The cutest little girl that you ever did see (7 pics)

[amandarine]

Hi everyone

This here is my boyfriend's little cousin. She turned three around Easter time, so while the whole family was together for the Easter weekend we held a little party for her. She had the best time running around in the Brisbane Botanical Gardens and playing and dancing with the family.

None of these pictures were posed, they are just some of my favourite candids that I took that weekend while everything was going on. C&C is definitely welcome, I've still got a lot to learn so my ears and mind are always open to any constructive criticism and tips & tricks

1) Getting things ready for the party - I love her eyes in this one.



2) Striking a pose - I think the focus is slightly off?



3) Tucking into the Easter chocolate!



4) Blowing out the candles. I absolutely love this one.



5) This photo was taken in the Brisbane Botanical Gardens. She was yelling out to some of the family up on the 21st floor balcony of Quay West, which looks right down on the gardens. Another absolute favourite of mine, just a bit disappointed about the stranger in the background!



6) Still yelling out, trying to get the attention of the 21st floor of Quay West. Beginning to get a little frustrated.



7) And finally she loses it, jumping up in the air and throwing her arms down in indignation. Oh how I wish I was fast enough to capture this clearly - though maybe the motion blur adds to it.



Just a quick note - can I please ask that you don't use these photos for anything or share them outside of here. This is at the request of her mother. Thanks

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[jowensphoto]

Love the B&W, she's such a cutie!

[480sparky]

She's a doll!


Buy a clone tool would be nice to use on her forehead.

[The_Traveler]

Hi everyone

This here is my boyfriend's little cousin. She turned three around Easter time, so while the whole family was together for the Easter weekend we held a little party for her. She had the best time running around in the Brisbane Botanical Gardens and playing and dancing with the family.

None of these pictures were posed, they are just some of my favourite candids that I took that weekend while everything was going on. C&C is definitely welcome, I've still got a lot to learn so my ears and mind are always open to any constructive criticism and tips & tricks

1) Getting things ready for the party - I love her eyes in this one.



2) Striking a pose - I think the focus is slightly off?



3) Tucking into the Easter chocolate!



4) Blowing out the candles.I absolutely love this one.



5) This photo was taken in the Brisbane Botanical Gardens. She was yelling out to some of the family up on the 21st floor balcony of Quay West, which looks right down on the gardens. Another absolute favourite of mine, just a bit disappointed about the stranger in the background!



6) Still yelling out, trying to get the attention of the 21st floor of Quay West. Beginning to get a little frustrated.



7) And finally she loses it, jumping up in the air and throwing her arms down in indignation. Oh how I wish I was fast enough to capture this clearly - though maybe the motion blur adds to it.

Just a quick note - can I please ask that you don't use these photos for anything or share them outside of here. This is at the request of her mother. Thanks

Here is my constructive criticism.

1) get objective about your pictures. The more subjective you are, the bigger chance that you can't tell good from bad.

2) don't tell everyone how much you love the pictures, the viewers don't - or shouldn't - care, this site is about photography not about your emotional ties to the picture but, inevitably, the constructive critique will be tempered so that viewers don't hurt your feelings.
And you won't hear the truth.

3) Post 3 pictures at the very most. Pick the best. Otherwise any comments will be spread around and you won't get the whole truth about anything.

4) Any picture you put on the web is gone. Forget it. If you don't want this, take them down now.

[paigew]

yep, you post online, it can get 'out' especially if you post on a public forum! My opinion is there are far more things to worry about being a parent than some pics of your kids being online (its not like they are inappropriate). I think the ones of her inside are the best. You got some really nice light on those! Of course 2&3 are the best because you got eye contact. And yes, she is a gorgeous girl!

[Joel_W]

Traveler gave you some honest and well thoughtout suggestions. We see hundreds of photos each week, and most have a story and/or personal attachment to them. When I view a picture it's based on what I've learned about photography: Composition & exposure, and how it tells its story.

As an example, picture #1 she has an absolutely fantastic facial expression. the harsh natural light coming from the right and illuminating that side of her face, is just way to strong compared to the left side. Also your composition is lacking. I would have cropped everything just past the straws on the right, and at least half the space past the shoulder on the left, as that would have really drawn us to her face.

[Frequency]

i really liked the first four images...My best choice is the first followed by the B&W; in the remaining activity images, background is much disturbing

[jwbryson1]

Cute snapshots.

[Alex_B]

As The Traveler explained, emotional ties with the subject do not help to really judge the images themselves.

You show to us these pictures and more or less tell us how cute she is and how much you like her. Now I personally am confused, if you really want us to comment on the images and how well they are done, or if you want us to join in with you and praise her cuteness.

Don't get me wrong, but it is similar when a man sees an image of a nude woman he thinks attractive, for many men it will then be difficult to judge the quality of the work the photographer did.

