I took this Picture during family Christmas party. As you can see it's very hard to get this many people and KID in one picture. I need help to turn this into a nice portrait that I can print out on large side to hang it in the living room. Thank you for your help

http://picasaweb.google.com/johnny1272/Christmas2007/photo#5149399968667325762

and if you can post a quick step on how you do it so I can try it on my own that will be cool ....

this link is blocked by the server.

I just fix the link thanks

Giving the very large number of people I would crop it definitely

I took this Picture during family Christmas party. As you can see it's very hard to get this many people and KID in one picture. I need help to turn this into a nice portrait that I can print out on large side to hang it in the living room. Thank you for your help

http://picasaweb.google.com/johnny1272/Christmas2007/photo#5149399968667325762

and if you can post a quick step on how you do it so I can try it on my own that will be cool ....

That IS one large familyphoto! :-) Personally I'd do something about the big black thingy on the right - maybe even mask out the entire group. Selectively lighten at least the back row a bit (curves, layermask), adjust the colors a bit (a bit on the saturated side for my taste), sharpen, crop and print :-)

I would do something like this, crop and change the background. (Tried to attach an example, but not working.)

Changed background, sharpened a bit, opened eyes of lady in back row, cropped some

larger version (31X44) here:
http://img159.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=73001_FamilyKeeper_122_971lo.jpg

Reduced size shown below:

All I've done here is crop the image and done a levels adjustment. At this point you can fix up the back wall (take curtains out) and edit out the wall unit to the right (if you want).

You are going to have to drastically crop this at some point and it's up to you how much you decide to keep.

does anyone have any idea for the back ground?

does anyone have any idea for the back ground?

I'd be inclined to keep it a similar colour to what the wall is now, perhaps the colour in between the two windows.

Hi Falcon,

I chose one of the colours from the outer edge of the window and think that it is too dark, I would try with the lighter one in between the windows.

I cropped the image, used levels adjustment layer. Take snapshot of image. New layer, fill with chosen colour from the wall or wherever. I took the opacity of the fill layer down while I did the next step. Use the history brush to paint the people from the original image onto the fill layer, just be a little careful around the outlines against the new wall colour. didn't do anything with the wall unit but you could do a similar thing with it.

Alison, I think the crop you show is the way to go..

falcon, I think replacing the background with this large group would diminish the ambiance of the photo.. The curtains, windows, and wall unit establish the location where everyone gathered and with the judicious crop Alison offered, there is just a hint of the natural location and it is not overpowering (Maybe adding a touch of color to the center wall at the top of the picture where it is so bright from the color on the wall to the left, just to subdue it a little and even things out so the eye is not drawn there, would be the only way I would change the background)

For that large of a group I think the photographer did an Excellent Job!!

Way to GO falcon... Nice shot!!

Brightening the back rows just a tad should be done as well as an overall curves adjustment and sharpening and you will have a great print..

I used the ladies eyes in the brown striped sweater in the back row to open the womans eyes (selected both, copied, pasted, moved to other lady then free transformed to size and rotate a little)

Hi Granny,

Alison, I think the crop you show is the way to go..

I think it's the only thing to do with so many people in the photo :eek: The most important thing is to at least get all the faces in the image :nod:

I blindly cropped the image as well, so what will fit in there at an 10 x 8 or higher crop is another thing altogether.

Falcon did a great job with the photo in the first place :nod:

That black thing on the right is really distracting, and I think it should be cropped as well. something like this maybe.

Granny, you have the right idea, but the they way they are on the blue background makes them appear like they are floating. They need some shadows or something.

I like to keep something to anchor the subjects, so I deleted the windows, and that distracting reflection, and extended the floor a bit. I think that keeping the room makes them appear to be in a natural setting.

By the way Falcon, That's a really nice looking group photo.

I like that idea removed the cabinet and windows. thanks