This week’s fix it friday comes from the wildly talented Keli (whose blog I simply adore!). I will confess though, this is one of those photos I did struggle with. I ain’t too proud to admit it. LOL This one was a little difficult. Here is the original image:
As you can see, it’s overexposed on her face, but because she was sitting underneath a tree, the dappled lighting fell on other parts (her adorable tiny toes) and overexposed them. To fix this photo properly, I would have moved the baby first (hindsight….I know LOL) to a place with more even solid shade. However, if it was unavailable or the photo just had to be taken as is….just take the shot and play with it later! LOL
So, here is my first edit:
I made a new layer first before I started any of my fixes. Then I adjusted levels by pulling up the midtones a bit and bringing out the shadows more with the shadow slider and erased back in any highlights that were blown out even more. (Why it’s good to have another layer!) Then I used my dodge tool to try to lighten the shadow that was going across half of her face. I wanted it to be a little more even. (Wish I had done a little more on her hat now, too.) I adjusted the color using my color balance tool and then used a warming filter on the over all photo to warm it up a bit. Then I used a high pass filter to sharpen a bit, and after I was finished I decided to go back in with my unsharp mask as well. I also did a SLIGHT softening on her skin just to smooth it out after I had dodged it.
Finally, I added a photo veil by the amazingly talented Michelle and Misti of Love that Shot. I used their Dewberry veil from their Simplicity collection. It just came it a nice look! I am so excited to have learned how to use these correctly! LOL I’m such a nerd! HAAAAAAA! Oh, and I cropped it to cut out the distracting lamp post. Forgot about that.
And there you go!
Then, because I was struggling with the photo in color, I thought I would do it really fast in black and white….just for fun. Just to see if it would be better:
Black and white edit:
I used Florabella’s Rain action from her Spring action set II and then reduced the opacity of it down to 55%. I adjusted the shadows and midtones in levels and then dodged her little undereye circles. Then I went in and burned some of the background to make her sweet face pop out of the background. Then I did a much tighter crop. I loved her little face and her little chubby hands, and I wanted to emphasize though, so I cropped in quite a bit.
And I liked it…..until I realized that you couldn’t tell if it was a little girl or a little boy…..and then I had to fix that. HAAAAAA!
So my last edit:
I took the same photo from above and I applied one of Route 66′s Photo flavor actions “Cherry Mousse” and then reduced the opacity down til I was happy with it. (These actions are awesome!) I just thought it emphasized more that this was a precious, adorable baby GIRL.
BE KIND!
Dana-from chaos to Grace
My photographic journey began in July in 2007 where I assumed I would purchase the expensive camera, and all my photos would be breathtaking, and I’d make a kajillion dollars. People would throw their wallets at me….I’d be famous and stuff….
I learned very quickly the error in my thinking.
It meant late late nights studying all I could and practice practice PRACTICE!
I’m not the best. I’m not the worst. I am learning, and I think it’s pretty acceptable to camp out there for awhile….maybe the rest of my life. For when I have reached perfection, what more is there to do?
Dana’s Photography Facebook fanpage (Feel free to LIKE me! I’d be honored! And a little giddy….I might do a little dance of joy!)
Dana’s website: Dana’s Photography (Click on that a few times so my ratings will go up! LOL Wait…..does that work?)
