trc Loc: Logan, OH

Greetings fellow members,

I posted this shot once before about 3-5 days ago, but did not get it in this forum where I meant it to be, so here I go again!

Here is a little background about the image. While my wife and I were visiting one of four boys and his wife, his youngest brother was there as well. I brought my camera, of course, to take some photos of our new grandson. While walking around in the house, I came across an opportunity to quickly capture the moment, as an impromptu picture that would quickly go away, so I had to act fast! I saw my son (the Uncle) and his nephew in the dining room close to a window letting in natural light. I had no time for fill light/flash or reflector, obviously, and I shoot a Nikon D800, RAW format, in full manual mode, and had my 24-70mm f/2.8 lens attached. I rapidly made all my settings best I could, instinctively brought my camera up in landscape view (used to shoot a lot of landscape shots), and pressed the shutter release button.

Now, I know it should have been shot in portrait view and possibly with some fill light (or maybe not?), but I like the tranquil setting of the capture of an Uncle and his recently born nephew. It obviously was taken for a family album and memories, and wasn't taken for a paying client. Also, my son flys an Army Blackhawk (helicopter) and is soon to leave for Germany. I know he was very much enjoying this time with his nephew.

There are two almost identical images posted here. Both were slightly processed in ACR and Photoshop CC. I purposely kept the solitude atmosphere that I captured and did not artificially globally brighten (increase the exposure) these, maintaining the single natural light source from the window. This was taken in a dining room with brownish walls which is not my true choice of colors for the background, but, it is what it is, without changing it in Photoshop, and, actually not too terribly bad? I did take out a picture frame that was behind my son's head in the background because I received more than one comment, before, when I previously posted.

The second shot has only one difference. In it, I used the radial filter in ACR to add a little more light to my son's eye manipulating the radial filter direction such that it did not shine much on his nose, face, or in front of his nose. In other words, I purposely restricted the added artificial light mostly directed toward and around his eye to draw just a little attention to it. I did not want to over power it taking away the lighting on my grandson's face (after all, he was the star, right?). I also liked the subtle shadow on my grandson's face furthest away from the window light. I guess I was pleased with the 'portrait' shot of the two of them, the Uncle and the Nephew. :)

My Question Is: Which picture do you like or approve of more - the first without the added light to my son's eye or the second with the subtle additional light added in using ACR and Photoshop CC?

Of course, any and all comments are welcome, wanted, and appreciated by all viewers including suggestions to make it better, under the conditions I stated, using whatever PP'ing techniques available at hand. The RAW image was quickly shot at 1/80 sec, ISO 200, f/4, Full Manual Mode, Spot Metering, No Flash, and 70 mm.

Lastly, I'll be in and out and only available at times, so bear with me and I will try to respond to the comments, suggestions, criticisms, etc. as soon as I am able. Thank you all very much for your time and effort in responding. :) :thumbup:

Best Regards,
Tom :)

No Light Added on Uncle's Eye


Subtle Light Added on Uncle's Eye

jrb1213 Loc: McDonough GEorgia

While it is the current style among many photographers to cut off the top of the head I think it only works when the photo is tightly cropped on all sides. That being said, I really like the background color in this shot, so I would not want to lose it. While it is the uncle who is in the photo he seems to be thinking "What will the future bring?" Being a new grandfather myself it really touches my heart. Great capture. I prefer the second shot.
Can you clone out the dark shape in the lower left?

smcaleer Loc: Dearborn Heights, Michigan

I like the second one with the added light on your son's eyes. I think this is a loving capture. What a treasure! The baby is adorable.

trc Loc: Logan, OH

jrb,

Thanks much for the comments, and congrats on being a grandfather! :) I appreciate you liking the background color - I think you are the first to like it from my previous posting. As for the dark shape, it is part of a stand against the wall in the dining room. Yes, it can be removed from the picture. I just never took the time to do so since it is for our personal use, but fully understand.

When capturing an image quickly, getting extraneous features/items in a shot is almost a certainty - Hah! The cropped off head is yet another hazard or casualty from quickly trying to capture the moment, you know, something like tunnel vision. I only concentrated and saw what I wanted to see and my blinders must have been on, blocking out the rest of the composition. I do agree that heads and other parts do get cropped occasionally on purpose in photos for effect or whatever, but I normally don't - just another hazard due to my brevity to take the shot. :) Thanks again for all of your input.

Tom

trc Loc: Logan, OH

Hi smcaleer,

Thanks for your preference between the two images. Your comments are most appreciated about the picture and the baby. I guess we are kind of partial about him as well. Thank you very, very much.

Tom

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

I prefer the second one with added light. Now that the dark picture frame is gone, the triangular object should probably go as well. I love this photo very much.

trc Loc: Logan, OH

Hi Heirloom Tomato,

Thank you once again. Good to see and hear from you. Check back in just a little bit and I will post a quickly rendered photo of just the one with the added light to the eye area. Hopefully it will be much improved from the original picture I posted. :) Thank you once again for taking the time to look and express your opinion. Have a great day! :)

Tom

trc Loc: Logan, OH

Everyone,

Here is a quickly corrected/suggested/improved image done in Photoshop CC of just the one with the added light to the eye of my son (the Uncle). See what you think compared to the original image I posted at the beginning of this topic thread. Thank you all very much. :)

Tom :thumbup:

Corrected Image 2 No Frame or Stand in Background

jrb1213 Loc: McDonough GEorgia

I say print it large and frame it.

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

I personally don't car for this photo. Only because the father, if in fact is the father, has the look of fear in his face, Like he is befing forced to hold that child. His hand also looks cramped and not really holding the child. It's just not natural in my view. Aside from the cropping, It is not one I would want. But that is just my opinion.

trc Loc: Logan, OH

Hi Bill,

It is amazing the different perceptions people have from a picture. I'm sure you have heard the phrase, "That Picture is Worth a Thousand Words." I honestly wonder how many pages could be filled with different words from just one image?

I believe that is the case for most every picture ever captured by photographers. There are so many different people from so many varying 'walks of life' in our world which probably explains why there are so many varying interpretations of just one single Photo. :)

I appreciate your comment and interpretation and for taking the time to share it with me and everyone on UHH who happens to follow this forum thread. Thank you for your opinion. :) Have a great day. :thumbup:

Tom

trc Loc: Logan, OH

Welcome Back jrb,

Just how large would you print this one? (Rhetorical question) If I were close by, I'd come over and take a photo of your new grandchild so you could sit back and gaze at a large print hanging on your wall. :)

Thank you for your kind recommendation and for the positive feedback. It is much appreciated.

Best Regards,
Tom :thumbup:

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

You nailed it. Beautiful! Tranquility indeed.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I like this photo for a lot of the reasons that Bill does not. I like that he doesn't look completely comfortable holding this baby. The baby doesn't seem to be bothered by this at all and is totally relaxed. I think the white of his eye is a little too bright in the second version. I also like trc's rework, but would have cropped just behind your son's ear to bring the composition more toward the rule of thirds and to balance the crop to the top of his head.
Nice shot that I think will be treasured by both of the subjects in years to come.

Nightski

It is so true that many men are uncomfortable holding infants. My son's are at the age where their friends are starting to have children. It was quite a bit of fun for me to see one of my sons holding a baby. He looked pretty awkward. It was precious.