[Frequency]

i feel OP did not claim the quality of the images; her love and appreciation was well expressed, which is her right to express; but she has very well stated her eagerness to get helps, tips, tricks with her ears and eyes open; she has declared that there to go a long way.....so why should one refrain from giving her proper guidance?

[The_Traveler]

There is a totally natural tendency on the part of most viewers to do two things if he/she knows the background story and the feelings that the photographer has for the image and/or the subject.
The viewer might 1) inadvertently compensate for inadequacies in the image and ignore them or 2) refrain from the total truth to save the feelings of the photographer.

How do you tell a photographer that the love of his/her life presented in the picture is really a way lumpy example of flesh, way over the hill, and not a great choice for a model or that what he/she sees as a totally unique view of a glorious sunset on his/her honeymoon is really a hackneyed cliche?

Well, we don't, we reflect his/her love just to be nice. We compensate. We lie.

I don't want to be in that predicament, I don't want to shade the truth any more than I do.

In this set, the camera is responsible for 99% of the work and all of the success.
The pictures are snapshots of a cute little girl but the photographer has ignored the lighting, the composition and the background - all the photographer's responsibility - and pushed the button on the top of the camera.
We can help the photographer get better at his/her part because not all of his/her subject's will be cute three year olds but the photographer has to do their part - and that part is separating her feelings from her 'work'.

Lew

[paigew]

We CAN help this photographer grow by pointing out what she did right and what to try for next time. Eye contact, composition, lighting etc. By pointing out things that were done right she can learn to look for these things when creating future images.

I also doubt that she has close emotional ties to this child. It is her boyfriends cousin! Not her own child. I think when she said things like "love her eyes" she was pointing out parts of the image she liked and that is it.

[The_Traveler]

My point is that it is easier for the viewer to be honest if he/she doesn't have to take into account bruising the feelings of teh photographer.

The photographer can maximize their useful responses by keeping the interactions objective

Here are my pictures.
I like these because .......................
I'm concerned about focus, exposure, etc.
I like this one the most because ..........................

[TechArtist]

I love the 3rd to last shot. Not only is she cute, but if you look at the picture 1st and don't read the description, it really leaves you wondering what's she's yelling at and that really makes the picture more appealing. Of course it sucks that person in the background had to get in the way. I'm not sure you could even really Photoshop that out without it being very obvious. =(

[amandarine]

She's a doll!


Buy a clone tool would be nice to use on her forehead.

She is, isn't she... I really thought about cloning out the cut on her forehead but decided against it. She's young, she's a child, children hurt themselves and that was her in her natural state. As children should be Plus I didn't think it detracted tooooo much and it's not like these are going to published or used for anything.

Here is my constructive criticism.

1) get objective about your pictures. The more subjective you are, the bigger chance that you can't tell good from bad.

2) don't tell everyone how much you love the pictures, the viewers don't - or shouldn't - care, this site is about photography not about your emotional ties to the picture but, inevitably, the constructive critique will be tempered so that viewers don't hurt your feelings.
And you won't hear the truth.

3) Post 3 pictures at the very most. Pick the best. Otherwise any comments will be spread around and you won't get the whole truth about anything.

4) Any picture you put on the web is gone. Forget it. If you don't want this, take them down now.

Hi Lew, thanks for your input, it is much appreciated. I understand what you are saying with points 1, 2 and 3, I will try to keep all that in mind in the future. Just to maybe clear things up a little bit in regards to your second point - my main purpose for posting these pictures was to share them because I like them as candid photos and I added in the bit about C&C as an afterthought - note I said it was welcome, I didn't straight out ask for it. I added in the C&C part afterwards so that maybe you wonderfully talented people could let me know what did work or what I could look out for next time, so I can start finding patterns in my own pictures of what's good and what's not. Not looking for hardcore technical critique just yet - especially on candid snaps! - so that's why I was more sharing what I liked about them... I hope that makes some sense?

As for your 4th point, I am well aware of this - I work in IT and I also spend wayyyy too much of my own time on the internet. The mother is more or less aware of this too but she asked that I include that small request anyway. I said I would, so I did. A polite request that the good people on this forum don't go using/sharing the pictures can't hurt, can it?

yep, you post online, it can get 'out' especially if you post on a public forum! My opinion is there are far more things to worry about being a parent than some pics of your kids being online (its not like they are inappropriate). I think the ones of her inside are the best. You got some really nice light on those! Of course 2&3 are the best because you got eye contact. And yes, she is a gorgeous girl!

Thanks Paige! There was pretty much a whole wall of glass, hence all the natural light. Used my 430exii in the one of her blowing out the candles.

Traveler gave you some honest and well thoughtout suggestions. We see hundreds of photos each week, and most have a story and/or personal attachment to them. When I view a picture it's based on what I've learned about photography: Composition & exposure, and how it tells its story.

