Portrait from the other day

[Geoff]

I took this semi candid shot the other day whilst at a friends place...I liked how it turned out. Critique welcomed





Taken on the kit lens, 1/500th second (manual mode), focal length 70mm, appeture F5, auto white balance. ISO 200.

[gstark]

Geoff,

Very good, but I'd like to have seen the flash toned down a tad - look at the shadow under the subject's chin. Maybe -0.7 ??

Also - and I'd be interested in hearing the comments of others on this - for shooting kids, I'd always been taught that you should include their hands, and I think that in this image the inclusion of the hands may have made for a more complete image.

Perhaps a part of this may also be the angle that you've shot this on? It looks to me as if you're a little bit above (certainly no lower than) the child's eye level, and thus you seem to be looking down. So perhaps a slightly lower angle of view?

[Mj]

mmm... agree with Gary regarding the flash... reducing the underchinshadow would be an improvement (not that I think it's really that bad).

Including hands is a little more complicated... without the subject raising his hands you would have to expand the frame, presenting an entirely different photo, and maybe a less desirable background in the bargain.

As for the angle... many articles I have read suggest that shot from up high presents an image of vunerability for kids and is desirable... on the other hand an angle of view more at their level can be quite interesting I think. At the end of the day, these kind of photos are often heavily dictated by what the subject is doing and what their surrounds are.

Michael.

[sirhc55]

Hi Geoff

I agree with Gary and Mj on this especially the lower angle.

In the old days (notice I did not say ’good’) the art of photographing children was to use a wide angle lens with pre-set distance and stop and get low. This was generally for groups of kids. On you portrait the exposure looks good and focussing - it’s just the angle

Chris

[Onyx]

I like the catch light in the kid's eyes though.

B&W don't work for me - the light blonde hair just isn't meant to be grandpa white...

[Marvin]

I really like this shot. I am drawn to his eyes and didn't even notice the shadow under the chin until Gary pointed it out (I have so much to learn!). I agree that the colour picture is better. He has such gorgeous coloured hair.

[Mj]

Marvin... can't agree with you re the learning comment... if you didn't notice the shadow then it's probably not so much of a flaw... sometimes we can over evaluate a picture and you can just about find something to pick on in every shot.

Michael.

[Matt. K]

All of the above points are useful and can enhance an image. I think eye contact can also increas the power in an image. Ask the model to look directly into the lens and "click". Also...a good practice is to avoid photographing a subject from the position in which it is usually seen. In this sense a lower point of view would add some interest to an already nice shot. Not rules....just tools.

[MHD]

Catch lights are great!
I also dont really like the B&W...

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