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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> What can I do about more contrast?
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01/05/2008 07:23:19 PM · #1
[thumb]628955[/thumb]

taken against a white background using 1 softbox light. I desaturated, left her eye color.

but wondered if this shot isnt just "flat". I love it obviously, since its my little girl... but I get frustrated with myself for not getting "the shot" I want. Of course shooting a 2 yr old who has other things to do is tough anyway.

So comments?
01/05/2008 07:29:15 PM · #2
what does the colour image look like? You might be able to improve some of the tonalities by working on that before you convert it to bw or desaturate it.
01/05/2008 07:30:35 PM · #3
There are many ways to boost the contrast, levels, curves, USM and contrast. Have you tried any of those to see if boosting the contrast is the look you are going for? I like the photo but not a big fan of leaving the eyes saturated. Trevor~
01/05/2008 07:32:27 PM · #4
It's a cut photo of her. Have you tried doing some adjustments with curves?
01/05/2008 07:33:28 PM · #5
I would also say that flipping the photo 180 degrees might help the look of it. Also agree with the thought that the desaturation just isn't doing it for the photo.
01/05/2008 07:34:36 PM · #6
[thumb]629413[/thumb]
01/05/2008 07:35:19 PM · #7
I'm kindda bored right now so here is my edit...

[thumb]629414[/thumb]

PM me with your email and I'll send you PSD if you like the edit

Message edited by author 2008-01-05 19:36:01.
01/05/2008 07:37:49 PM · #8
It looks a bit overexposed tbh which might be your main problem as well as the fact that it seems you are either out of focus or using a soft focus filter... look at her lips - no definition there at all, and the eyelashes look fuzzy. Whatever caused it, i think that is what you are seeing when you think there isnt much contrast

As for postworking it, if it was a raw file i would try to recover the highlights and work from there with the suggested levels/curves route... Shadow/highlight in PS can also work if used right.

Message edited by author 2008-01-05 19:39:05.
01/05/2008 07:53:39 PM · #9
I agree that the main problem is being overexposed (shutter speed too slow and/or aperture too large). Increasing the shutter speed would help to stop the fast action of the child, using a smaller aperture (higher number) would make more of her dress in focus too, but all of her head is well in focus.

I did some real simple changes on your two files. On both I just adjusted the exposure with gamma correction and the shadows/higlights. Both of these are found under the "Image - Adjustments" menu in PS. Not a big change, but I think it adds quite a bit of contrast, especially in the color version.


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