pink which produces a less bright red, which is what it currently is.

12-18-2020, 08:48 PM - 1 Like	#7
Mooncatt Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2020 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,372 Original Poster	Originally posted by pkboy I was speaking of the luminosity of the red, so if you raised it, it would go towards pink which produces a less bright red, which is what it currently is. I get your point and will look into that. My comment was mostly the juxtaposition of you saying it was too dark and the other member saying it was too bright.

12-19-2020, 01:23 AM	#8
pkboy Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Lantau Island Posts: 890	Originally posted by Mooncatt I get your point and will look into that. My comment was mostly the juxtaposition of you saying it was too dark and the other member saying it was too bright. Gotcha Another suggestion, I see you're from WI... where's the Packers gear?! Maybe photoshop some logos on those green baubles! Go Pack Go

12-19-2020, 06:52 AM	#9
Mooncatt Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2020 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,372 Original Poster	Originally posted by pkboy Go Pack Go I'd rather they just go. Like to another city. I hate football and the traffic problems they create in Green Bay sucks.

12-19-2020, 05:01 PM	#10
pkboy Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Lantau Island Posts: 890	Originally posted by Mooncatt I'd rather they just go. Like to another city. I hate football and the traffic problems they create in Green Bay sucks. Traffic isn't much of a problem this year though, I bet

12-19-2020, 06:08 PM - 1 Like	#11
Mooncatt Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2020 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,372 Original Poster	Originally posted by pkboy Traffic isn't much of a problem this year though, I bet I'm a trucker, so the less traffic, the better. Btw and to bring this back on track, I ended up sending that and a couple others to Walgreens to print (don't laugh, my monitor sucks too much for photo labs XD ), and they called to ask for a copyright release because they looked like a professional shoot. Guess I'm doing something right, and will pick them up either tonight or tomorrow.

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12-19-2020, 08:06 PM	#12
MSL Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,749	The second version is better in that the toy soldier, snowman and tree decorations are all brighter and have more pop as does the baby's t-shirt. But there are two things I really don't like about the second image that are better in the first. One is that there is some contrast between the santa hat and the background, while in the second image they are almost, but not quite the same shade of red. The second is that the tweaking of the reds has made the baby's complexion worse, with parts of the lips and cheeks standing out in an unflattering way. I'm probably being overly critical, but hope this is helpful.

12-19-2020, 10:07 PM	#13
Mooncatt Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2020 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,372 Original Poster	Originally posted by MSL The second version is better in that the toy soldier, snowman and tree decorations are all brighter and have more pop as does the baby's t-shirt. But there are two things I really don't like about the second image that are better in the first. One is that there is some contrast between the santa hat and the background, while in the second image they are almost, but not quite the same shade of red. The second is that the tweaking of the reds has made the baby's complexion worse, with parts of the lips and cheeks standing out in an unflattering way. I'm probably being overly critical, but hope this is helpful. Nope, not overly critical at all. The print turned out much better than I expected, but I need to reprint it anyway and will try to get those touch ups done first. When I ordered it, I sent the wrong one and printed this 3.4MP low resolution copy with my watermark on it. Oops. XD

12-20-2020, 06:44 PM	#15
Alex_Ros Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 103	It is actually quite abstract. I like that is a truth. But as they say, all baby pictures are beautiful.