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Trying different techniques with portraits. All comments/critiques

are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

This is a lovely portrait, capturing a special moment and well composed. The depth of field is well handled and the background is great. Only bugbear is the oversaturated colour. I suspect it would benefit from being 30% desaturated. Or you could experiment with a layer mask and selectively desaturate the outside as the flowers take away from the mother child.

I really don't see what you are talking about with the saturation. This image is completely 'un-fooled' with (this is a FL state 'garden' park, everything is very lush and well maintained). For shits & giggles, I took it in to PS and desaturated it by 30% (just as you suggested). I don't like it... you may but I don't. Good try though. Thanks for the exchange ;)

Just my opinion. It just seems to me that the point of this portrait is the expression between mother and child (I assume). The flowers are pretty background, but being an overcast day with saturated film are rather distracting. Your desat is all over. I've done one quickly with a central mask. Anyway just a thought and nice picture.

Ahh... I see. Didn't even think to desaturate around subject. Good idea. When I initially did it... I saw skin tones change and I really was turned off. But I do understand what you are saying and I greatly appreciate you taking the time to do so. I'm still liking the saturated version better... LOL. Thanks again. C-U around.

I'm still learning portraiture myself, so I'm no expert by any means, but I like this photo on a number of levels. It looks very natural, and not just the settings. I can see the love in this mother's face, and the child looks both curious and at ease. I like the DOF and framing. I'm generally a fan of saturation, and for me, it doesn't take away from this shot, but adds to the story of the mother and child experiencing some of the bright, beautiful things of the world together. On the other hand, the desaturated edges do place more attention on the actual portrait subject in a subtle, yet very effective way. For me, it works either way. :)

Yeah... I think it works either way too. I am still new to protraits as well. It's certainly not my favorite thing to photograph but it's normally what everyone wants, so I figure I might as well familiarize myself and work on it. Thanks for stopping by.