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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> Did I ruin the photo?
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 04/02/2012 12:21:27 PM · #1
I scanned this old photo of me and my sisters taken by my grandfather over 25 years ago...he loved photography. Anyways, I decided to try and 'touch it up' but I wonder if it's lost it's appeal in the process. What do you think?

Before:


After:
04/02/2012 12:25:10 PM · #2
Cute pic :)

I'd say I like how your faces look in the original. Don't believe they need such deep/dark shadows on them.
 04/02/2012 12:27:20 PM · #3
I'm viewing this on an iPod right now so I may be completely wrong. I believe the first one is head and shoulders above the second, the first has a great feel to it and the lighting is great, the second looks over processed.
I'm sure you will get other opinions by members with greater skills than myself.
 04/02/2012 12:28:18 PM · #4
I wouldn't say you "ruined" it. But I do like the original better and I do think it loses a bit of the appeal. It just loses some of the "old photo" qualities that I find awesome
 04/02/2012 12:29:41 PM · #5
short answer: yes

in the before shot, exposure is perfect and the light is beautiful. By upping the contrast you made it harsher, killed the glowing quality of the light and lost important details, especially in their faces.
 04/02/2012 12:32:34 PM · #6
I definitely like the original better. Here's why:

* Depth of field is spot on. it makes the subjects stand out, while providing excellent time context. Background is a very important part of this photo.
* Faces in the original have all their detail, where the edited version is losing a lot of that, giving a plastic look.
* Saturation of the original is also spot on. The blues in the edited version are a bit too bright for the rest of the colors.

If I did anything to the original, I may de-vignette a bit, and maybe burn that area on the wall in which the sun is shining (just a bit)

Hope this helps!
 04/02/2012 12:44:01 PM · #7
i'll add, in trying to make the background less distracting, you made it worse by enhancing pretty much the only distracting feature of that background, the sun light area.

the original is by far better than the reprocess.
 04/02/2012 12:53:53 PM · #8
I'll be the exception here.

I like the first pic, BUT, I like the second pic better. Looks more modern, and the faces pop off the page (it looks more 3D than the original). But I'm also partial to these types of processing.
JMO
:)

Either way, I wouldn't say it was "ruined", just "changed"
 04/02/2012 12:58:21 PM · #9
You did, especially for your poor sister on the left, she's may be a little oof in the original but nothing I can't get past. In the retouch it looks like she's been blured out.
 04/02/2012 01:21:10 PM · #10
Just the fact that you asked the question in the first place, makes me think you already knew the answer in advance. ;-)

An adorable trio! ;-)
 04/02/2012 01:49:04 PM · #11
I kind had an idea of what to expect...but it's always nice to hear/read it.

Something that can't be seen is that I went in and removed dust and noise from the original. I'm curious as to how others may have edited it...or if they would have at all.
 04/02/2012 03:04:55 PM · #12
Originally posted by heavyj:
I'm curious as to how others may have edited it...or if they would have at all.


I see no need to edit it at all. It has a "timeless original" quality that works just fine.
 04/02/2012 03:24:44 PM · #13
I'd leave it alone, it's a snapshot and doesn't need to be anything beyond what it is. However, if you feel the need to edit it, I would mask out the kids and darken the background a bit...but not much.
 04/02/2012 03:33:32 PM · #14
i think it needs a Godzilla.
 04/02/2012 03:47:48 PM · #15
Originally posted by heavyj:


Before:




There are good strong bones in the original photo. The key to editing photos with strong bones is not go too heavy handed. Subtle changes can be the best to make the photo shine more (especially with old color photos where the color will fade or some tones start to 'yellow').

Since you asked how others would edit it I did a quick pass. I wanted to bring out more details and contrasts in the children - also bring out a little more detail on the face of the little girl on the far left since she looks a bit blurred and tones are washed out. The changes are subtle but you can see them in the shadows and highlight contrast in the hair, faces, and the clothes. It also changes the color tone a tad in that some yellow tones are 'toned' down a touch.



Steps:

A slight pass of Topaz Denoise jpg moderate

Make copy then with copy Topaz Adjust Portrait Drama. Place copy into Layer 1 set at Normal 28%

Layer 2 set at Normal 12% created a vignette.

Went back to the original layer and with select tool set on oval selected little girl's face on far left. Feathered 20 and USM: Radius 95/Str 10 / Clipping 18 to just get a touch more sharpness detail back

Message edited by author 2012-04-02 15:52:20.
 04/02/2012 04:26:44 PM · #16
Perhaps the most respectful way to "improve" this image would be simply to make a print and frame this image to save for your kids to share with their kids (and so on) as your Grandfather's treasured vision of you and your sisters.

Your Grandfather's vision should remain unmarred and instead beautifully preserved and treasured by all the next generations...including yours...exactly as it is.

My two cents...;-)
 04/02/2012 05:35:19 PM · #17
The edited version eats all those lovely highlights of the original for the sake of a bit of "pop" and a more modern feel; but this is an old image and as such a modern feel detracts from its value. The only thing I would like to see changed in the original image is to get rid of that triangle of sunlight in the background so the background has less interest, as is it tends to isolate your sister a bit and pull the eye into the background.
 04/02/2012 08:51:16 PM · #18
In my opinion, a photo taken 25 years ago should still feel as if it was taken 25 years ago. Aside from very slight touching up (contrast perhaps) any modernization will simply take the essence of what was there....25 years ago.

CNovack's edit is a good example of retouching, but not over modernizing it. I can still "feel" the time passing in that.
 04/02/2012 09:27:19 PM · #19
CNovack thanks for the edit you did. Looks nice!!

I guess I was just going a bit overboard with everything and didn't really realize that I was 'modernizing' what should've remained 'old'. My mother made an album of pictures for me taken over the years as a child. She wanted me to show my students here in Japan what I was like then and compare that to what I am now: Going from "sweet kid" to "scary big"

I'm going to start scanning the photos and sending copies back home again.

I was wondering what kind of photo a re-toucher would work on in order to improve the quality while keeping the overall feel the same?

ETA: Thanks everyone for your honest opinions!

Message edited by author 2012-04-02 21:27:40.
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