Following a tutorial

[zenotri]

I'm not sure if I like it or not & would love some input
I followed a PS tutorial online. It was basically just an exercise to learn some new tools. I can see lots of room for improvement, but also learnt a lot along the way. Of course the biggest problem is that I followed all the settings :rolleyes: which may or may not mave been appropriate for my 2 images.

http://www.pbase.com/zenotri/image/72397417.jpg

[littlealbert]

Hi Vickie,

What a lovely shot of your daughter - she is so photogenic!

I love the selective colour you've done (was it difficult?), but I don't like the effect you've done with the background... it's too much and takes the attention away from the subject... I think it would look great if the background was just plain b&w, with her in colour.

But well done - I must get off my backside and learn to do things like that too!

[zenotri]

Thanks LA.

There are 2 images here, one of the cottage and one of Chloe. I have played around with the colour on both & then put the photo of Chloe on top.

I agree with your comments re the background. Thanks! The tutorial used distortion & ripples on the background. I have applied Gaussian Blur over the background below. Do you think it is better?

http://www.pbase.com/image/72398146.jpg

[zenotri]

Here is the link for anyone interested. Mine doesn't look anything like the tutorial (LOL, Not sure I would want it to) and I only did the first 2 pages of 4.
http://www.eyesontutorials.com/articles/42/1/Winter-Postcard-Design

[littlealbert]

I didnt realise it was two images :o
Great job!
The blur is much better, it softens the 2nd image so doesn't distract from her.
Very nice.
Also what you've done with the first pic in the 2nd image is better - slightly brighter colour.
The second image is a winner :)

[Axel]

I saw it slightly differently,

In the first one I think the background has so much detail and fuzzyness that it doesn't reduce the impact of the front picture as a focal point. It also seems to tie in both images as a photo taken at the same time and the colour seems closer to the two tone.

In the second one the blurring of the background seems to create even more of an impression that it is two separate images joined together and it seems like I am looking at two separate photos and not a subject and background. It seems more like a modern photo over an aged photo and the blurring highlights the difference between the two images even more.

Not sure if I like the style of the tutorial myself but I think the first one printed large and framed may be quite impressive up on a wall and I would have gone for something closer to the first image.

My input but it is only my personal preference :)

[zenotri]

Hmmm, Now that I have read your opinion Axel, I tend to agree. I have further separated the 2 as distinct images by the blur.

I don't really like the effect the tutorial produced, but it certainly taught me techniques that I was unaware of.

LOL, I think I can put it down to good experience with a pretty crappy outcome, either way.

I will probably try another one and this time put my own style on it.

Thanks guys :) .