Little Boy (very eager to hear your comments)

[KaVla]

Hey all,

I just learned how to use my Nikon D70 in a manual mode and currently am working on proper exposure and composition. Here is a picture of a little boy that I took. What are your comments about the composition, exposure and overall image. Really eager to hear what you think. THANK YOU in advance!!!

ISO 200 f4.5 1/125

~Katie

 

[e.rose]

To post your photo you need to put just the url of the photo between

Like so:

:sillysmi:

 

[e.rose]

Welcome to the forum, by the way!

Where in PA are you from?

As far as the image goes... he's an adorable kid.

The image is underexposed, however.

The background doesn't really do much for me. I probably would have filled the frame with more of him and less of the door, however others may feel differently.

 

[jwbryson1]

Agreed. The boy is cute, I like his expression, but the composition needs some work.

Try to "fill the frame" with your subject (the boy), and keep the rest out of the photo. Also, think about your background before taking the shot. If you want to separate him from the door, have him step away from the door some distance (10 feet maybe), get down at his level and recompose the shot. With a shallow depth of field, the background will be blurry and your subject will stand out more. Also, I would increase the exposure by just a touch, so either slow the shutter speed very slightly, open the aperture slightly more or boost your ISO just a bit.

Hope that helps.

Wherever I made a mistake in my post, somebody please correct me. Thanks.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

I like the way you elected to break the rules and slant that pic

Welcome to the madness...i meant forum

 

[bazooka]

Ditto on underexposed. I suppose you just centered the meter? Because most of the image is white, you'll want to add some exposure compensation, maybe a stop, more or less.

 

[sm4him]

I really can't speak to a lot of the technical aspects, still getting a good grasp on all that myself, but to add a couple of things to what has already been said about the composition:
--Some may like the slanted angle of the picture; I don't. Personally, I feel that you should first practice the rules of composition and show a firm command of them..then if you want to break them intentionally, have at it! Many things, like the tilt angle, are a matter of personal taste. I personally have a distaste for it.
--Moving the little boy away from the direct center of the picture, maybe slightly to the left since that's the way he's leaning, and not having his head directly under the door handle would have also improved this photo.

 

[KaVla]

Welcome to the forum, by the way!

Where in PA are you from?

As far as the image goes... he's an adorable kid.

The image is underexposed, however.

The background doesn't really do much for me. I probably would have filled the frame with more of him and less of the door, however others may feel differently.

Thanks! I'm in Lansdale, it's in the suburbs of Philly. I actually like that the door is in the shot, but I see I'm the only one. HAHA!

 

[KaVla]

Agreed. The boy is cute, I like his expression, but the composition needs some work.

Try to "fill the frame" with your subject (the boy), and keep the rest out of the photo. Also, think about your background before taking the shot. If you want to separate him from the door, have him step away from the door some distance (10 feet maybe), get down at his level and recompose the shot. With a shallow depth of field, the background will be blurry and your subject will stand out more. Also, I would increase the exposure by just a touch, so either slow the shutter speed very slightly, open the aperture slightly more or boost your ISO just a bit.

Hope that helps.

Wherever I made a mistake in my post, somebody please correct me. Thanks.

Thanks! It's not that easy with a 17-month-old. I pretty much take the shots I can get. I'll work on filling the frame better. Thanks again!

 

[KaVla]

Thank you all!!!