snowy smile

Curtis Cunningham · #1 01-10-2009, 02:17 AM

Over the Christmas break, our family flew down to Vancouver to spend a week with my wife's family. One day we went to the airport at another city to pick up an aunt and uncle. While we were waiting for the flight, I happily got a few images of the tremendous amount of snow that had fallen on the vehicles in the parking lot.

This particular shot is one of my favourites because of the emotion the snow is exhibiting.

I'm just not sure of the empty space in the top left and the dark spaces in the bottom left and right sides. I tried cropping the top and bottom off to focus on the "smile", but somehow it didn't seem right at that particular moment. Perhaps if I go back and do it again it might seem better.

So are these areas I mentioned too distracting, or do they help to add context to the photo? Which is more important, a possibly stronger focus or more context?

Noel_Carboni · #2 01-25-2009, 12:58 PM

Curtis, something about the color and/or processing treatment is making the image feel flat to me. I believe it could make a very nice image indeed if it could be made to feel more 3D.

-Noel

Curtis Cunningham · #3 01-25-2009, 11:50 PM

Thanks Noel. I'm really just getting my feet wet with being comfortable with making changes to a RAW file, so I'll see what I can do and post my results.

Do you have a favourite RAW converter? I'm just using the one right now that comes with Photoshop until I can save up enough $$ for Lightroom.

Noel_Carboni · #4 01-25-2009, 11:59 PM

Personally I'm quite fond of Photoshop's converter (called Camera Raw).

By the way it's the same raw conversion engine that's in LightRoom.

-Noel

drew · #5 01-26-2009, 01:42 AM

Hi Curtis,

Not really sure what would make it better. I guess you could have zoomed out a little and stuck a corn cob pipe and a button nose... (just kidding).

For starters, you might want to "neutralize" the snow, unless you're intentionally going for that "cool blue" look. I know, I know, all I can all ever talk about now is white balance. After that you might try bumping up the contrast and/ or pulling up the edges of the smile in PS. Or selectively blurring the edges a bit kind of like a lensbaby effect.

Not really sure, but it could be a fun image to play around with a bit.

ksgkphoto · #6 01-26-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drew

Hi Curtis,

For starters, you might want to "neutralize" the snow, unless you're intentionally going for that "cool blue" look.

I agree with Drew here... The blue to me is distracting... If given this image and asked to identify it.. I'd be hard pushed... it could be some "science" artifact... special rock formation... sagging white lava flow...

I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer.. and really don't see myself as "artistic"... and I appreciate the opportunity to look and see what "others" are doing.. You are the photographer.. and its your "intent"...

K