First image - deer

[fgottman]

Okay, here's my first attempt at posting an image. I really hope to learn from this experience, so be as harsh as needed. Let me say that I'm very glad that there's a place where I can get pointers on taking better pictures. I'm happy to have found this place and look forward to "hearing" from y'all. One problem with this picture that I've seen is that I managed to focus on the tall grass in the background rather than the doe. I was shooting fast with autofocus as the deer around me were at many different distances from me and I was trying to catch as many as possible. Above and beyond your comments on the photo, can anyone tell me: Is there a way to sharpen one portion of a photo and not another with PS Elements?

Thanks!
Fred

[plchung]

Fred, as for your question - try Neat Image. I do not have the details but you can check the details from yahoo or google. It's sharpening tool has control over the degree and the depth of sharpening.

alex

[ChaosCubed]

Aww, she's beautiful. Shame about the focus in the background, because the DOF is great in relation to the out of focus grass in front of her.

In order to sharpen part of an image, use your select tool to select what you want sharpened, and then run your USM in photoshop.

Good luck!

[Irish]

Hello Fred

Nice capture in a natural setting. Your depth of field works well if, as you say, you had focused on the deer. Love the inquizative look on the deer's face.

The deer seems a little distant and maybe a crop of the original can bring the viewer a little closer to the subject. The composition is simple which I like but the subject being so dead center is a little "boring". Once again a crop in camera of in PS can move your subject right or left (read a little on using thirds) will make the composition more creative and interesting.

Not sure in PS elements, but in PS7 and CS there is and icon on the left of the tools about half way down for suit of tools Blur - Smudge - Sharpen. Choose the Sharpen, set your brush size and strength and run over the area you want to selectively sharpen. I usually use 50% strenght and use sparingly as over doing is quite obvious

Hope this helps - Keep on shooting and ofcourse sharing your images
Andy S