Cousins

[gregneil]

This is a photo I took of my neice and nephews during Christmas. I sat them in the chair with a soft lamp to the side of them and snapped about 50 shots, this one definitely was the best. I'd appreciate any comments and/or suggestions. I'm posting the original and the post-photoshop for comparison. (images link to full size jpgs)

Details:

Canon Digital Rebel
Canon 135 f2/L
Auto White Balance
ISO 400
f 2.0
1/40
handheld
jpg in camera large

http://gregneil.smugmug.com/photos/14817615-L.jpg (http://gregneil.smugmug.com/photos/14817615-O.jpg)

Post work:

* Used noise ninja for noise reduction
* adjusted levels slightly (pulled that middle triangle a little to the left :) )
* adjusted color balance (less yellow, less red, less green on mids, shadows, and highlights)
* pulled red saturation down a tad (about -20)
* adjusted brightness and contrast slightly
* healing brush for chocolate ice cream around Jack's mouth
* created layer mask for the whites of the eyes to make them stand out a little more
* unsharp mask 310%, .5 pixels, threshhold 0
* flatten, crop, print

http://gregneil.smugmug.com/photos/14817532-L.jpg (http://gregneil.smugmug.com/photos/14817532-O.jpg)

I'm thinking in retrospect the eyes may be a bit too bright now, but they don't look quite so weird on my print. I definitely need a new monitor - I kept having to print and make changes, print and make changes... things were always too yellow and green. Printed on a Canon i960 using photo paper pro.

Next time I'm definitely using a tripod and shooting RAW. I'm a little surprised there's so much noise in the original at ISO400.

And for those curious, these critters are the work of both my sisters, two a-piece.

[Nir]

Beautiful shot! They look so nice together!
I like the crop - the table on the right was in the way. Colors - maybe a little too yellow? Not sure.

[gus]

Thats terrific. Very warm shot.

[Mongrel]

Nice job. The second shot is definately a 'keeper', well done on the post processing.

As I look at the two boys on the left, I can't get over how 'classic' they look! Reminds me of the expressions seen in portraits from the early 1900's.

Just for fun, you may want to try to crop it down some more to isolate the two lads on the left. I'd like to see the effect of that.

[Sheye]

Colors - maybe a little too yellow? Not sure.For me I thought the colors may be still a little too red..it could just be my monitor but I edited to see how it looks...I truly hope you don't mind. Let me know how this looks for you. (I also added a screen layer at 50% just to brighten a little).

[Nir]

Definetely better! And again, a beautiful shot!

[lynnma]

Beautiful children and a beautiful shot.. to me tho the little girl is a little bright on the lighted side. :clap

[Mitchell]

I agree that the original is too yellow, but the processed pic has lost a lot of the warmth that I liked. Any way to keep this shot warm and lose some of the yellow?


mitch

[Steve Cavigliano]

I agree that the original is too yellow, but the processed pic has lost a lot of the warmth that I liked. Any way to keep this shot warm and lose some of the yellow?


mitch
Greg,
I was thinking the same thing. Yes, it was pretty yellow (the original) but I really liked the warmth. The edit is probably more accurate, as far as skin tone goes, but to me it's a bit red/magenta. And the pic has lost much of it's warmth.

I also agree with the other poster, who thought the two boys looked like they were in a circa 1900 pic.

I think the pics is very nice and whatever edit you decide on, takes nothing away from that :-)


Cute kids, and thanks for sharing,
Steve

[Sheye]

Yes, I did think after my edit that it looked like a different photo alltogether, not necessarily a better one. I guess it's what look you're after - the 2nd does have a lovely warmth to it and suggests being taken near to a fireplace on a cold night! My edit looks more like daylight to me...It's a lovely image and I'm amazed at how "perfect" the children look (in appearance and personality!!). My three would never sit still and pose like that!
Sheye

[gregneil]

Thanks for all the feedback! Hmmm... My PS version does look too red here at work. Thanks for giving it a go, Sheye! I think I like the warmer look better, but that's where I'm getting stuck. The original is definitely too yellow, but when I try to turn the yellow and red down, it looks like the kids are little green-yellow martian babies. I'm having a tough time getting a natural look that is still warm. I'll have to play with it some more.

Interesting comments about the boys. I'll have to try a crop and see if I can recreate that turn of the century feel.

And you should have seen the bizarre dance my sister was doing off to the side to get the kids in that trance!