C&C please

[mmaria]

these are documentary style shots, in case you wonder...
if you want to comment about horizontal crop in a portrait, yes it is intentional and it means something... at least for me
please c&c...Thanks!

 

[MiFleur]

I love # 1, 3 and 4, on # 2 I would crop off the bath, it may be in your context, but it does not fit IMO
I specially like #3 where you see a lifestyle. Processing is on the edge of being too much. Specially on the first photo, it accentuates the fact that the girl face is dirty. She still has amazing eyes and is very beautiful.
A nice series.

 

[The_Traveler]

I think the black point is set a bit high on all of these, especially the first.
Does look a bit overworked but other technical stuff is good.

 

[limr32 1]

I think these definitely get across a clear message. You need to keep the bathtub in, and you need to accentuate that the girl's face is dirty. That's all part of the story you're trying to tell. You also end up showing beauty in the midst of the rough surroundings: her eyes are striking and powerful in that first image. And yes, they might seem a bit overworked in a technical sense, but I think the contrast works here for the documentary.

 

[astroNikon]

#4 is that some green ghosting near the chimney pipe ?

 

[mmaria]

I love # 1, 3 and 4, on # 2 I would crop off the bath, it may be in your context, but it does not fit IMO
I specially like #3 where you see a lifestyle. Processing is on the edge of being too much. Specially on the first photo, it accentuates the fact that the girl face is dirty. She still has amazing eyes and is very beautiful.
A nice series.

The bath is there to add to the context. It's taken in their backyard.

I was afraid for the processing. It seems I tend to slightly over process these... my last critique was also about over processing

For the girls face I tried to accentuate the contrast between her beautiful vivid eyes and the dirt on her face.

I had just 15 minutes in that house, 4 children, 3 younger then her. In that 15 min I had to get to know them all and photograph them....huh...I ended up shooting her the most because I couldn't take my eyes off her. she is so beautiful!

 

[mmaria]

#4 is that some green ghosting near the chimney pipe ?

lens flare...had to take it off...
Is that the only thing you've noticed in these photographs? If it is then I'm soooo off here

 

[mmaria]

I think the black point is set a bit high on all of these, especially the first.
Does look a bit overworked but other technical stuff is good.

yeah...I'll back off a bit

I think these definitely get across a clear message. You need to keep the bathtub in, and you need to accentuate that the girl's face is dirty. That's all part of the story you're trying to tell. You also end up showing beauty in the midst of the rough surroundings: her eyes are striking and powerful in that first image. And yes, they might seem a bit overworked in a technical sense, but I think the contrast works here for the documentary.

As for the processing, that can be fixed easily. But the most important thing for me is the answer on: Have I succeeded to tell the story about these kids?
The weather was awful! Pure sun without any clouds. This girls house was on some weird hill and I was in heels. The driver constantly rushed me, so in 15 minutes with 4 children I can't decide whether I did good or bad considering conditions.
And it's my second time using this canon camera. My fingers aren't that fast in listening what my brain is telling them. Settings on the camera aren't where I used to.
So thinking about how to get those kids in the shade, how to not include 6 adults being there, how to do everything in 15 minutes...
I'll try to get back in this house...