I learned that I desperately want a zoom lens with a fixed aperture. I was photographing a friend's baby last week and WOW was I ever frustrated. It is very difficult to photograph a 6 month old in manual when every time you zoom in or out your aperture changes affecting the other settings. I did it, but it wasn't easy. At least, he was on a plain background, so the DOF (depth of field) or lack thereof, didn't play as big of a role.
After
Shot with Nikon D90
Edited in ACR/PSE 8
Before
- In Adobe Camera Raw I added fill light (9), increased the blacks (3), increased brightness (14), increased contrast (2), increased clarity (3), and vibrancy (2)
- Opened in PSE 8
- Duplicated background layer, applied high pass filter with a soft light blending mode (80% opacity)
- Hue/Saturation adjustment layer--increased yellow sat. (4) and red sat. (2). From Ashley, I have learned that a photo typically needs the yellows decreased, but while playing around I realized the fruit and crackers popped more if I increased the yellows.
- Levels adjustment layer--increased midtones (1.26) and blacks (23)
- applied white layer mask to levels adjustment layer and removed the effect from the food (brush at 80% opacity).
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24 comments:
Such a cute shot of the little guy, and I really love your edit.....nice subtle clean edit!
I really like your subtle edit - it didn't need much but you made it pop. Also....I highly recommend the Tamron 28-75mm lens - constant f/2.8 aperture!
6 month old are difficult to shoot.. so are newborns, even when they are sleeping.. both of these ages have constant muscle movement..
Great job! and love your before and after..I agree with Ashley on the tamron lens!
Beautiful job on the edits! great shots :-)
Great Tutorial, Ashley right about the yellow.
love the shot of the cutie in the basket - great job!
Great job! The baby is so cute!
so many lens, so little money :( great job with the edit it looks wonderful
Love these!
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one struggling with the aperture thing. Little ones are so hard to shoot, because they move and you have to keep adjusting, and this little guy's dark vest really must have changed things up when you moved closer. You did great, though!
Great job with the edit, very simple but made it pop.
Nice, simple edit. :)
And that is one cute little guy in a basket! :D
That is so adorable! Great photo. Have you thought of getting a 50mm or 35mm? I use my 35mm for all portraits and not a zoom lens.
Oh and great job on the edit.
I’ve been at blissdom and now have blissdom plague – blech. I missed your words and pictures.
And look at this shiny new site – and fun font. Wow.
I didn’t understand a bit of it. But I’m glad I was here. And the pictures are always terrific.
God Bless and Keep
Love the shot of the cutie, although I'm a bit partial :) And that's so neat how the subtle changes in the food photo really made the colors pop - great job!
Your edit was just perfect - not too much at all was needed as it was such a good sooc to begin with.
I COMPLETELY know how you feel... I am longing for the exact same thing.
awesome edits! The baby is precious and perfect. You should get a prime lens! I have a 50mm and it's awesome.
Very nice edit. Great photographs!
Oh man! I can't believe you just have the kit lens! That is such a challenge. You should be proud of yourself for the photos you have captured with that sucker :O) Hope you can get your hands on a zoom with a fixed aperture. If not, I recommend the 50mm 1.8! I love that bad boy!
Your SOOC looked awesome! Great edits :)
He is such a handsome boy! Love the picture!
I love that pop of color!
Great edit and l love the composition of your shot.
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