Thursday, June 23, 2011

Two Handsome Boys + Me = Family

This edit was very time consuming (for me), but I love this photo for so many reasons that the time was worth it.
  1. I love the eye contact my 2 boys are making with the camera (it is rarity now a days  to capture B looking at the camera).
  2. I love the tender expressions on their faces.
  3. I love that their legs are positioned the same except opposite legs are forward.
  4. I love that both of them are holding onto the rails.
  5. I love the leading line the rail provides.
  6. I love that this was just a quick snapshot I took while out photographing Zander for the Faith Project.
  7. I love any photo where the subjects are my two boys.
BandSamJune11(web)resized
You can mouse over the photo to see the the SOOC.

I started with a clean edit in ACR (adjusted WB, exposure, blacks, contrast, and brightness).  Then I cropped the photo before beginning the long process of removing the man in the background and the crane to the right of my husband's head.  I used the healing tool for the removal.  Then I applied The CoffeeShop's  Perfect Portrait 2.  I just downloaded Perfect Portrait 3, but have not had the time to load it into PSE.  I adjusted all of the layers (decreasing the contrast to 3 on the brightness layer and using the brush at 100% opacity to remove the brightness from the background).  I did not use the vivid layer, urban grit, white/white whites, or soft glow layer.  Finished by sharpening for the web.

Which do you like better COLOR or BLACK and WHITE??

BandSamJuneBW(web)resized
I am linking up with Ashley for Shoot and Edit, Courtney at Click It Up A Notch
and Monica for Before and After.

26 comments:

Ashley Sisk said...

It's such a great shot, and I also love that eye contact. I can't decide though which one I like more. Love it!

Unknown said...

I think you totally nailed the edit with the simplicity of the crop!!

Anonymous said...

What a great edit! I thought I loved the color photo until I saw the B&W - I think my vote is for the B&W, but only slightly.

Rebecca B said...

I agree, wonderful shot! I like both, but I think I like the color one slightly more...the colors all go very well together.

Mama Monkey said...

Fabulous edit!!! I can't pinpoint exactly why, but the black and white one just sticks out more to me. Both photos are great!

Unknown said...

I think I like the B&W one. :)

Just wait till you try PP3 - it's awesome! :D

EMily said...

What a sweet shot! I think I like the black and white better, but they are both great!

Courtney K. said...

I can't choose a favorite! I love the composition and the eye contact. Both of these are great!

Gina said...

A wonderful edit! I definitely prefer the color edit. For me the color is what gives the photo life. Your boys are adorable, btw! ;)

Rebecca said...

Both!! Great capture Amber!!

Cropped Stories said...

I love how you cropped your edit and made it a close-up! I can't choose between the colored version or the black & white. I'm leaning towards the color, but not sure why. Great shot!

Lynda said...

Excellent crop and clean-up of the background! I love the B&W conversion!

Cedar said...

Excellent job on the cloning and crop--seriously wonderfully clean improvement of a great shot! I personally like the color better--it is already very monochrome with blue and browns and just so lovely, but the BW works well, too. A WOW photo to be treasured.

Anonymous said...

I love it. Looks great in black and white.

Kindra said...

I love this photo of them and my preference is the color.

Anonymous said...

Great job on the edit! I like the B&W more but they're both great.

Sara said...

Fanastic edit, I have so much to learn with editing. I love the colour, but the B&W is great too!

Shannon said...

great edit!

Gina Kleinworth said...

They are both great but I am a total sucker for B&W. It just pops!

Gina Kleinworth said...

They are both great but I am a total sucker for B&W. It just pops!

Janell said...

such a cute shot of your boys! I personally love the color, but both are great.

Michelle R said...

Wow!! Excellent job on these! I really liked your sooc, but the edit just makes it even more perfect!! Love all the thought and effort you put into it. :)

And yes, really, it's an awesome photo!

Sorry - I can't choose btwn the b&w and the color -- they're both awesome!!!

Casey Martinez said...

awesome awesome shot of your two men!! Happy belated dads day to your hubby!!! I think I like the color better though they are both fantastic!! The color just seems to have so much character and in the moment joy captured.

4 Lettre Words said...

Does your hubby have on those "toe shoes"??? They just freak me out. :) I'm all about the toes being free in flip-flops!

Such a SWEET capture. LOVE it!

Courtney said...

This is great! I must admit I'm a fan of the black and white :O) I'm super impressed with your edit and the cloning. Well done!! I can see why you love all the things you do about this photo!! Definitely a keeper!!

Amanda said...

Good edit. I love how much better the photo is when you bring the subjects in closer. I like the color version best!