Advise and ideas PLEASE

[Shari]

I want to do four 8 1/2 x 11 black and white prints for our den. The frame is black and I still have to choose the matting. This is one large custom frame that I cannot afford not to use - so I am going to do the four photos matted in the one frame. (then I can change as my photography gets better). So, I am going to pick the photos from our Panama Cruise because they are in digital. Here is my first attempt. Mother and child in Anse-La-Raye, St. Lucia. Is the background too busy? I want the photos true to the country. Does the sepia look better? I have to go through and pick some more photos but I don't want to do a lot of work before I know how I want to edit them. I have hundreds of photos - but I do like photos of people. Any comments will be appreciated. I really value all PSEers opinions. This is a project I have planned to do for over a year!!!
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/15wVnhX9Z8YwQZVz9fDleWmxMrJNGf_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=15wVnhX9Z8YwQZVz9fDleWmxMrJNGf)
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/181SFfRoDWCkfuohKsCOId0hOag8G_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=181SFfRoDWCkfuohKsCOId0hOag8G)
Shari

[CalamityJanet]

Shari, I like the sepia better. And I think the background could be made less busy with the depth of field tutorial from a few weeks ago. It's pretty easy to do. I watched your slideshow a while back and I remember that you have some great shots, especially of people. I'm sure your project will turn out great!

[Shari]

Janet - you are right. I will try the depth of field. Just the kind of comment I wanted. MORE PLEASE!!!
Shari

[Shari]

What can I do about this white chair? I tried cloning. I cannot crop too close because of the framing. Maybe I should forget doing these photos in black and white and think of something else. Any comments PLEASE..
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1wz0Nru1piIipGwLsJhwTA39bZX31_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1wz0Nru1piIipGwLsJhwTA39bZX31)

[Shari]

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1QKrEgM4aFuijUhNSNs8QVZjJvTQY1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1QKrEgM4aFuijUhNSNs8QVZjJvTQY1)Ju st heading under Bridge of Americas to go through the Panama Canal. Should I stick to colour photos???

[Pauline]

Shari, I like the black and white, but with the close crop.

Or if you want all the info left in, how about colourizing the chair a medium grey so that it blends in more instead of standing out.

[NMarti]

Shari
Since cropping ratio is a problem, why not do a mask of the chair and change the color so it is far less visible. It could tone down to a soft gray or black and would just disappear into the background.

[Pauline]

Nancy you copy cat. :D :D
Looks like we were typing at the same type. I love your idea. :)

[Shari]

Thank you Pauline and Nancy. There is still a LOT I don't know in this programme. Because I want it enlarged to 8 1/2 x 11 I thought I had to start with a crop of 4 x 6 to keep the proportions.

I did try to colour the chair but it did not turn our very well. I don't know how to do a mask of the chair and change the colour. I am going to spend some time learning. I want these photos to be a nice reminder of our trip. I have the one I did of the little girl in Curacao that I did in our hallway and everybody comments on it. I cropped, changed it to B & W and it is in a 17 x 25 frame and looks great. Because I did one that turned out well I thought this would be easy but it is not. Thanks again for your comments - I will keep plugging away.
Shari

[Shari]

Pauline - I think I should give up for the night. I thought I was going nuts because I could not find the post you e-mailed me in the thread. Now, I see the edit. Too much computer again today!!!
Shari

[AngelicKim]

Hi Shari. I usually prefer sepia tone in projects but with yours I thing the black and white is better since you said the frame is black. We do something like this at work and we call it a Portrait Panel. You asked about the matte in your original post. With the black frame and the B&W photos, a dark charcoal matte would look great. Maybe even do a charcoal matte with a little marble or granite effect to it.

[Shari]

Hi Kim. Thank you for your comments. I have decided that the woman and child photo is not a good candidate for what I have in mind. I will go through and see what else I can come up with. The reason I wanted black and white is because our den is done in a modern style with black and brushed silver and dark chocolate brown leather. I saw some black and white in black frames with black matte in Pottery Barn and really liked. I have been planning this project for ages and keep putting it off. By posting here it is making me get on with it. Of course the photos do not have to be final. I will have them framed so I can change them as my photography improves (that might be when the rain stops and I can get out to try my cameras)!!!. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Shari