As an example, picture #1 she has an absolutely fantastic facial expression. the harsh natural light coming from the right and illuminating that side of her face, is just way to strong compared to the left side. Also your composition is lacking. I would have cropped everything just past the straws on the right, and at least half the space past the shoulder on the left, as that would have really drawn us to her face.

Hi Joel,

Do you mean you'd have cropped it like this? I tried cropping it in the way you described while keeping it to its original aspect ratio but I didn't like the way it chopped off her hand. I do like it like this though. And I understand what you're saying about the harshness of the light and agree it's not ideal, but at the same time I kind of like it, even in its technical imperfection.

i really liked the first four images...My best choice is the first followed by the B&W; in the remaining activity images, background is much disturbing

Yes I agree about the backgrounds. It was tricky to avoid because there were so many people around (not making excuses).

Cute snapshots.

Thanks - that's all they are - snapshots!

As The Traveler explained, emotional ties with the subject do not help to really judge the images themselves.

You show to us these pictures and more or less tell us how cute she is and how much you like her. Now I personally am confused, if you really want us to comment on the images and how well they are done, or if you want us to join in with you and praise her cuteness.

Don't get me wrong, but it is similar when a man sees an image of a nude woman he thinks attractive, for many men it will then be difficult to judge the quality of the work the photographer did.

Thanks Alex. I understand what you're saying. Like I said in reply to Lew - my mainpurpose for posting these pictures was to share them because I like them as candid photos and I added in the bit about C&C as an afterthought so that TPF could let me know what did work and what I could look out for next time, so I can start finding patterns in my own pictures of what's good and what's not. Didn't edit the emotional stuff I had already written. My bad. I would like to know your thoughts on the images though.

i feel OP did not claim the quality of the images; her love and appreciation was well expressed, which is her right to express; but she has very well stated her eagerness to get helps, tips, tricks with her ears and eyes open; she has declared that there to go a long way.....so why should one refrain from giving her proper guidance?

Thank you Frequency - you understand me!

There is a totally natural tendency on the part of most viewers to do two things if he/she knows the background story and the feelings that the photographer has for the image and/or the subject.
The viewer might 1) inadvertently compensate for inadequacies in the image and ignore them or 2) refrain from the total truth to save the feelings of the photographer.

How do you tell a photographer that the love of his/her life presented in the picture is really a way lumpy example of flesh, way over the hill, and not a great choice for a model or that what he/she sees as a totally unique view of a glorious sunset on his/her honeymoon is really a hackneyed cliche?

Well, we don't, we reflect his/her love just to be nice. We compensate. We lie.

I don't want to be in that predicament, I don't want to shade the truth any more than I do.

In this set, the camera is responsible for 99% of the work and all of the success.
The pictures are snapshots of a cute little girl but the photographer has ignored the lighting, the composition and the background - all the photographer's responsibility - and pushed the button on the top of the camera.
We can help the photographer get better at his/her part because not all of his/her subject's will be cute three year olds but the photographer has to do their part - and that part is separating her feelings from her 'work'.

Lew

Hi again Lew

At the end of the day it's still up to you whether you give the truth, compensated truth or any criticism at all - regardless of the emotional aspects. I'm glad you've decided to give some to me though because this is all learning for me. I do value your input on the emotional story telling and its effects.

In response to the rest of your post... Yes, I do place trust in my camera to figure things out for me sometimes, especially when I'm taking snapshots like these while I am also enjoying everything that is going on. BUT I did more than "push the button". I didn't ignore the lighting, I tried to make use of the natural light that was spilling in through the windows and I used my flash when I had it on me (for the blowing out the candles). The outdoor lighting I couldn't really control - I was following the three year old and taking photos of her doing her own thing, I didn't have my flash on me and I don't have any reflectors or the like. I then lightly edited the photos to get them to a point that I was quite happy with. Yes I know I could have made better use of the available light and done a better job on composition and that's why I am here on TPF! To learn.

So far you've told me what I should do when I post things and have made some assumptions about how I took the photos, but not really given me anything practical to help me become a better photographer i.e. suggestions of what I could try for next time, or how you would have done something differently. I honestly would really like to hear your thoughts on these aspects because I had a look at your website in your sig and I like your work

We CAN help this photographer grow by pointing out what she did right and what to try for next time. Eye contact, composition, lighting etc. By pointing out things that were done right she can learn to look for these things when creating future images.

I also doubt that she has close emotional ties to this child. It is her boyfriends cousin! Not her own child. I think when she said things like "love her eyes" she was pointing out parts of the image she liked and that is it.

Thanks Paige, this is the sort of thing I expect constructive criticism to be... not just straight out "this is wrong". And yes you are correct, I was pointing out parts of the image I liked.