9.14.2010

touch-up Tuesday

You know I had to find another excuse to use my new favorite picture of Livia, right? :-) I love her sweet face! The only part that bothers me a little is that her eyes aren't completely in focus. I'd tell you why, but it's a little embarassing.

Okaaaaaay, since you asked. We were outside coloring, and Livia refused to look up at me. (Imagine!) I was doing all my usual tricks and nothing was working. So I picked up a roll of scotch tape and bonked myself on the head with it, while holding my heavy HEAVY camera in one hand. I was like "oops! Mommy got an owie!" And voila! This is what I got:

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I know a lot of photographers pursposely overexpose images SOOC. If you're shooting in AV or TV mode, you just need to adjust your exposure compensation to +1/3, +2/3 or whatever. I rarely do this, for two reasons: once you blow out your highlights, there is no recovering them in Photoshop. Also, on a couple occasions I did overexpose out of the camera, and ended up with many overexposed images that were unusable. You can always bring up your midtones, but you can't recover lost detail in your highlights.

Here's my clean edit:
Aly's basic boost
soft light blending mode
contrast bump
MCP's touch of light
PW's cooler action

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Edit #2:
same steps as above, plus Totally Rad Action's lux hard

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Edit#3:
same steps as my clean edit plus Sugar Cookies, and I cooled it down a bit for more of a pink tone...since I already did a peach and a yellow tone

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Now that I have uploaded my edits, the 2nd and 3rd edits seem a little more overexposed than I usually do, but I don't have time to re-do them. And maybe it makes her look angelic (or something). Am I grasping at straws?

Do you have a favorite edit? I'm realizing my variations are quite similar, more so than I had planned on. I'm also realizing after seeing Chelsey's edit and a couple of the other entries (complete with tutorials), that my edit screams "beginner!" Oh well, I am a beginner! :-)

Remember, touch-up Tuesday is over at Paper ♥ Camera from now on, and I hope to see you there! :-) Happy Tuesday!

Touch Up Tuesday's at the Paper Mama

11 comments:

Karen said...

I am focusing on the face! I don't know anything about photography~but, I love the one at the top, if my vote counts.
She's a doll and have fun with her!
Karen

Ashley Sisk said...

You're so not even close to beginner so shutup. I love your touch up and while it's subtle...I think that's the point. You don't need to have heavy editing to make a photo perfect. Great job as always. You inspire me. :hugs:

Mandy@ a sorta fairytale said...

All of the edits are fabulous!! It helps that the subject is so darn cute! :-)

Unknown said...

My fav is #2. :)

^ What Ashley said. :P

And, it's hysterical that you bonked yourself on the head, and got that as a reaction. XD Not even a hint of a smile!

Casey Martinez said...

I like them all but, my fave is the third pic because it has that retro edit style that I SO love as I told you:). All of them are beautiful:)

Jessica Griz said...

If you are a beginner, than I must still be in the womb...I just discovered your blog, and LOVE LOVE it! I will be back when I have time to read more ;)

Chelsey - The Paper Mama said...

Oh man, you are not a beginner! You're so good. Your edit is all this photo needed. I love how you got her to look up!

Jess said...

Beautiful editing as always, Karli. The things a momtographer puts herself through to get the shot!

I thought it might be worth noting for your readers, that increasing exposure in post adds noise. And I know you already know, that blown highlights can actually be recovered (to a point) from RAW files.

Mama Hen said...

Karli you can touch up this photo all you would like, but it is cute in picture 1, 2, 3 and so on. Livia is a doll! You can't change perfection! Have a great day!

Mama Hen

Anonymous said...

I love them all - I don't think I can pick a favorite edit. Her expression is priceless!

And, you are SO NOT a beginner! You are phenomenal!

Wendy said...

Not grasping at straws - she definitely looks like a little angel! Nice edits, as ALWAYS.