C&C on extensive cloning

Opinions on my cloning technique please

After RR's prompting on Flickr, I cloned out a whole shedload of stuff in this photo (yeah, thanks RR, took me hours ). It was one of those situations where I started cloning out one thing, then thought "oh while I'm here I'll do that was well", which then lead to me cloning out a ton of distracting stuff.

Could I have some feedback please. Mainly is it too obvious that I have retouched (extensively!) this photo?

Thanks! (I will post the untouched photo a bit later)




Taken with my Tamron 17-50 @ f4, 17mm, 1/60sec

Looks pretty good. What about cropping or cloning out the doorway in the background and also cloning out the nest of tables? That would leave a really nice clean portrait.

You have a few more spare hours, right

Hard to know what you've done, so well done. However, I think you've removed a table lamp or something, what are those brown shadows under the tables? Maybe just shadows?

A nice natural picture of a good looking wee boy but I would re-frame like this and lighten his eyes a little (I also copied the right catch light to the other eye) - I hope you dont mind. The nest of tables really are a distraction, though.

Just looking at it again, I think you have sampled the area directly above what ever you removed on the table when you should have sampled the area to the left of his head?

Thanks folks!

Thanks Matt! I realised a few hours later that I should have taken out the doorway as well, but I was starting to feel lazy Also I think that deep down I knew I should remove the tables, but lethargy struck again!

Actually in retrospect it would have been easier to remove the whole table than trying to clone in a straight line along the top edge of it. That part turned out to be virtually impossible in Aperture, I had to switch to Photoshop for it.

Ken I like your tighter crop, and the eyes are excellent, thanks. I think I will go for something along those lines ... once I motivate myself to remove the table this evening

Here's the original photo, you can see there was quite a bit of shadowing above the table anyway.

Well you did a really good job, I cant imagine how long that must have taken. I would have moved the tables first and saved a lot of time

Sorry Tim...

I only suggested the half a red train in the foreground be cloned out by the way !

Looks natural to me, & you wouldn't have guessed without seeing the original.

Thanks guys. It was one of those situations where you spend so long staring at a zoomed in photo you lose sight of what looks real and what doesn't.

It's all cool RR, I know you only suggested the train, but look how carried away I got! It only took about an hour, which would have been wasted watching X-factor with the wife anyway

You did a good job of cloning.
Personally I'd be inclined to go straight for a background replacement using layer masks in PS Looks like about half hour's work...

Did you want me to have a go on this size image (or email me a full size and I'll do it for you!)
Matt

Matt that is an incredibly generous offer! I'd love to take you up on it! The full size pic is available on Flickr here (click on the 'Original' link):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thoughton/4062471874/sizes/l/ (this is the one I have already done some cloning on)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thoughton/4061128673/sizes/l/ (this is the original unaltered image)

I would have a go myself if I know what "background replacement using layer masks" was! (Off to do some research on it right now!)

How long would it take to look through the viewfinder, decide then what to keep and what to remove?
How long would it take to set up a backdrop?

I only ask because that is what you need to ask whenever the opportunity presents....

Cloning not too bad, most people wouldn't look close enough to notice, the little fella's expression is very engaging, though I do like the little train car in the frame.


over all a nice shot.

Geez, that is a lot of cloning! I don't think I've ever been that ambitious. Nevertheless, you've made a pretty good job of it. Though I think Matt's suggestion is probably more painless (not that I could do it).

As for the images here, I think Gartmore's tighter crop works best - though I'd keep more of the track leading into the picture (I like that). Though you're still left with those tables - which, if it were the original image I'd certainly be tempted to clone out!

Good job on cloning, I'd never guessed the train. There were some clues on the wall about something above the nest of tables though, probably they would go with some blur or healing tool (large size) - but it could be some shadow cast by another object as well.

Nice one, Tim. I approve of Gartmore's crop, I was gonna' mention the same thing with the leftside. Its a great portrait.

I always try to prepare a background in advance when I photograph my 'kidney'.

If you have the the full version of PS you might consider the Patch tool.(found under the healing tab)
Ideal for replacing large even areas. saves a lot of work. Good job on the cloning part, btw.

An update

MattMatic very kindly sent me a sample of what could be achieved with layer masks, along with an example PSD showing the technique. I had some time today and so had a go! It has a few flaws, which I hope aren't too obvious, but I'm happy with it