I entered this weeks contest with this image, and it is rated - for now - between 'snapshot' and 'needs work'. I can live with 'needs work' - provided a comment is given, but snapshot ?
It is quite experimental - that's why I'm posting it here.
What do you think of it and how do you believe I should improve it ?
Thanks !
Nice bike though! The picture is a little to dark for me. This is a really difficult shot. I have no idea what I would have done...
Did you shoot in raw?
Thanks !
Yes, raw + jpeg all the time. I have tried to brighten it up, but it didn't work out.
in the lower left corner, I had to erase myself ;-)
I think you can get a little more out of it. I made a quick try on your jpeg. If it's okay for you, can you please show a screenshot of the histogram? I think, I can help you a little.
No problem sharing the histogram. I just had another shoot with bike+daughter (of almost 6) to get it right... she's really cooperative today :-) .
Hope I get something out of that !
;)
I don't know what tool you are using, but I think the terms should be the same.
In the histogram you can see, that you only using dark and mid tones. Try to spread it out. You can use a Levels adjustment. Bring in the whites till it touches the right of the histogram. You need maybe to adjust the contrast after that.
I would only apply it to the center (not to the iris) by masking. Also a vignette can help to darken the iris a little.
For the purple/red fringing around the eye lashes. You can use a HSL adjustment. Just play aroud with the red channel saturation and brightness.
I hope I make sense ;)
Thanks for the help ! I use version 4 of Canon's Digital Photo Professional. Seems I have the same issues with my new shots also, I will try to make the best of your advice !
No problem. Try not to under expose the picture in camera. It also helps to reduce noise.
I think you will find the proper tools in the Canon Software.
Good luck and keep in mind, everything needs practice.
This morning I did the shot over for the 4th time, but this time with my wife (daughter was a bit fed up, can't blame her).
The story is a little bit different though (submitted it as my last entry for the contest).
To me, the first photo did not permit us to see the motorbike obviolously. In the second image, the tonic most of all concerns the eye but not the véhicule. A postprocess job is needed to display accuretly the bike and to create a brigther look.
A tighter crop would maybe solve some of the issues ? I know I can't go too tight, because then I loose the context of the eye ... (one of the problems in my other two attempts)
well, firstly I would remove the motorbike from the pupil (the front wheel is right on it). Then, I would constrast the machine and probably may try to lighten the eye.
After, I would try to crop (maybe 10 tot 20% to be closer to the eye).
Because the topic deals with a desire, the scene whould be brighter, like a sparkle in the eye.
To me, the direction of the look sounds good. We understand she's lloking at something.
Hope to be helpful,
David
Thanks and very helpful indeed !
I'm not quite sure how I should work around the pupil... Do you mean like putting the bike below or above it ?
About the lighting.. I always make the mistake to expose for the whole, while I should expose for the detail inside the eye.
Totally agree about the crop. On the previous one I was a bit too aggressive, now I was too cautious.
Actyally, I would try to move the motorbike to the left of the pupil. As well, the machine should be more on obvious.
I like the new one better, but do think it should be cropped tighter. I just need to see the tiniest it of skin all around it. Position of the bike looks OK to me. I think if you go too much farther one way or the other it will look too warped and distorted. I also feel the hands and watch are a bit distracting, unless they're part of the story that I'm missing. If they're saying something about waiting maybe point to the watch?
I feel the same about moving the bike away from the pupil... It would feel off i think.
I tried a tighter crop... (centered it around the logo on the tank)
Ian, what camera and lens did you use to shoot this? It's been a bit since I used DPP4. I went to the Adobe suite here a couple of months ago... Let's see if I can remember anything about it. Lol. If it's a fisheye and one that DPP can recognize you may be able to use the "Emphasize Periphery" in the Distortion Correction for Fisheye Lenses under the Lens Correction tool palette. The "Emphasize Periphery" should help with the small distortion from the eye. I would also see if that bit of fringing like on the lashes is just from your lens I'd see if the Lens Correction tool could help. You can make adjustments to different part of the images in the Partial Adjustment tool palette. That said, I'm not sure you will be able to get a good blend of the bike in the eye without making a composite but kuddos for trying something different!! Hope this helps.
Thanks for your inspiring comment !
I use the Canon EOS 200D with the 100mm 2.8L macro lens.
The software I'm using is indeed DPP4 and GIMP.
I've been thinking about doing a composite, but I'm afraid it will look totally fake (my post-skills are pretty much beginner-level) ...
If you not trying, you'll not getting better! ;)
wow this looks great