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Kids playing hide and seek. Which version is better?

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Nice job of cloning out the background EOSMan! I like it. There's a little repeating of the pattern on the upper left, but that could be improved with a little work. Thanks for the idea, you did a great job!

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Once in a while, please check back several pages in the forum, for posts that may have been overlooked. Thanks!
 
Now just take Big Mike's photo and do a white Vignetting job on the upper right and left corners.

If you have photoshop, you can add a layer to the photo, and make it solid white. Then add a shape that appeals to you, probably an oval. Size it to keep as much of the photo behind it, only showing the fringes that you would want vignetted. Once you have that set, use that shape to cut through the white layer, leaving only the edges. Save the file. Then practice and practice trying to erase with the spray paint brush, creating your own custom vignetted picture. It will take some practice, but once you get use to it, you can add some neat custom looks to your photo.
 
Hi Mike,

You can't really go wrong with such compelling subject matter, no matter how you crop it. The kids look great and you really captured a magical moment for the family picture album!

The reason I prefer the first crop is that it provides a greater sense of depth. It really showcases the kids in their native environment and you get a much greater sense of what they are doing. In the second image, you just see a couple of (admittedly cute) kids peering at you from behind a tree. But you don't really have a sense of what they are doing. The first image gives a glimpse into the wide expanses behind the kids and the many alternate hiding places that were at their disposal. It really "tells the story" of their game of hide-and-seek. Years from now, when you look at that picture, you will instantly be reminded not only of what they used to look like, but of what they used to enjoy doing at that age. I think it does a much more effective job of capturing that moment in time and will bring an instant smile to your face as you recall the circumstances.
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Chuck
 
got thinner?
BigMike said:
Nice job of cloning out the background EOSMan! I like it. There's a
little repeating of the pattern on the upper left, but that could
be improved with a little work. Thanks for the idea, you did a
great job!

--
Once in a while, please check back several pages in the forum, for
posts that may have been overlooked. Thanks!
Click to expand...
 
EOSMan said:
got thinner?
Click to expand...
Actually, the background caught my eye first, and I didn't look at the tree. That's pretty cool. That must of took a some work!

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Once in a while, please check back several pages in the forum, for posts that may have been overlooked. Thanks!
 
EOSMan said:
Did you notice the tree got thinner?
Click to expand...
With the thicker tree, you really get the sense that both kids could successfully hide behind it. The thinner tree is too narrow to conceal both of them, so you lose the sense that they are playing hide-and-seek. That takes away some of the charm of the picture, in my opinion.
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Chuck
 
Hi Chuck. You raise some very valid points. I have always beleived that as photographers we really have to give the use of our photos much consideration. When we post shots for other to see, we like our shots to be "clean" and to follow all the rules. However, when the shot is a family picture, then there are other considerations, as you mentioned. Years from now, the background can help identify the place and time it was shot, and that can be important. So I am making two versioons, one for the family, and one for posting, or for possible future professional use. I think it's a good idea with any family photo.

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Once in a while, please check back several pages in the forum, for posts that may have been overlooked. Thanks!
 
I was thinking more about the composition and trying to pull the boys towards the center more. They seemed too far out to the outside edges IMO.

Thanks for your feedback.
ChuckH said:
EOSMan said:
Did you notice the tree got thinner?
Click to expand...
With the thicker tree, you really get the sense that both kids
could successfully hide behind it. The thinner tree is too narrow
to conceal both of them, so you lose the sense that they are
playing hide-and-seek. That takes away some of the charm of the
picture, in my opinion.
--
Chuck
Click to expand...
 
When it comes to pictures of my kids, I find it hard to throw away (and I don't) even the test shots that I use them on. If I just got a new lens I'll start walking around the house and taking pictures of the kids (I have 3 left at home) just to see how the lens is performing. I don't have the heart to erase the picture even when they have the goofiest looks on their faces. I don't care about the composition in those pictures. Just their smiling (or not) faces.
BigMike said:
Hi Chuck. You raise some very valid points. I have always beleived
that as photographers we really have to give the use of our photos
much consideration. When we post shots for other to see, we like
our shots to be "clean" and to follow all the rules. However, when
the shot is a family picture, then there are other considerations,
as you mentioned. Years from now, the background can help identify
the place and time it was shot, and that can be important. So I am
making two versioons, one for the family, and one for posting, or
for possible future professional use. I think it's a good idea with
any family photo.

--
Once in a while, please check back several pages in the forum, for
posts that may have been overlooked. Thanks!
Click to expand...
 
EOSMan said:
When it comes to pictures of my kids, I find it hard to throw away
(and I don't) even the test shots that I use them on. If I just got
a new lens I'll start walking around the house and taking pictures
of the kids (I have 3 left at home) just to see how the lens is
performing. I don't have the heart to erase the picture even when
they have the goofiest looks on their faces. I don't care about the
composition in those pictures. Just their smiling (or not) faces.
Click to expand...
That's exactly the same as me. I have tons of shots of my family that are anything but artistic, but I keep them anyway. Some are right down terrible, such as bad exposure, goofy expressions and so one, but I deleting them seems cruel :)

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Once in a while, please check back several pages in the forum, for posts that may have been overlooked. Thanks!
 
I like them both Jay. They both have good points to them. Hard to decide.

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Once in a while, please check back several pages in the forum, for posts that may have been overlooked. Thanks!
 
nubui said:
BigMike said:
Thanks nubui. Did you see the black and whites?
Click to expand...
Yes, saw them - I'd prefer the color version though. b&w works fine
on many pictures, but this just feels better in color to me.
Click to expand...
I think your right. Thanks nubui.

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Once in a while, please check back several pages in the forum, for posts that may have been overlooked. Thanks!
 
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