Help making Daisy Scouts POP - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/03/2006 01:05:31 PM · #1

These Daisy Scouts just graduated to Brownies and I can't seem to get the picture to pop. *Sigh*

Original...

Cropped...

Selective Desat...

Any help making this picture better would be great. We plan on submitting it to the local paper, but that's not the reason I want it to POP. I want the parents to get a copy, and I think it's just too dang flat looking right now.

If anyone wants the full size original (875 kbs) you can drop me an email at Nathan(dot)Wert(at)gmail(dot)com

Thanks in advance.

Patents4u

Canon EOS-40D

06/03/2006 02:13:49 PM · #2

Here's my quick/hack attempt with minor adjustments. Adjusted histogram a bit (pulled the ends in); bumped contrast a bit, and saturation (bumped the master channel and dropped the reds a bit since the kids faces got a bit red when I bumped the saturation).

I'm sure there will be better attempts than this!

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

06/03/2006 02:37:03 PM · #3

Nathan,
Check your email. I sent you an edit of the original here.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

06/03/2006 03:00:35 PM · #4

Thank you both. Still miss seeing you blue Brad.

printer4u

Nikon D700

06/03/2006 03:34:01 PM · #5

Here's my attempt...

kirsty_mcn

Olympus E-500 EVOLT

Olympus 17.5-45mm f/3.5-5.6

06/03/2006 03:43:14 PM · #6

Very quick attempt...didnt think to crop it at all :S

hue/sat
desat b/g a bit (but badly masked)
USM a little
overlay layer with gaussian blur
overlay layer with USM

edit: think I may have overdone it a little, but gives an idea of alternative editing

Message edited by author 2006-06-03 15:55:20.

TrynityRose

Nikon D100

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

06/03/2006 04:22:39 PM · #7

I had a quick play around with it.

Slight crop, did a curve layer mask on the background with some slight blurring, curves on the girls with some additional airbrushing, selective color, and some contrast in lab mode.

It's probably a little too blue for most but I'm kinda quirky! :P

Message edited by author 2006-06-03 16:23:25.

Neuferland

Google Pixel 2

06/03/2006 04:34:41 PM · #8

Yours:

Mine:

Dodge/burn/sponge/gaussian blur/soft light layer/blue hue/saturation adjustment/curves/unsharp mask/levels

Probably too much sharpening but you get the idea

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

06/03/2006 07:02:27 PM · #9

Thank you everyone. BradP sent me one that I'm going to use. Thanks Brad.

Message edited by author 2006-06-03 19:02:41.

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

06/03/2006 09:09:44 PM · #10

Happy I could be of help Nathan.

Oh and about the blue thing - all I managed to do was to piss people off that took the time to comment or fav my pics, when I continually needed to make room in my portfolio for new pics and removed of the older pics. Nearly everything had comments and/or favs and was nearing 1000 favs at the time of my folio's final demise.
I did a lot of "fix" pics, like yours, and my workshop folder was taking a lot of my overall allowed space, but kept them as many were linked in the original forum threads and had the step-by-step repair process listed that I wanted to retain for those that could use the PS techniques.

The latest site upgrade was a bit late, as I let my blue turn fade away.

Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD

06/03/2006 09:12:37 PM · #11

I understand Brad. Again, thanks a bunch.

Cam

Sony DSC-F717

06/03/2006 09:21:25 PM · #12

Brad, I bet there are 100 people that would pay for you to get the blue back, including myself.

I know it no it has nothing to do about the money, but we really want you to stick around.

Oh, and Nathan your shot is wonderful. I guess you can make it pop more, but its pretty adorable just the way it is.

Message edited by author 2006-06-03 23:15:31.

MadMan2k

Sony Alpha a6400

06/03/2006 09:26:57 PM · #13

Make them eat McDonalds and drink Coke nonstop and it's bound to happen eventually.