Taking pictures of a toddler in front of Christmas tree. Help??

[sashbar]

To me a sharply focused Christmas tree is a must simply because we naturally associate it with sharp thorns. That is why sharp close up of a Xmas tree branches look so much better than the whole tree. Softening it contradicts our tactile memory and to me it always looks like a photographer's mistake rather than a deliberate composition. It is always difficult with toddlers but I would try to have them close to the tree and have just a face plus part shoulder and one or two tree branches with just one or two accentuated decoration, and some air should be there as well. It gives you a feeling that Xmas is near , it is here and with you, as opposed to a distanced and blurry celebrations. Just my 2pence.

 

[Rocketman1978]

Based on title of the post... the toddler is probably more important than the tree! And your shots are toddler-less.... how is that going to help? (oh.. and the first shot you posted is badly in need of fill on the foreground subjects - bad example)! Shooting a just a tree is much simpler than exposing for a foreground subject, and the tree also...

Relax forum police, I did post a picture of a child in front of a tree, albeit not a toddler nor did I take it but I did follow her suggestions and then posted my resulting photo. Tim posted a photo of an adult in front of a tree yet you chose to jump on my case? No disrespect but responses such as yours cause beginners like me to be reluctant to post, I don't see that as beneficial to TPF, are you trying to help or hinder?? Both of your posts help the OP in no way whatsoever, I would venture to guess my post was more of a help than your 2. We're not all professionals, this was posted in the "beginners" forum so if you don't like something posted by a beginner please ignore it.

lol! yea.. you posted a bad photo of kids (that were underexposed) in front of a tree. You did not take the photo. You did not say that it was bad.. you intimated that it was good. You did not explain how to even achieve that bad photo... or how to improve on the bad photo. How does that help the OP? You also posted an image of a tree (and only a tree) that you did shoot... and gave your settings for that shot. Those settings would only be helpful if the OP was shooting only a tree... and also only a tree that had approximately the same lighting as your tree. If the OP's tree is much brighter, or much dimmer... your settings wont work! So how did you help the OP? Especially when your settings wont work with a child in front of the tree... (except it might give results similar to the bad photo you posted)!

I was trying to help you... (since the OP had already received adequate and competent suggestions on how to shoot what she asked for, which was a tree with a child in front of it). But I probably won't make that mistake again!

Thank you ever so much, friend, so insightful. Hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas!

 

[terri35 7]

Thats informative... NOT! Care to elucidate verbosely?

Let me guess Charlie, Alphabits for breakfast again?

Oops.. sorry! I will try to stick to monosyllabic words in the future! :hug::

How about sticking to fewer words when you find fault with people, as you so often do? :sun:

 

[cgipson1]

Let me guess Charlie, Alphabits for breakfast again?

Oops.. sorry! I will try to stick to monosyllabic words in the future! :hug::

How about sticking to fewer words when you find fault with people, as you so often do? :sun:

Do you disagree with what I said? That is the important question!

 

[terri35 7]

Oops.. sorry! I will try to stick to monosyllabic words in the future! :hug::

How about sticking to fewer words when you find fault with people, as you so often do? :sun:

Do you disagree with what I said? That is the important question!

No it isn't.

 

[cgipson1]

How about sticking to fewer words when you find fault with people, as you so often do? :sun:

Do you disagree with what I said? That is the important question!

No it isn't.

So being "NICE" and not hurting feelings should be more important than being truthful? How is that going to help anyone learn?

 

[terri35 7]

Do you disagree with what I said? That is the important question!

No it isn't.

So being "NICE" and not hurting feelings should be more important than being truthful? How is that going to help anyone learn?

Interesting that you chose to go there, though that particular string of words seems to be your shield of choice. Are you so sure you interpreted me correctly? Fine, let’s go there: did you even answer the OP directly, or did you disparage someone else within the thread and then pounce on a one-liner from another poster? Posting here is voluntary, and I’m sure you appreciate what is meant by volunteering – nobody asked you. In that regard, yes, it actually is better to take a few extra moments to craft your words to total strangers in order not to be harsh. If you’re really sincere in your desire to help, you should be able to accomplish this.

 

[cgipson1]

No it isn't.

So being "NICE" and not hurting feelings should be more important than being truthful? How is that going to help anyone learn?

Interesting that you chose to go there, though that particular string of words seems to be your shield of choice. Are you so sure you interpreted me correctly? Fine, let’s go there: did you even answer the OP directly, or did you disparage someone else within the thread and then pounce on a one-liner from another poster? Posting here is voluntary, and I’m sure you appreciate what is meant by volunteering – nobody asked you. In that regard, yes, it actually is better to take a few extra moments to craft your words to total strangers in order not to be harsh. If you’re really sincere in your desire to help, you should be able to accomplish this.

Terri.. it is interesting to me that while I supposed have extremely high reading comprehension skills.... your post here makes very little sense to me. I guess maybe I do have trouble "interpreting" you!

I didn't find it necessary to to answer the OP directly.. they had already been answered competently as I mentioned previously!

I spoke strictly to the poster I responded to... and I have no idea what "one-liner" you are referring to!

Posting here is voluntary... and there are MANY posts that don't address the OP or even the original topic the OP posted about, and people interject opinions often, as I did! It is a way of life on forums. Are you going to implement a rule forbidding it? Good luck!

As far as my desire to help... posts like yours make that less likely! As far as my delivery method? Oh, well.. I prefer to not sugar coat things. Sorry!

You never did answer my question about my my post.... as to whether you disagreed with what I said. You mainly seem to be making a point of disagreeing with the delivery method!

 

[terri35 7]

You mainly seem to be making a point of disagreeing with the delivery method!

Bingo! See there? You don't really have any trouble interpreting me at all. :sillysmi: Especially since it's something we've touched on before and we continue to monitor. No need to worry about implementing new rules about butting into threads to express an opinion; rest easy, Charlie! I enforce this rule:

*TPF prides itself on encouraging friendly and open discourse regarding photography. Personal attacks on any members as well as TPF Staff will not be tolerated, and these posts will be deleted and the instigators possibly banned.

All you need to think about is being friendly! See how easy we make it? If you have trouble interpreting the word "friendly" and how much it differs from "sugar-coating", well then, here is where your stated "extremely high reading comprehension skills" will come in handy. Look them up.

As for the one-liner, gracious me, you zip 'em off so fast I guess you lose track, since it's what I originally replied to.

 

[tirediron]

I think the OP has got all he is going to out of this thread!

 

[tirediron]

Apologies to all concerned; I locked this thread in a moment of inattention.