Snapshot of my little girl for c&c

FadeOut · Dec 2, 2012

Hey guys this is my daughter Arayna, she is three and runs the house and every once in a while lets me snap some pictures of her, of course still with attitude lol, but let me know what you thing and thanks for checking it out.

Samerr9 · Dec 2, 2012

She is really beautiful and cute

I think the WB is off, it is very yellow..

FadeOut · Dec 2, 2012

Thanks! I will see what I can do, unfortunately my camera was shooting in jpeg when I took this..

AgentDrex · Dec 2, 2012

Too much distraction from the right as this is in landscape mode. Remember to use the correct orientation for the situation. If the subject is taller than it is wide, then use portrait mode and vice-versa. Here's an edit (hope you don't mind too much), curves adjustment to reduce yellowing, cropped to portrait mode, high-pass sharpening technique, cloned out crease on cheek, added just a little rosy coloring to cheek, dodged mid-tones in eyes to make them stand out a little more:

The_Traveler · Dec 2, 2012

I don't mind the landscape more, the OOF gives it a bit of context.
Decreased saturation in yellow and added a tiny bit of red
Decreased contrast a bit.
Nicely sharp, nice expression - an actual real little girl

FadeOut · Dec 2, 2012

AgentDrex: Thanks for the tip, I'll try to keep that in mind, still very new to all of this, and no I dont mind anyone editing my pictures.

The_Traveler: Im glad you like it, and I agree I like the extra information in the picture for this situation.

The lighting was not optimal what so ever, no natural light, very yellow lamps plus the yellowish flooring, and I have no flash yet, ISO1600 f1.8 1/60sec

As I said Im still very new to photography and lightroom. Lots of information to take in and put to practice all at once. But I really do appreciate everyone's input, helps me a lot and thank you!

AgentDrex · Dec 2, 2012

Here's something I stress a lot. QUIT worrying about the technical aspects at first. Switch camera to grandma mode (full auto whatever) and work on these two elements which are the most important: composition and lighting angles.

Then once you are hitting really good compositions and the light is coming in from the most useful direction for the photo then come out of full auto one step at a time. Try for aperture priority or whatever.

This is how I look at it. You can learn how to tie a complex knot, fold gift wrap perfectly and tape it all shut like no one's business but if inside that box is a piece of poop, all you have done is learn how to fancy-wrap a piece of poop.

Doesn't matter what mode the camera is in. If the composition is emotionally moving and the lighting is good, then you have a keeper photo. Learn the rest after you've reached that point to enhance your knowledge.

*all that obviously depends on you using a camera with a built-in lens or an automatic lens. I shoot exclusively with old glass so I have to become more involved in the process and if that's something you want to do, go for it. Remember also that it is not necessarily the camera. An iphone doesn't choose the composition and direction of light. That's up to you as the artist. I hate it when people say I'm wrong and its the camera. While that can be true to a point, the painter can use an expensive brush or a leaf off of the ground to create a painting. True that the brush may create strokes differently than the leaf but the tool is useless without a user. I can cook in a thousand dollar convection oven or on a fire I made outside for free.

FadeOut · Dec 2, 2012

I think I understand what your getting at. And thank you. Ill work on my composition and probably do some extra reading up on it to get a fuller understanding in my head. I dont blame the camera what so ever, Im all for user error. Oh and glad to see someone else up in the tundra with me! Just noticed that.

"You can learn how to tie a complex knot, fold gift wrap perfectly and tape it all shut like no one's business but if inside that box is a piece of poop, all you have done is learn how to fancy-wrap a piece of poop." - I love this and probably will never forget it, not only because its funny but because its true and something to think about. This should be in your signature.

AgentDrex · Dec 2, 2012

Tundra? Not yet. Still going outside with a short sleeve shirt! We northlanders are some tough birds though, huh? Thanks for the signature suggestion, will do!