Help with this photo?

[chocolic]

Hey there. I have this photo of my niece. I know it is far from perfect - the light was very low, and it was shot at ISO 3200. It isnt real sharp, but this kid is so hard to photograph. She runs whenever she sees a camera. Anyway, while its far from perfect, its by far the best shot anyone's gotten of her since she's been on the move. The first one is the original. The second is just a basic conversion in lightroom. I'm fiddling around with different things, and found all sorts of artsy-fartsy things to do with it, but I'd just like to shoot for a good normal skin tone - or at least not so yellow as the original.

I have lightroom 2.6 and GIMP.

THANKS!

[Frog]

What editing software are you using.
In PSE 6, I'd go right to enhance/adjust color/ adjust for skin tones.

[Grandpaw]

Jodie, I hope you don't mind me playing with your photo a little bit. I am not too good at this sort of thing but this is what I came up with using my limited abilities, Jeff

I would like to add that you need to set the white balance for the type of light in the room and the colors will look MUCH BETTER and be more natural..

[Frog]

Looks good to me, Jeff!

[chocolic]

Thanks Jeff that does look good. I am using gimp for editing, and plan to eventually buy Elements.

I had my white balance set for incandescent .... which is the lighting I had, but thats just somethig I need to fiddle with a little more.

I found my old photography textbook in the attic recently, and am re-teaching myself how to do everything manually so that hopefully when it's all said and done, I've got less to correct later.

Thanks!!

[Shebang]

Grandpaw, I think you got the tones just right. She's a cute kid, and even though the focus is soft, I like it like that. Reminds me of an old time photo, kind of a victorian looking cherub.

[daq7]

Yeah jeff, other interpretations might work too, but that is a good one.

[chocolic]

You know what I realized? My bulbs are not incandescent - they are the low energy iridescent type... so i switched my white balance and its much better. DUH!! ;)

Thanks everyone!

[gahspidy]

You know what I realized? My bulbs are not incandescent - they are the low energy iridescent type... so i switched my white balance and its much better. DUH!! ;)

Thanks everyone!

Yep, it can get a little tricky these days just figuring out what type of bulbs are being used in some places. there are flourescents that look like regular tungsten bulbs, then there are daylight balanced flourescent and tungsten as well as LED lights.
Setting a custom balance by using a white or gray card is pretty good way to go. If its not too serious and does not require much fussing, then AWB is usually a good last resort.

I like the moment you captured here and Jeffs tweaking gives it a good and vintage feel to it.

[Grandpaw]

Jodie, I'm glad I could help out a little and hope this edit will work for you, Jeff