All you lighting experts, how's my use of the ambient light? Newborn pic C &C

mc1979 · Jul 31, 2011

Ok, so I want critique on more than just the light. This was my first time to try and make use of light from a window. How did I do?

Also, this was my first time using my new 50mm. I focused on his eyes, from my computer it looks like I nailed it. I adjusted white balance in post because I had it in auto and the SOOC was a little bluish, so I changed to cloudy and got this warmer look to his skin.

Right now I am without my computer that has Lightroom in it, and am only able to use Gimp. So, not a whole lot is done with the picture. How does his skin look to you? Properly exposed?

Over all, how is it?

Thanks in advance.

002 by mchatham79, on Flickr

D-B-J · Jul 31, 2011

Good use of ambient.

mwcfarms · Jul 31, 2011

Yup I agree very nice.

Bitter Jeweler · Jul 31, 2011

I appreciate this image soo0O0oo much more than all the babies in buckets and crap gimmicks people do.

Nice job!

Destin · Jul 31, 2011

I like it. Nice work!

If I had to nitpick, the only thing I don't really like is the harsh shadow under his neck/chin. Maybe add a layer of diffusion (white sheet) to soften it up a bit? Or fill it with a reflector. It's still a great image, I'm just nit picking.

Robin Usagani · Jul 31, 2011

Yeah I like it. Keep it up.

WesternGuy · Jul 31, 2011

Very nice...I like the "softness" of the image and the bokeh. This is, in my opinion, one of those images that might work quite well in black and white as well...at least it would be interesting to see how it looks.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

mc1979 · Jul 31, 2011

Thanks all, I am humbled at the response! Destin, that shadow has bothered me too, thanks for the advice on how to improve on that! I also clipped the elbow which bugs me.

nyamy · Jul 31, 2011

looks great to me!

IgsEMT · Jul 31, 2011

Direction of the light isn't flattering the child - racoon eyes, even if eyes are closed, rarely look good. In the future, turn the child a bit to get a bit more light under the eyes (no racoon eyes).
Good Luck

Vtec44 · Jul 31, 2011

Nice lighting, minus the harsh shadow and a bit over saturation on the baby's cheeks and on the nose.

Although this is not lighting relate, the only thing that bothers me is that the edge of the blanket on the right looks blurry in an unnatural way. It's the same blurriness goes around the baby's head.

Bitter Jeweler · Aug 1, 2011

It's very shallow DoF.

Vtec44 · Aug 1, 2011

Which has an unnatural looks to it, very similar effect when you use the lasso tool and try to blur (motion blur) the background. The left side of the blanket does not have the same kind of effect. That was just the first thing that came into my head when I saw the blur...

DDGphotos · Aug 1, 2011

its a total KEEPER ! ! ! ! 100% ! ! I do the same baby shot over and OVER with about 50 babies over the last year with a SUPER GIANT SIZE fork, knife and spoon that i bought from PIER ONE IMPORTS! ! !

I hope you like it and steel the idea! ! ! ! !

Where Professional Models Meet Model Photographers - ModelMayhem

mc1979 · Aug 1, 2011

Vtec44 said:
Which has an unnatural looks to it, very similar effect when you use the lasso tool and try to blur (motion blur) the background. The left side of the blanket does not have the same kind of effect. That was just the first thing that came into my head when I saw the blur...

As Bitter said, it was very shallow DOF. I was wide open mainly because I was trying out my new lens and also because I really wanted the focus to be on his face.
I didn't use any kind of tool to get the blur effect. As far as saturation on the nose and cheeks, I didn't do any kind of selective saturation. I think I bumped it a little overall, but honestly can't really remember if I did or not. I didn't do anything to his skin selectively other than use the smudge tool on a scratch, which you can still see a little bit of.
Thanks for you feedback!