Children's photography C&C

adrianthegasman · Jun 3, 2011

I have had a dSLR for 6 months and have an interest in children's photography. My own children are usually the subjects at the minute and I would appreciate any comments.

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The_Traveler · Jun 3, 2011

First, in general your focus and the technicals are fine and for 6 months experience these are really terrific.

IMO, each of these has some small defects that you need to watch out for.

#1 - strange framing. Why so much space on the left and right but smooshed down on the top? It looks like a mistake.

#2 overexposed and background too bright

#3 toes clipped and slight raccoon eyes. I would have faced her slightly more to the front so the legs out to the side don't make the space required so wide.

#4 & 5 are nice conversions. For some reason I find #4 unsatisfying .
#5 - very nice but the expression looks like a faked smile.
both of these would look better in 4 x 5

JasonLambert · Jun 5, 2011

I agree that you focus is very nice for being 6 months in. I have to say that I am not a fan of your framing or your post work. The B&W and sepia conversions look flat and uninteresting and do nothing to help the images. Watch cutting off the toes... If you include a body part... Include all of it.

A small tip... Kids don't know how to act...ok... Anna Chlumsky did a darn good job in 'My Girl' but for the most part if you try and stage a shot with a kid, it will ultimately look... well... staged. Getting the child in a natural setting and letting them be who they are will give you some great results.

I shot this of my daughter after my wife made her mad. She was pouting and looking at me... I couldn't help but to take the shot. I made sure to frame her well and she had a natural expression.

Hope this helps a little.

The_Traveler · Jun 5, 2011

Jason,

While your image may be framed well, it seems to me to be dramatically over-exposed, perhaps from the fill flash.
Her face is blanched almost white and well above the range of even blond skin.

==================================================================

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Forum Children's photography C&C

Thank you,
Jason Lambert

mwcfarms · Jun 5, 2011

For only having your camera for 6 months your doing really well. The small nitpicky things everyone has mentioned. I'm not a fan of sepia and kids. Not sure why thats just me. Keep shooting & thanks for sharing.

Aye-non Oh-non Imus · Jun 5, 2011

Your control of the lighting makes me think that you may have had a dSLR for only 6 months, but you've have been using a camera in another format much longer. Nicely done.

cfeldman10 · Jun 5, 2011

The_Traveler said:
Jason,

While your image may be framed well, it seems to me to be dramatically over-exposed, perhaps from the fill flash.
Her face is blanched almost white and well above the range of even blond skin.

Even though the photo might be over-exposed, it's such a wonderful photo. Children photography often seems so generic, but I felt this photo brought something different. I often don't take critiques here too seriously because many don't see past the technical aspects of photography. I feel the over exposure in this shot works! Great photo Jason

The_Traveler · Jun 6, 2011

cfeldman10 said:
Even though the photo might be over-exposed, it's such a wonderful photo. Children photography often seems so generic, but I felt this photo brought something different. I often don't take critiques here too seriously because many don't see past the technical aspects of photography. I feel the over exposure in this shot works! Great photo Jason

Don't create a false dichotomy here. It isn't necessary to choose between technical adequacy and everything else that makes a picture good.

The technical issues are important when they interfere with the picture. In Jason's picture, while the framing and focus are good, and the look captured is great, the over-exposure blanches away that delicate tones of a child's face, erases the texture and gives her red raccoon eye.

Imagine this picture well-exposed - and wouldn't you rather have it that way?

mwcfarms · Jun 6, 2011

I think that if that's how Jason wanted it, then the overexposure is fine. Yes technical mastery is good and rules for composition and framing are good. Sometimes deviating outside the lines gives you something different that can be just as good. It might not be technically correct to some but that's how he wanted it. By saying not to create a false dichotomy you are implying that everyone should stay within the confines of the rules.

The_Traveler · Jun 6, 2011

He may have wanted it that way but to me the exposure is so incoherent with the rest of the technical issues that it draws my attention and makes me wonder what he means.
If this is a picture of a pretty child in an informal pose then the exposure and the resultant look is disconcerting and breaks the impact.
If he is trying for something else with the over exposure then it doesn't work for me.

Using the rule 'if we hear hoofbeats let's think of horses, not zebras', my guess it was an inadvertent overexposure rather than anything else.

mwcfarms said:
I think that if that's how Jason wanted it, then the overexposure is fine.

?

cfeldman10 · Jun 7, 2011

To me the soft tones in the picture are very stylistic and do not detract at all. Traveler, I understand what you're saying but I still love the overexposure

adrianthegasman · Jun 10, 2011

Many thanks renzdurano - your compliments about my kids and pics are much appreciated.

hayleyfraser24 · Jun 10, 2011

I too am a beginer, and have only had my camera for a couple of months so i am not in any way able to give you critique but I love the first picture.. is so natural and you have really captured a moment!

adrianthegasman · Jun 15, 2011

Thanks. Even if it did mean putting her in front of Balamory to get her to sit still!

JasonLambert · Jun 15, 2011

I guess I should check in on the forum a little more often. My apologies to the OP for the unintentional hijacking of this thread. The posting of the photo was meant to give an example of proper framing and capturing emotion without posing. The photo was not meant to start a discussion nor critique about my image. My client base speaks plenty about my images and I will rarely ask for critique on this site. Again I am sorry that the thread turned toward me and away from what it was meant to be.

Also, The_Traveler, please refrain from editing images that are not meant to be edited. I ask that you remove the image that you have edited from the internet. I will also PM you about this to make sure you get it and that the image has been removed.

Again I am sorry that the thread turned toward me and away from what it was meant to be.

~Jason