My first picture for C&C

[sanpan]

Hello all,

This forum has been a source of a lot of information for me. I make it a point to read all the C&Cs so that I can learn and not make those same mistakes. I recently got myself a Nikon D3100 with 18-55 kit lens and 55-200 mm bundled with it. I also bought a 35 mm f1.8 on the recommendation of several of this forum's members and I am loving it.
This is one of my first pics (a candid one of my wife and my son).
Please let me know your views on it and how I can improve on this start.

Thanks,
sanpan

Aarti and Tanay by sanil_pandit, on Flickr

Image uploaded. Thanks to Stryker

 

[sanpan]

I am trying to get the image displayed here but can't. Sorry about that. Can anyone help me? I have read the tutorial but still the image doesn't display.

 

[Stryker]

Allow me to help you...

 

[sanpan]

Thanks Stryker. I see what you did there. I will keep that in mind for the next time.

 

[Stryker]

No problemo, Sanpan. Glad to help out...

 

[sanpan]

Erm...I would like it if anyone could provide some thoughts and opinions on the pic. Thanks.

 

[fotof1sh!]

I'm a newbie too, but I really like the lighting. I don't think I could get lighting like that...their skin glows! I know part of their head is cut off, but I think it adds intimacy to the photograph. Sorry, I have no suggestions for you, but nice pic.

 

[manaheim]

Mostly just a snapshot, I'd say, and the hair on the kids face makes it look like she(?) has a beard, which is weird.

 

[adversus]

1. Crop is too tight for my tastes. A wider crop to get their whole heads might work better.
2. Focus seems soft to me. Not sure what distance you were at, but focusing on the human face can be a pain as you are learning with the varied depth of field (nose to eyes is a good example).
3. Exposure is good

 

[sanpan]

To be honest, I did some PP in lightroom. I tried using the clarity slider to hide some skin imperfections and I guess I went overboard. This seems to have caused the soft focus. Will have tone it down next time.
Regarding the crop, I was trying to avoid the unnecessary clutter around their heads (pillows, earrings, hair clip, etc) but I will take your suggestion and try for a wider crop next time round.
Thanks for your inputs.:thumbup:

 

[Light Guru]

the hair on the kids face makes it look like she(?) has a beard, which is weird.

Exactly my thoughts.

 

[NayLoMo6C]

those are some rockin' sideburns that she's got there...

 

[sanpan]

the hair on the kids face makes it look like she(?) has a beard, which is weird.

Exactly my thoughts.

The person on the left of the picture in the white shirt is my wife (and she is definitely not underage ) and the person on the right is my son (5 years old). My son was playing with my wife and pulling her hair. Now that you have pointed it out, I see it. Thanks for ruining it for me

 

[Serpent]

Good exposure and overall colour.
Nothing wrong with the tight crop. I like it. It makes the pic more intimate.