Just starting out and would love some critique!

Stefany0219 · Apr 10, 2013

Hi there! So, I'm just getting my feet wet in photography and hope to be doing this as a career in the near future. Continuously training, learning and improving. Like most people starting out, most of my practice pictures have been on my daughter. I took a couple yesterday that I would love some honest critique on. I am actually a member on another forum, but I found that most of the critiques were extremely negative or nit picky(I don't like her expression or there's a stray hair). I realize those sort of things come with more practice and shots, as well as photoshopping hairs out, but I'm looking for reviews of the overall photography. Just trying to improve..thank you!

ronlane · Apr 10, 2013

Welcome to the site Stefany. You will find the nit picky at any site where you are asking for C&C. These aren't too bad, lighting may be a little harsh but it looks like they were taken on a sunny afternoon out in the open.

The one question I have is what is the focus point? In the first one, it looks more like the lips were the focus point instead of the eyes. Same thing in the 2nd but I can't tell where the focus was.

The_Traveler · Apr 10, 2013

When you shoot at f1.2 your depth of field is about 2 inches thus it is very easy to miss focus on important spots.
There is no need for 1/4000, your subject is lying down and is not a fast moving deer.
Shoot at a slower shutter speed and smaller aperture and get better dof and probably a better image.

the light is very harsh and there is a distinct yellow tinge to the picture.
(look at the shadows on her face and particularly at her teeth.)

Stefany0219 · Apr 10, 2013

Hi Ron. Thanks so much. Well, they were taken at about 4:30 in the afternoon with the sun behind her and a reflector in front. I was trying to wait until "golden hour", but she was in a good mood at the time they were taken, so I had to get them at that point

As far as focus point, in the first one, I was trying my best to get her eyes in focus and the second one was more of an overall focus on her in general. It was tricky because I'm working with an 85mm 1.2 lens, which as you probably know is a slow lens and it's heavy, and I was trying to hold the camera with one hand, and the 32 inch reflector in the other. Not the best of circumstances. I was going to look into getting a reflector stand.

Stefany0219 · Apr 10, 2013

Yeah, I was shooting on AV mode, and I chose 1.2, so the camera automatically chose 1/4000 for me. I had just gotten this lens and wanted to play a little bit with that very shallow depth of field, but I do have to tell myself to get out of that urge and raise the dof just a bit. Now on the second picture that you have there, is that sooc? I see what you mean with the shadows and the teeth, but I actually edited it that way in ps elements. I tend to lean towards liking warmer pictures better, but I do have to remember to look at all aspects of the picture when doing so(ie teeth). it was taken at about 4:30 in the afternoon, so not ideal. I was trying to wait until later, but just wasn't happening with her

I also had a reflector in front of her because she was backlit, but do you think it would have been better without the reflector?

YvetteC · Apr 10, 2013

There are some really cool dof calculators available online...they are worth checking out.

Stefany0219 · Apr 10, 2013

Thanks Yvette. I actually have a golden hour calculator site saved on my bookmarks, so I knew I had at least two more hours before that great light..I will just have to plan better with the little one next time

Thanks!

kathyt · Apr 10, 2013

On the 85, you are going to have a hard time getting focus at 1.2 unless you manually focus. That is what I generally do with that lens when shooting wide open. This is a strange pose choice too for her. She looks uncomfortable and it doesn't look natural.

CherylL · Apr 10, 2013

Stefany0219 said:
Thanks Yvette. I actually have a golden hour calculator site saved on my bookmarks, so I knew I had at least two more hours before that great light..I will just have to plan better with the little one next time Thanks!

Hi Stefany and welcome to TPF. The golden hour calculator is not the same as the DOF calculator. Someone may post a link for you.

The first photo has a slight red in the pupil, not quite red eye. I have been practicing on my 3yo granddaughter and if she doesn't want to pose then I wait for another time. Cute daughter! Keep shooting

The_Traveler · Apr 10, 2013

There is a tremendous push here on this site to use flash, reflectors etc. right from the start of any learning curve.
I think that is, if not damaging, at least an impediment to learning.
Instead of just managing your subject and your camera you have to manage other physical items.
You are effectively learning studio photography with one huge key light.

Why not just learn to manage your subject within the context of the light that exists rather than trying to create an artificial environment within a natural one?
Then add what you need when you need it.

Stefany0219 · Apr 10, 2013

Thanks all. I will have to practice manually focusing when I'm shooting wide open. For some reason, it's something I never think of to do, but I will keep it in mind next time. She actually got into that pose herself, but was just ready to be done with the all thing..haha. These were just for my own sake, so I wasn't overly concerned with it, but I could manage my time better. And I do have to practice on working with what I have first rather than adding light in, but I'm just so in love with the look of reflected light, I wanted to give it a go..Thanks for the advice.

o hey tyler · Apr 10, 2013

Also pay attention to grooming, I didn't read all the C&C, but I noticed in shot 2 that her hair is covering her left eye. Occasionally that can work for a photo, but I find it doesn't usually click for children.

Studio7Four · Apr 10, 2013

C&C (not nitpicky) per request:

A number of good points have already been made, so I'm going to focus on the compositions of these. First off, good job getting down to her level.

I feel the first shot is cropped way too tightly. Frankly I think I'd feel this shot would be a bit claustrophobic even with an adult model, but for children you generally want to leave more open space in the frame to play off a child's sense of adventure and exploration. They have their whole lives ahead of them, give them room in the shot to grow into. This was shot outdoors, and even though she's not smiling as much as in the second shot she's still in a good mood - contextual clues that suggest the shots wants more breathing room. I'm not saying you can never crop a child closely - a shot of a sullen kid sitting in a corner in timeout may certainly be appropriate for a close crop.

For the second shot, I think you could have cropped just a touch more closely to make her a slightly larger portion of the frame, but not by much. Particularly in relation to what I said about the first shot, I like the open feel of this one. I like how you included a bit of the sky (and did not let the horizon cut through her head). The biggest drawback to the composition here IMO is that she is very centered both horizontally and vertically. I think with her pose (square to the camera, centered on her blanket) you can get away with keeping her horizontally centered, but if you had moved her up or down in the frame the shot would be stronger.

One final question - what kind of reflector were you using? You'll get different results from a translucent white disc than you will from a solid white reflective cover (or a silver or a gold reflective surface).

frommrstomommy · Apr 10, 2013

The_Traveler said:
There is a tremendous push here on this site to use flash, reflectors etc. right from the start of any learning curve.
I think that is, if not damaging, at least an impediment to learning.
Instead of just managing your subject and your camera you have to manage other physical items.
You are effectively learning studio photography with one huge key light.

Why not just learn to manage your subject within the context of the light that exists rather than trying to create an artificial environment within a natural one?
Then add what you need when you need it.

YESSSS someone not talking about using speedlites and everything else. =P

To OP.. I think they are not half bad! I do feel the first is a little too yellow for my taste.. and I agree with whoever mentioned the pose looking sort of uncomfortable but I think you can definitely easily build from this with the minor corrections the others have shared. Welcome