Adjustments? Thanks

[durr3]

<p>You guys are so great to help me. You gave me super ideas about the black and white Church print. I have to print this image out for a Ballet benefit and I need your help again. Please advise as to what you would do to this shot before i print it. Thanks again for all of your advise. -Durr</p><div></div>

[steve_wagner1]

<p>It's a lovely, natural looking image, dark where it should be dark, light where it should be light, nice natural colors. I wouldn't do anything except auto contrast and auto color in PS, which adds a bit of low end tone and zaps a slight orange cast. This photo looks great because it is completely believable as is.</p><div></div>

[howard_m]

<p>it's great but the more I look at it, I think:</p>

<p>crop down the top, it's distracting and takes away from the ballerinas.<br>

lighten the face and upper back of the woman closest a bit<br>

can ou burn in teh face and costume of the woman on the right? too bright and kinda blown but you can make it work<br>

I might add a subtle overall oval kind of vignette to darken the edges a bit. Teh focus is the dancers.</p>

 

[steve_wagner1]

<p>If you did want a more technicolor version, this has had some midpoint curve boost and then I boosted the color intensity in match color (but not matching it to anything, zero the other sliders).</p><div></div>

[steve_wagner1]

<p>I notice that the color on this version is substantially different than the one in your portfolio, and I think the changes are for the better - better color, less muddy tones</p>

[dave_redmann]

<p>You can make it more pastel-painting-like by bringing up the shadows a good bit (curves, x=48, moved y from 49 to 96):</p>

<div></div>

[dave_redmann]

<p>Or here's a less radical version, where the shadows were opened up (curves, x=48, moved y from 49 to 72):</p><div></div>

[dave_redmann]

<p>Really, I don't think there's any 'right' answer. It's all about what you are trying to achieve--if you can articulate what you want, it will greatly increase the chance that someone can tell you how to achieve it.</p>

 

[peter]

<p>I like the picture pretty much as it is. The shadows are not too dark. They create a kind of conspiritorial tone to the picture as if the girls are hiding in the wings watching whats happening on the brightly lit stage. The colors are lovely - strong yet soft. But as the post above says "I don't think there's any 'right' answer"</p>

<p>Having said that, there is one thing I would be tempted to experiment with - throwing the background slightly more out of focus. Easy enough to achieve with a selection. The colors, tones and patterns in the background might add to its attractiveness if they were slightly OOF more. But thats nit picking.</p>

[monika_epsefass]

<p>The picture is SO lovely! Don't do anything except for really tiny contrast adjustments - but really tiny! Don't crop: the upper bit gives the context for the ladies. Perfect!</p>

[roger_smith4]

<p>I like Dave Redmann's final version which softens the contrast a bit.</p>

[steve_vanslow]

<p>Here's my try at it. A little crop, a little contrast, a little desaturation and removed the dress strap.<br>

Steve</p>

<div></div>

[patricklavoie]

<p>my humble advice;</p>

<p>it dont need anything, print it and be happy. really nice image. bravo.</p>