2 for C&C

[C_mo]

On our way to the city a couple days ago, I stopped at an abandoned railroad to give him a break from his car seat. I am really happy with the way they turned out. Any comments are welcome!

I couldn't get him to look at me because he was too busy trying to eat the rocks... but I really like the lines in this one.

 

[redessa]

I'm glad you like them.

But since you asked for C&C, the horizons are in bad need of straightening, the baby is not in focus and they are underexposed.

 

[Hickeydog]

I like the "Feel" that the second one has. The converging lines are nice. However, I think the baby should be moved a little further up, and the horizon definitely needs to be strait.

 

[KmH]

And the boy is to small in the frame to be considered the main image element.

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

I think an extra foot or two of track in from of the child might be an asset.

 

[KmH]

Did you notice this in the EXIF data for both shots:

Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

 

[tirediron]

Aside from the technical issuse already mentioned, there's a fairly major compositional issue. Railroad tracks are the ultimate 'leading line'. The eye will follow them in a photograph as if it is connected to them. The problem is that you have these huge leading lines that take up a great deal of the image, and what do they do? Lead the eye right past the relatively small subject and out of the image. To take best advantage of these, as has been mentioned, have more track in front and less behind. Position the child such that he is at the vanishing point of the two rails.

 

[K8-90]

I do not like them. The baby on the tracks gives me a bad vibe

Sorry!

 

[C_mo]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I was focusing on him, so I'm not sure why my pictures keep ending up soft... I will definitely keep what you said about him being further up in mind. I figured by having him at the bottom I was 'obeying' the rule of thirds but I certainly see what you all mean about the lines going nowhere out of the picture...

I also got this one, but I wasn't crazy about it because he is trying to eat a rock and to me it looks awkward, but maybe because his head is higher? I'm not sure.

I do not like them. The baby on the tracks gives me a bad vibe

Sorry!

So I'm assuming you forgot to read the 'abandoned' part. Thanks for suggesting I was putting my kid in danger.

 

[StringThing]

I like the last one you posted, although still a tad under-exposed, perhaps a fill flash? I think it is the paternal instinct in me that has my mind screaming "No, No baby. Get off those tracks!" even though I know that he is not in danger.

 

[bennielou]

This doesn't have a "finished" feel. I also agree that a baby on rail road tracks is a bit creepy.

 

[6and30]

Railroad tracks aside, because he is bent over and you can't really see his face, there's nothing to connect with in the images. Since he was so interested in the rocks, I would have laid down and gotten on his level or lower to shoot him exploring. His curiosity is a better subject than the tracks, in my opinion. He's so cute!

 

[K8-90]

I do not like them. The baby on the tracks gives me a bad vibe

Sorry!

So I'm assuming you forgot to read the 'abandoned' part. Thanks for suggesting I was putting my kid in danger.

Uh, I never assumed anything. That was you, putting words in my mouth. I never said you put the child in danger, I'm sure he was quite safe. I just sad that it gave me a "bad vibe". I find train tracks a strange context/location for baby portraits. I find the train tracks take away from your subject, the child, by making the viewer's thoughts jump to "danger!", whether it is justified or not. I believe you asked for C&C...

 

[levinest]

I'd have to agree that, even reading that the tracks were abandoned it still felt a bit dangerous. That's not necessarily a bad thing if that's what you were looking for. If not, consider that a significant number of people have spoken up about getting the same feeling, even if that wasn't your intention.

 

[KmH]

Did you notice this in the EXIF data for both shots:

Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

I was focusing on him, so I'm not sure why my pictures keep ending up soft...

The auto focus system need sufficient light, and contrast, to work properly.

In all these shots he is backlit, which lowers the contrast on him.

Another issue is that he occupies such a small portion of the frame, you can't be sure the focus point is actually on him. The focus point indicator in the viewfinder just a close approximation of where the focus point is.

If you are using the kit lens, it is a consumer grade lens and will have issues when used at any of it's extremes of focal length, lens aperture, and focus distance.