Erin Browne
July 2025 - Love of the Game
Original
About the Image(s)
A neighbor asked me to do some posed photos of her twins for their last year of Junior Ball together. The one is a catcher, and so we tried to do some stylized shots. He's very tall and lanky, but I thought this came out well given having no OCF (or on camera). We added the bats for a little more depth to the photo without cluttering it up, and I thought the black and white worked well for this image. Shot with a Canon R6mkii 28-70m @ 70mm f/2.8 1/400 iso125 on a very sunny midday.
Unfortunately I didn't pay attention when I was shooting so I can't add the bottom of the cleat, because that's the actual bottom of the shot. I've added the original thumbnail for comparison.
10 comments posted
Hi Erin, I do like your choice of B&W, it works well, adding the bats as props enhances the environmental feel to the image. Perhaps a crop close to the helmet may place more emphasis on the sitter. Well-handled posed shot. Posted: 07/11/2025 01:23:38
Thanks Tom - I definitely didn't play around with other ratios yet for this one - I think you're right that an 8:10 ratio or 5:7 cropped in closer may work better Posted: 07/21/2025 14:46:48
Hi Erin - A nicely staged shot! I also like your choice of converting the image to B&W. If missing the bottom of the cleat bothers you, I understand that it's possible to extend the canvas beyond the original image boundaries, by using the AI-powered Generative Expand feature. I'll admit, I've not tried it. I think this would be a good test of such a feature though. I like Tom's suggestion to crop. In addition, I suggest showing a bit more headroom - I think you had it right in the original. If I were your neighbor, I would be more than pleased! Posted: 07/16/2025 03:30:13
Thanks Darcy!
I may move this one over to Photoshop (all edits done in lightroom) and see how it looks to generate the cleat, and clean up the skin tone some too. Worst case I delete that layer! Posted: 07/21/2025 14:47:49
I may move this one over to Photoshop (all edits done in lightroom) and see how it looks to generate the cleat, and clean up the skin tone some too. Worst case I delete that layer! Posted: 07/21/2025 14:47:49
Great story and pensive portrait.
I love that you read my mind with your comment on the cleat. It's too bad you missed the bottom, but "it is what it is" as my Grandma used to say! Most people won't notice.
I do agree that you might crop in some from the left and maybe also from the right just past the small drip on the wall.
Great job!
Karen Posted: 07/18/2025 19:21:43
I love that you read my mind with your comment on the cleat. It's too bad you missed the bottom, but "it is what it is" as my Grandma used to say! Most people won't notice.
I do agree that you might crop in some from the left and maybe also from the right just past the small drip on the wall.
Great job!
Karen Posted: 07/18/2025 19:21:43
Thanks Karen - definitely going to try some new crop ratios Posted: 07/21/2025 14:48:15
hi Erin. This is a wonderful image and the black and white conversion really adds to the atmosphere and the detail on his helmet and body protection, without competing with his pensive expression and body language. It would be interesting to see if the AI tool in photoshop could create the cleat on the bottom of his shoe, but I think it is fine as is. Since it was available in the original, I think a bit more space above his head would be a benefit, and cropping slightly closer to the helmet on the left would also help. I like the space on the right as it enhances his gaze into the area out of the frame. Your neighbor must be VERY pleased! Posted: 07/19/2025 23:14:22
Thanks Ingrid- with another vote for Photoshop AI I think I'm going to give it a try! Posted: 07/21/2025 14:49:32
Hi Erin,
WOW!!! What a great capture. You staged the image well and the B&W conversion is right on. I would have never noticed the bottom of the cleat if you hadn't pointed it out. I think some of the crop suggestions may work. I don't think I would touch his skin tones. I think you captured him in such a realistic form. Very well done. I would enter this image in a contest.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 07/22/2025 19:46:36
WOW!!! What a great capture. You staged the image well and the B&W conversion is right on. I would have never noticed the bottom of the cleat if you hadn't pointed it out. I think some of the crop suggestions may work. I don't think I would touch his skin tones. I think you captured him in such a realistic form. Very well done. I would enter this image in a contest.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 07/22/2025 19:46:36
Hi Erin,
Lovely conversion of the monochrome. I like the original as well. The tonal gradient and the background exposure looks complimenting to each other.
Thank you for sharing.
Cheers.
Kamal. Posted: 07/29/2025 11:10:45
Lovely conversion of the monochrome. I like the original as well. The tonal gradient and the background exposure looks complimenting to each other.
Thank you for sharing.
Cheers.
Kamal. Posted: 07/29/2025 11:10:45