How would you edit this picture?

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/21/2005 01:49:21 PM · #1

My parents like this picture that I took at my brother's wedding and want to frame it for him for Christmas. I'm not thrilled with it but think it might be improved through better editing.

To those more experienced, how would you edit this? I'd like to keep it as black and white and in a portrait orientation. What I've done so far is blur the background a bit, but it isn't enough for my taste. If you edit it, please let me know what tools you used. Thank you for any help = )

Here's my attempt:

and the original:

pidge

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

12/21/2005 02:06:19 PM · #2

This is not everyone's cup of tea. I used the infamous dragonizer PS action, desaturated with channel mixer, and then a sepia quadtone

Makes for an interesting edit. Just thought I'd give it a shot.

Cheers

kyebosh

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 80-200mm f/2.8L

12/21/2005 02:23:50 PM · #3

Here is how i would attempt it.

Maybe a curve or a little contrast would make it pop more but i was trying to preserve the detail in the dress.

edit: changed the link :-X

Message edited by author 2005-12-21 14:29:28.

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

12/21/2005 02:33:40 PM · #4

My attempt - if I was going for something artsy.

12/21/2005 02:45:18 PM · #5

how about just make the background black and white, retaining the color in the bride and groom. I don't prefer the sheen in the dress as it looks too bright. I can't play with an example as I am at work.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED

12/21/2005 02:48:00 PM · #6

not a good example but this is kinda what I mean.

moodville

Nikon D100

12/21/2005 02:52:08 PM · #7

My preference but can be considered a little dark for wedding pics. Basically I converted to black and white, lasso'd and feathered around the couple and did a gaussian blur, and darkened the background a little to put the emphasis on the kiss.

Pretty much the same as above except instead of darkening the background I filled a large feathered area with white on a new layer and changed the opacity to fade it some. Vignettes on wedding pics seem quite popular.

nomad469

Nikon D700

12/21/2005 02:52:15 PM · #8

This is quick and dirty... I would play with the B&w more to give it a richer look

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

12/21/2005 02:57:57 PM · #9

nomad: I like how you have her dress coming out of the frame.

Gringo

Nikon D2X

12/21/2005 03:01:56 PM · #10

Just a couple (pun intended)

LeeD

Canon EOS-30D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/21/2005 03:02:22 PM · #11

Here's a very quick and dirty... threw in some gradients to take some attention away from the background and more on the kiss. I know it's kinda dark, but like I said, quick and dirty.... Personally I'm kind of fond of sepia tones.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/21/2005 03:16:31 PM · #12

Originally posted by Maverick:

My parents like this picture that I took at my brother's wedding and want to frame it for him for Christmas.

...oh - did you say frame it? Sorry.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

12/21/2005 03:39:00 PM · #13

On a more serious note, careful work with punched-out, overlaying layers allows the eliminatiuon of the very unfortunate "table" altogether, at the expense of the more-detailed center-element in the paneling. Here's 3 quick versions:

The BW is a little muddy-looking, could be improved tonally, but I've used up my time allotment on this one :-)

R.

ragamuffingirl

Sony Alpha NEX-5N

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/21/2005 04:45:55 PM · #14

I really like Mav's version.

12/21/2005 04:46:03 PM · #15

Wow, I am blown away. Thank you all for taking the time to try some things out. I'm not sure which method I'll take just yet but I'm really impressed. Thanks again

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

12/22/2005 10:27:48 AM · #16

Maverick....just curious, what did you end up doing?

NathanWert

Canon EOS-90D

12/22/2005 11:17:28 AM · #17

Personally, I like Ken's version.

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/23/2005 10:47:04 AM · #18

I haven't editted it yet (still been unpacking from school) but I'm going to try Mavrik's approach, cropped to a vertical format (necessary for the frame my parents picked out) and desaturated. For the couple's prints, I may try out everyone's suggestions and let them pick the ones they like (since this one is a Christmas present, its gotta be a surprise to them).

I too like Ken's version = ) My parents didn't go for it, but I will definitely be showing it to the bride and groom.

I might also try to clone out the table in the back as Bear did, but he did an awesome job with it. My cloning skills aren't quite so good.

Message edited by author 2005-12-23 10:49:38.

saintaugust

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

12/23/2005 10:49:22 AM · #19

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by Maverick:
My parents like this picture that I took at my brother's wedding and want to frame it for him for Christmas.

...oh - did you say frame it? Sorry.

do you have a godzilla template just ready to go at the click of a button? lol

alixmiles

Canon EOS-1D Mark IIn

12/23/2005 11:58:55 AM · #20

Art...did you use an action for the fire? I have to use some on a kid for his senior pic....any thoughts?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

12/23/2005 12:00:20 PM · #21

Originally posted by Maverick:

I might also try to clone out the table in the back as Bear did, but he did an awesome job with it. My cloning skills aren't quite so good.

It was actually pretty easy, because you shot this one square-on. I just made and copied a selection of a complete panel on the left, then duplicated the BG and cut out the offending panels on the overlaying layer and pasted clones of the complete panel between the layers and moved them into place. A little healing brush on the transitions and it was done.

R.

12/23/2005 12:13:28 PM · #22

my favorite 'look' is nomads framing. I love how the dress train looks like it is coming out of the frame.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

12/24/2005 03:42:38 PM · #23

Ok, here are my edits:

and the one that I printed:

Thanks again to everyone for their help.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

12/25/2005 01:42:14 AM · #24

There ya go! Nice work on the cloning :-) Wasn't that hard after all was it?

Merry Xmas,

R.