My first stranger photos...Cute kid!!

[TamiAz]

I was at the park just playing around with my camera and I saw this mom and little boy feeding the ducks. I couldn't resist asking if I could take some pictures and she said yes!! This is what I got.. This is natural light, since I'm scared to use my flash at this point. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

1)

2)

3)

4)

 

[shootermcgavin]

Why black and white? They're kind of more snap shots, 1 is probably the best, 4 is cool except you can't see his eyes at all. I think being brave and asking to take photos was a great step, but now you gotta get a little closer, these look as if you didn't ask permission and just snapped the photos when the boy glanced over at you, I would have liked to see the boy and the mother together in a photo looking at you. If you had a picture of her and him holding hands walking around the lake that is a photo I bet she would buy. Why girls dig that shot is beyond me. Congrats though going up to a stranger and taking their picture is awesome!

 

[TamiAz]

Why black and white? They're kind of more snap shots, 1 is probably the best, 4 is cool except you can't see his eyes at all. I think being brave and asking to take photos was a great step, but now you gotta get a little closer, these look as if you didn't ask permission and just snapped the photos when the boy glanced over at you, I would have liked to see the boy and the mother together in a photo looking at you. If you had a picture of her and him holding hands walking around the lake that is a photo I bet she would buy. Why girls dig that shot is beyond me. Congrats though going up to a stranger and taking their picture is awesome!

<br><br>

Thank you for the feedback. I'm kind of partial to black and white, but I guess I need to learn when to use it.. I felt weird getting too close because I didn't want to intrude. I can't believe I even asked...

 

[KmH]

The 50 mm f/1.8 doesn't deliver it's sharpest focus wide open. To get the sharpest focus you need to stop it down at least a couple of stops. Two stops down is f/3.5.

The in-the-camera B&W (monochrome) setting delivers a very mediocre B&W conversion. Editing a color photo to B&W using image editing software gives you more control over the resulting B&W image.

You used a good camera perspective by getting down to the boy's eye level. However, back of the head shots always feel somewhat weak. Humans are really tuned into faces.

 

[TamiAz]

The 50 mm f/1.8 doesn't deliver it's sharpest focus wide open. To get the sharpest focus you need to stop it down at least a couple of stops. Two stops down is f/3.5.

The in-the-camera B&W (monochrome) setting delivers a very mediocre B&W conversion. Editing a color photo to B&W using image editing software gives you more control over the resulting B&W image.

You used a good camera perspective by getting down to the boy's eye level. However, back of the head shots always feel somewhat weak. Humans are really tuned into faces.

Thank you... I guess I had it wide open because it was getting dark. Would it have been better to increase the ISO and used f/3.5?

 

[SoonerBJJ]

Would it have been better to increase the ISO and used f/3.5?

So long as you understand what you compromise in doing so. It is a balance of creative controls and technical restraints.

 

[bazooka]

I actually like #2 and #3 very much. They capture a special moment and are technically pleasing. The only thing I'd mention is the bag in #3 but considering the situation, it's not really something you would want to interrupt them to remove.

 

[TamiAz]

I actually like #2 and #3 very much. They capture a special moment and are technically pleasing. The only thing I'd mention is the bag in #3 but considering the situation, it's not really something you would want to interrupt them to remove.

Thank you!! I tried cropping that picture so the bag wouldn't show, but I couldn't crop it to where it looked good.

 

[mommy-medic]

I would crop off some of the top of the third one- but I'm not opposed to pics that are non-standard sizes. Personal preference may prevent you from considering it as an option.

As mentioned, changing to a deeper dof was suggested- it would also address what I was going to suggest, and that's to make the ducks a tad more recognizable. (image #1). Again, personal preference, but I think if they weren't so oof it would contribute to the feel of the moment- mom and son feeding them. (not saying to necessarily include them in focus, but changing your f/stop will make them less oof, kwim?) hope that makes sense.