Daughters b-day

[julimucca]

http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/gallery/files/3/8/3/8/adria_b_day_131.jpg

I love the look on her face in this, but wish there wasn't so much in the background. Does anyone have any Ideas to help make the background less visible? I don't have photoshop yet. Should have it in feb though! yay!
You should check out my other portraits of her for her b-day. We had fun with it, but would willingly accept any suggestions on any of them!
Thanks!

[saykimchi]

I duplicated the layer and then added a lens layer. It is the first time that I've ever done that so I'm not sure of the best settings. It's rough, but it really takes your daughter out of the background.

[owenmorris]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3423/3211798249_dcaac29c79_o.jpg

[julimucca]

Cool, I like both of them!

[Kaye]

Hi Julia,

I started on your photo quite a while ago. Then got busy. I still do not know much about photoshop, but working on your beautiful daughter's photo has helped me learn more. As they say, practice makes perfect. Mind you, these are a long way from perfect. I hope you like one of them.

[bwpics]

I darkened the background by first outlining the girl and selecting the reverse and darkening. Then I used the contract/brightness function to bring out the highlights in her dress.

[nettieb1]

I love what you did with the background. I don't have PhotoShop but I do have Elements. Is there a filter in that program that would do the same trick?

[neonmike]

I Just gave it a go in Elements. I made a copy layer and added blur till I was happy with the background. Then I erased the areas I wanted in focus. I also sharpened the background a little and added a small border to help keep the attention on her.

http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/gallery/files/4/5/9/3/adria_b_day_131_copy_thumb.jpg (http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=4922&c=newimages)

[julimucca]

wow! You guys have done an awsome job with all of these! I love them, and I am having a hard time deciding which I like best! Neon, I love how she looks so silvery and glowing in the picture, and I like the ones with the background completely darkened or taken out, I love the ones with the leaves around her. My uncle took a picture of his wife in a big white dress with an umbrella and she is sitting under a tree, and this picture reminds me of that. Thanks everyone! I love them!

[neonmike]

You're welcome. I can definitely see what ya mean about this reminding you of the pic your uncle took. I've seen similar photos to what you described. When I saw your pic I got the same feeling.

Busy background or not it's a beautiful shot.

[Kaye]

I am so glad you liked all the edits from members of your daughter's birthday photo. They are all so good - you can put them all in her album!
The one I did with the leaves falling was also my favourite one of the four I submitted.
What I really wanted to do was to make the leaves a light green, but I could not do this as your original posted photo I believe was in B & W. Maybe someone else knows how to do this.
I can add more leaves if you want?....

[billpeel]

http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/gallery/files/3/8/3/8/adria_b_day_131.jpg

I love the look on her face in this, but wish there wasn't so much in the background. Does anyone have any Ideas to help make the background less visible? I don't have photoshop yet. Should have it in feb though! yay!
You should check out my other portraits of her for her b-day. We had fun with it, but would willingly accept any suggestions on any of them!
Thanks!


Hi
You are right..the chair takes away from wonderful facde.
So...limited depth of field needed and focus just on the face
Nice effort

[StephenK]

This was the first thing that came to mind when I saw this picture... :^)