Puzzled how to edit this... I've been struggling with this photo that I LOVE from the woman's facial expression but I'm just not sure the best way to edit it? I've thought about...

Annie B Loc: Maryland

I've been struggling with this photo that I LOVE from the woman's facial expression but I'm just not sure the best way to edit it?
I've thought about blurring the background, taking out the background or just leaving it alone (which I'm not satisfied with )

Would love to hear your ideas...

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

One way is to remove the color in the background only, and then burn the lighter areas. I did this quickly, so edges of their heads etc are imperfect.

Annie B Loc: Maryland

Linda From Maine wrote:

One way is to remove the color in the background only, and then burn the lighter areas. I did this quickly, so edges of their heads etc are imperfect.

Thank you! Hadnt thought of that

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Annie B wrote:

Thank you! Hadnt thought of that

There will probably be bits and pieces of several suggestions that you'll be able to mix and match to your preference

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

At first I just removed cyan and yellow, then I saw some red remaining. So you don't have to go totally b&w. Just some de-saturating, along with burning any overly bright areas, might work nicely. Often, small changes or going slowly, one step at a time, works better.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

You can tone down (darken) all the highlights in the backround with judicious use of the clone stamp tool......

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

imagemeister wrote:

You can tone down (darken) all the highlights in the backround with judicious use of the clone stamp tool......

A lot less work to use the BURN tool.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

Annie B wrote:

I've been struggling with this photo that I LOVE from the woman's facial expression but I'm just not sure the best way to edit it?
I've thought about blurring the background, taking out the background or just leaving it alone (which I'm not satisfied with )

Would love to hear your ideas...

Hows about this. Select subjects, reverse mask, reduce exposure to get what you want behind the woman's head. Then de-mask the lower part using the feathered brush to get what you want in the foreground.

Two minutes work in ACR.

Full area exposure reduction of all but woman and child

Foreground exposure not reduced as much as the rest

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I like your photo AS-IS. What is the woman's expression concerning? Is it because of the bird coming so close perhaps? If so then darkening the background leaves us wondering what her worry is all about since the bird is no longer prominent in the picture/story.

Dennis

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

dennis2146 wrote:

I like your photo AS-IS. What is the woman's expression concerning? Is it because of the bird coming so close perhaps? If so then darkening the background leaves us wondering what her worry is all about since the bird is no longer prominent in the picture/story.

Dennis

I agree.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

jaymatt wrote:

I agree.

Gracias Amigo.

Dennis

Bubbee Loc: Aventura, Florida

dennis2146 wrote:

Gracias Amigo.

Dennis

Me, too...I think you need the context. Could increase contrast and remove woman on right.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I agree that the bird should be left natural or maybe even brightened a bit. It's the critical element of the story.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

Annie B wrote:

I've been struggling with this photo that I LOVE from the woman's facial expression but I'm just not sure the best way to edit it?
I've thought about blurring the background, taking out the background or just leaving it alone (which I'm not satisfied with )

Would love to hear your ideas...

The expression would fit if you make her looking at a Dinosaur sneaking at them from the top left.