Will someone critique me to help me improve?

sarahthree

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I'm a beginner with photography and editing, but trying really hard to improve. The problem is, on top of improving my technical skills, I also need to develop my eye to see what still needs to be changed -- something that can't really be taught through tutorials and YouTube videos, etc., but something I think I can only learn by someone critiquing my work and telling me how I can make it better.

I took these shots of my kids this afternoon and edited them in Photoshop. Would love input on how I could have done things differently (in shooting or in editing), or any guidance on how I can improve! Teach me, please!
 

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I'd try cropping out the water in the first two, or burning if that made the crop too tight. The third I'd see how burning the background in the lightest parts looked. Other than that your edits look fine to me!
 
These are very happy pictures! :)

The first 2 images - I would straighten the horizon. I really like the out of focus foreground that you've included into the composition.

Both the subjects and background are equally bright. If you reduce the brightness or darken the background (which ever way you prefer), the subjects will stand out immediately.

Another suggestion is to include some interaction between the kids, like talking to each other, laughing, jumping, etc. That will definitely bring the image to live and more interesting to look at too! :)
 
Pretty good overall on the editing. Agree about maybe cropping the first two to eliminate the water...the light edge at top hurts just a bit.
 
The first 2 images - I would straighten the horizon.
No, they're already straight, no straightening needed.

I would keep the first two, but not the third shot. Sometimes culling is the hardest thing to do, but also the most productive.

In the first shot, there is a large OOF spot on your daughter's leg that is distracting. You may think you don't have the PS skills now to remove it artfully, but try, anyway. This is how you learn new skills.

Anyway, the second shot is the best one, so verify the aspect ratio is one that you can print and frame, and if you have to make it shorter, crop a little off the top which will lessen the impact of having too much brightness.
 
Shooting with a bright background is hard to get right. I'd cull the first image, simply because the little girl has her head turned. In the second image, if the OOF spots were encircling the children it might work as a frame, but the way it is makes it distracting and as Designer pointed out having them encroaching on the children is very distracting. Personally I would want the children to be the center of attention, and would shy away from anything that distracted from that.

For me the third image is the strongest and the best of the bunch, though as in all of them, the children seem to be squinting slightly.
 
If you're going to shoot into a bright background light you need front fill light. These photos need front fill light. You're in the field so that front fill should be portable flash and it should be off camera.

Joe
 
Thank you all so much--These are such helpful comments and I really appreciate the feedback!
 
I would clone out the sticks in the first shot.
 

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