My oldest at the bowling alley. Be gentle with critique :)

[DragonHeart]

Christopher @ Bird Bowl by DragonHeart305, on Flickr

 

[ronlane]

OP, don't think you have too much to worry about on the critic. You were using on camera flash with the camera turned portrait? The lighting is leaving a harsh shadow on the wall, that could have been lessened by having him step away from the wall some more. It could use a little fill on the camera right and is a little tightly cropped for me.

 

[The_Traveler]

I think that ronlane was absolutely right on this.

This kind of 'back-up-against-the-wall-and-I'll-snap-a-picture-of-you-with-the-flash-on-my-camera' takes all the personality out of the shot.
The folded arms are a protective, distancing posture and the flash blows away all the texture in his skin.

You love the guy, let it show in your pictures.
You can do it.
I looked at your pictures and I saw you can do it.

that's a real picture, lacking technical stuff but real http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/people-photography/266114-my-youngest-son-playing-zoo.html
I love the first and probably would really like your wife http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...184-just-some-pics-i-took-sunday-my-wife.html
Good snap of being being happy http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/black-white-gallery/319260-benson-clan.html

 

[DragonHeart]

@RonLane and @The_Traveler : thanks for the critique. Yes, I am much harder on myself with the critiques. I told my son next time, I am gonna try to work with the ambient light and definitely distance him from the wall. I have a few more shoots I want to do with him. He normally doesnt like having his picture taken.

 

[ronlane]

He normally doesnt like having his picture taken.

Make it fun for him and he'll like it better. If that fails then try bribing him.

 

[DragonHeart]

He normally doesnt like having his picture taken.

Make it fun for him and he'll like it better. If that fails then try bribing him.

Bribing/threatening, whats the difference

 

[Geaux]

Thank goodness you watermarked this, wouldn't want someone stealing it!


I'm on the boat with everyone else, on camera flash + close to background rarely turns out anything more than a snapshot. If you really want the flash look without the flash look, look into a flash that can be bounced. If you're shooting with the kit lens or a slow lens, beware of trying ambient in a dark bowling alley, a lot of motion blur.

 

[DragonHeart]

Thank goodness you watermarked this, wouldn't want someone stealing it!


I'm on the boat with everyone else, on camera flash + close to background rarely turns out anything more than a snapshot. If you really want the flash look without the flash look, look into a flash that can be bounced. If you're shooting with the kit lens or a slow lens, beware of trying ambient in a dark bowling alley, a lot of motion blur.

Yeah, next shot I will separate him further from the background. The flash could be bounced but I tried and it just looked worse. I had to knock the background down in post by about a stop as he had a big white halo. What I probably should have done was knocked the flash exposure down so it wasnt so hot. You know what they say about hind sight... But will know for next time. Thanks for the critique.