[smarti77]

I took this shot while staying at my mothers house over Easter. I only took it because I was bored and it was raining outside at the time. Anyway.. Its one of her favourite statuettes and she asked me to print the photo for her but I hate the curtain in the background and the weird table surface.

The is the resized original.



I would appreciate anyone having a go at improving / removing or changing the background in anyway. Don't be afraid to be imaginative.

This is the only one I have done so far but I think I could be much better.



Feel free to use the full version of either shot to edit...(click photo to resize).

[wulinka]

To be honest, I don't dislike the background in the original, but of course that's entirely a question of personal preference. If your mom likes the curtain, I'd say maybe to do some careful brightening of the shadows on the side of the figure, and print it :-)

Your idea to fix it is not too bad, but I don't like the blue (=cold) tone, and the figure stands out less.

Also I find that the table and your perspective add to the original picture, I wouldn't wipe all of it out.

just my opinion though....

uli

[wulinka]

Sorry smarti if you didn't find that very usefull. I've tried some tricks on it, but not come up with anything remotely better than the original.... yet....

uli

[shuttertalk]

I kinda like the golden curtain actually - perhaps it's a turnoff because you know what it is...

My suggestion would be maybe just a plain golden background ...

[Keith Alan]

I like both versions, although in the original you can tell that it leans a little.
And there's no way I could drop-in a background cleaner than you already did.

Personally, I would go out and buy the same exact statuette and take it with me around town, photographing it in a variety of interesting locations over the next few weeks.
Then make prints of the best 4-6 photos.

[Toad]

...and of course, don't be afraid to go completely over-the-top...

[shuttertalk]

Lol @ Toad.... totally awesome.

Ok, the gauntlet has been thrown...

My pathetic attempt...

[Toad]

Nice one Jules - this is a great background substitution!!

Beware though! Once you get into doing this sort of thing, it is a slippery slope...

[shuttertalk]

Thanks Mr T... it was a very quick and dirty one, and a poor attempt at that.

Any other takers?

[Irma]

I tried already with your original picture in the morning, I tried desaturating the background and adding a vignette, but I didn't like it very much... I will try tomorrow adding a background with one of my pictures...

Sorry I couldn't help ...

[smarti77]

Thanks everyone. Great efforts Toad and Jules. You inspired me to have another go with one of my previous shots (A sunset that I thought was too plain at the time but kinda right for this because it was plain and not to distracting - I even gave it a fair bit of extra blur to make it look out of focus). What do you think?

[Toad]

That's the ticket - be adventurous in your background. Looks great!

[Schellamo]

Smarti, I LOVE it!! Your mum will be blown away

[Irma]

I think this is great Smarti...
I like a lot the way yo took advantage of the light in the angel to match with the background...

Yes, I think the same you Mum will love it