Impromptu pics with my bird lens

[coastalconn]

You might know I'm pretty much just a bird photographer. I ran into a friend and her son and had some sweet lighting so I popped off my teleconverter and took some shots. I know a 300 F2.8 isn't really a "portrait" lens but she was delighted with the results. I would really like any C&C! This is really far from what I normally do, but I thought they came out ok..

1 The reflection in his eyes is a slide that made for a nice light source..


2


3

 

[thebasedsloth]

These are awesome! Goodjob, especially since they caught you off-guard!
But if you want me to be picky;
For the first; Not a huge fan of the crop on the first, chopped the very end of his chin so it looks like a mistake.
His right, your left, eye is a too far over in the socket, i think if he turned his head a little more towards you it'd fix this.
Second, cant see his face
Third, not much to say about this one, maybe just a higher angle to be more flattering for the woman and make the kid look more innocent.

But again; thats all just me being picky. This pictures are still better than most 'professionals'.

 

[OLaA]

All three are exposed very well, have a nice point of focus, and very creamy background. I think they all just lack framing/composition. Some of them you could have utilized portrait orientation. Lots of cropped limbs. I personally don't mind the head chop, but the chin being cropped does stand out to me. I would personally probably clean up his face in the first photo but that's a personal choice. All in all I like the photos. Color rendition is spot on and you captured some great moments!

 

[coastalconn]

Thanks for the feedback! I agree with everything. The boy had just went down a metal slide in the first one. So when I took the picture I realized the light was awesome. framing is tough when you are shooting the equivalent FOV of 450mm. If I backed up anymore the swing would have been in the picture. I am not a person photographer at all, and mean at all. I spend all of my time with birds, so I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. The few people shots I take are always more of just a snapshot. This was the first time I have ever gotten the eyes of the subject to pop.. Thanks again

 

[ronlane]

I agree that they are all good, but to me the moment in #2 makes it priceless. She will be able to look back on that photo years from now and probably will still feel his kiss.

Great job.

 

[thebasedsloth]

You shot these on a crop sensor!? Did you shoot these handheld?
I assumed you were using a non-ballheaded monopod since they're all horizontal.

 

[coastalconn]

These are handheld with a Nikon d300 and a Tokina 300 f2.8. I always shoot handheld, I'm just crazy like that since I'm normally running through the woods..