Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

I took my camera to the water park to get some candid shots of my grand kids. While there are many to choose from this on strikes me the most.
f/6.3, shutter speed 1/1600, ISO 800, focal length 200mm. I sized it down to 900 x 600 from a full frame shot.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

GREAT EXPRESSION. Not every portrait of a child needs to have a big smile. Serious studies are beautiful and subtle. They display well in large prints.

I did an edit for you- we do this in this section. The original image, on my screen, was too red and made the ski look rough. The red bias neutral the incredibly big blue/gray eyes. Kids of that age tend to scratch their skin while playing rough etc., so a little retouching is in order.

You captured an amazing expression.

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

E.L.. Shapiro, thank you! I too noticed after posting that the face was too red. There was a canopy over our heads casting color onto her face. I did quite a bit of retouching some of the bigger issues at hand I did go back for some more touch up. Thanks again.

fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

This is a wonderful portrait. I have very little skill with color manipulations, and I think Mr. Shapiro has done that quite well. However I would like to see the eyes a little more intense, so I took his version and altered some with that in mind. A precious portrait no matter how its processed.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

On my screen, calibrated monthly with SpyderX, your version appears a bit washed out and pale. I know different monitors give different results so just my color profile, I'm sure. I agree, amazing expression.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Right! I generally prefer a more saturated and slightly denser print or screen image. In fact, when I am printing, I try to consider where the print will be displayed and the lighting conditions and test and judge accordingly. For print competitions and so-called "salon prints," I will print darker or in accordance with a specified level of light, usually specified in foot/candles. If I gave that print to a client, they would probably it too dark unless they were willing to install a picture frame or track light of the proper luminosity and colour temperature.

Screens are a different a more chaotic ballgame. There are differences in calibration and by the time the image is transmitted over the Internet and ends up on the forum it's simply a matter of "who knows"???

When I did not make the original image or know the subject, I can't be sure of the actual skin tone or authentic eye colour so I just hazard a guess.

Also, when correcting colour, density and contrast have to be established first. Even when the correction is made the colour density will change if the all-over density is altered.

On the computer that I use for my commercial work, the screen is calibrated with those of the ad agencies and lithographic printers that receive my work so there are no discrepancies. The one I use in the office to post on the forum is calibrated to my own taste- it's for casual use and clerical communications. There is a third computer in the port printing room carefully calibrated and even so, skin tones can be challenging. Some folks prefer a warmer tone or a "tan". Others want to be "lilly white", I remember whe Kodak's colour printing standard calibration negative "Shirley" was only a caucasian female model. It was not until late in the game, almost at the end of the film era in professional work, that they include black brown and Asian modes in the test negative. Waht about an old guy with sunburned or weatherbeaten skin?

It's all subjective and if you do lots of portraitures, you learn to cope with these issues on a case-to-case basis.

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

I love that image Lens Cap. I know with my grandchildren it is a struggle to get a natural expression and I have to snap quickly when that happens. I do like the red reduction that Ed has provided. Maybe a bit too hazy for me, but it is growing on me. I think this will be a treasured photo in the family album.

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

Thank you jaysnave!

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

Beautiful child!!

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

Thsnk you DickC

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

Your welcome sir, it reminds me of my daughter...now 57!!

nikonuser750 Loc: Monroe, LA

I can't disagree that the original might be a bit red but I much prefer it to all the adjustments as the all look washed out to me. They just seem to lack vibrance.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

As I mentioned previously, colour and density as well and vibrancy can be subjective. That being said, I never met a kid with a bright red or orange complexion. Sometimes due to exposure errors, problems with white balance and contrast in the original file, it becomes nearly impossible to achieve a perfect skin tone and contrast through post-processing.

In this case, the excessive "red" yielded an unnatural skin tone and neutralized the colour of the eyes.

The OP provided a downloaded saved image- feel free to make a correction as per your own taste.

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

So when this image was taken there was an red/orange umbrella overhead. This umbrella cast it's color onto her face, making it difficult at best to correct. I too have since gone back and re edited this image which I have posted here. Mostly I found by reducing the temperature I got this edit.......

(Download)