Selective colouring

[Alison]

Which would you say is the best picture OVERALL?
My opinion - the highchair.
Would like to know what your thoughts are.

[swmdrayfan]

Alison, they're both very well done, but if I had to pick one, I'd go for the top shot. The baby is the focal point, as opposed to the bottom shot where the people in the background make it a little busy. Hope this helps.
John

[Alison]

Hmmmm yeah I know what you mean. I actually like both but felt the bottom one told more of a story. Do you think it would improve the shot if i blurred the bg more in the bottom shot?

[OldSchool]

For some reason, I like the 2nd. I think it's kind of neat in that the color is what your subject is focusing on.

The first image is just a little (just a little) cliche for me.

[Alison]

Ok, here it is with the bg blurred. I like it what do you think?

[OldSchool]

Ummmm. I think the bg detail was just fine. No need to blur. To me, what's nice about the orignal is that there are details all over. The important details (to your subject) are in color.

What do you think of it?

[Alison]

Yeah but it looks like I've done clever stuff with me camera lol!

Having said that, I do see what you mean, now my whole subject is the focus rather than just the food. Drawing the eye away from the sc.

Thank you for your input

Anyone else care to elaborate?

[gahspidy]

Out of the two, I prefer the bottom shot as it looks more subtle and "convincing" However, having just the food colored had me immediately thinking "why, what is the point of this", but it does look fine. The top image could be effective if you came down some on the saturation of the carrot. Maybe having it look like it was originally a b&w photo that was hand-colored subtley would be more effective and induce greater mood. When you doing color over b&w, the colored object or element usually needs to be reduced in saturation because it will naturally stand out strong from the b&w bg.
I had done a series of colored subjects over b&w bg called canscapes. The cans in the compositions, were reduced in saturation, and even so look very saturated against the b&w background

[Alison]

The point, Gary, is a bit of fun with selective colouring. Plus a portraiture group that I am in does a home page theme every two weeks. This time it is SC. I wanted everyone's opinions in here before I made my final desicion.

[gahspidy]

The point, Gary, is a bit of fun with selective colouring. Plus a portraiture group that I am in does a home page theme every two weeks. This time it is SC. I wanted everyone's opinions in here before I made my final desicion.

Alison, when i thought "whats the point" I did not mean it in a derogatory way.Needless to say, everything you have posted thus far I consider to be very good work. I just wanted to let you in on my immediate reaction to the image. I just did not get the idea of coloring the food on the highchair. Aesthetically, it does look pleasing, and perhaps, as I feel with some of my images, thats enough. Yes, it is fun to do these selective colorings and other effects, but that is irrelevant to the viewer.
Bottom line. . . no harm intended

[GB1]

The first one. It looks a little like a rabbit chewing I bet the kid will like it when you show it to him when he's about 7 or 8 and watching cartoons.

GB

[SmartWombat]

Overall, #2 is my favourite.

[Alison]

Gary - I didn't take offence to what you said. Just wanted to explain why I coloured certain bits of the picture. That's what I thought you meant. I appreciate any comments you make. I want to hear them, good or bad

GB1 - Thank you for your opinion but I will probably go with my heart on this one.

PAul - Thank you for your opinion but...#2 with the bg blurred or the bg left clear?