There isn't a lot wrong with this photo - but it can be better!
First, we'll crop it really close - and I mean REALLY close -
for dramatic effect and detail capture:
Nice and close-up - but still a little dark.
Using Photoshop, we'll add a "brightness and contrast" adjustment layer to the photo.
Brightening and upping the Contrast nets us this:
Ahhh! Much better!
It will take some trial and error to find just the right balance of light and dark, but luckily, all of the programs out there come with an "undo" button!
Let's compare the Before and After:
My advice:
Be bold, be brave and make it just a little brighter than you think it should be just to see what it looks like - then compare it to the original photo. You might be surprised at how dark your original photo looks in comparison!
Tip: When you open your original photo, immediately "Save As..." a new photo in your computer's photo folder. Then, when you are fiddling with the adjustments you will be assured that if you end up going much too far in any direction you'll always be able to start over from scratch!
Bonus Tip:
In addition to a great close-up photo, experiment with taking a detail photo to show the depth and detail of your work like this:
I just love detail shots...don't you?
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