Toddler composition

[cbmrj777]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87376579@N00/2245476613/" title="DSCF5070fe by cbmr777, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2034/2245476613_d0561755fa_o.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="DSCF5070fe" /></a>

Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S5200
Exposure: 0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture: f/3.6
Focal Length: 13.3 mm
ISO Speed: 800
Exposure Bias: 0/100 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Hi! I would like ideas on composition. I must say this is a spur-of-the-moment shot because as you probably know toddlers don't pose! LOL But she was being silly and I couldn't resist.

I didn't crop the original. Only adjust coloring, reduce noise, sharpen eyes, and darken edges.

I think the 2 things that bother me most about the photo is her extended arm's position/length across the photo and the object right above her arm in the top left. That is actually part of the table that she is holding on to. The leg extended down under her arm... an ugly leg that took away from the photo. I was rushed, though, in cloning out the bottom portion of the leg. If this is a good composition I would go back and fix that sloppy job. :rolleyes:

So, anyway, guess in general, I'd like to know what you like or don't like about the composition. Thanks for your opinions! :)

[ELAY]

Recognizing that toddlers are difficult subjects at best (I know that I am heartless, but I always took advantage of their illnesses to take shots of mine, because they would be sluggish).

Having said that, I think you have too much head cut off. In fill the frame shots some chopping off the top of the head can be OK, but I think this one is too far down on the forehead -- generally I think you want at least some hair.

That is my composition comment. I would also say that you have done a good job on the eyes, but maybe too good -- the rest of the face is quite soft (shutter speed I would think), and the disparity between the sharpness/brightness of the eyes, and the softness/relative darkness of the rest of the face is just a bit too much. If I had the eyes on a separate layer for sharpening purposes, I would probably experiment with dialing down the opacity until the fit was better.

EL

[KathrynWilson]

Yes a little too much head chop for me too. Would have been better to get her right hand in too. The other hand doesn't matter as much as that whole part of the body is chopped.

I think the softness is all shutter speed related too - looks like you were working with low light.

[cbmrj777]

I had an entire response typed out yesterday that DPS ate! LOL

Let's try again. :)

El, I think you are right. See, something was bothering me about the photo and I just couldn't put my finger on it. I was going for that partly chopped off face. Trying to focus the attention on her eyes and all. (she still doesn't have much hair, poor girl. LOL) and it was spur of the moment, not planned. But wasn't sure if it "worked". Apparently, I chopped too much off. Oops!

Although she was standing near a west window with fairly strong light, she was still a bit dark and grainy, so I used NeatImage for noise reduction... probably too much. And I sharpened the eyes. (Which I did do on a seperate layer - see I'm learning! :D )

KathrynWilson, if I had the right hand in the photo, would that have balanced it out more and not make it look so awkward?

Thank you so much for your critique and ideas. :)

[ellie mac]

I have a LOT of these types of shots of my toddler, and I agree with the others about the crop.

I've just been looking through some of the ones I have that I really like and what I've noticed is that the best ones tend to have at least one side where he isn't touching the frame, this leaves a little bit of space that tends to balance it out. I always try and get the camera as high up as I can so as to try and get a bit more room around him, which can always be cropped out. The best ones are also where he is standing without holding on to something. So I think that yes if the hand was included it probably would balance it out a bit more, although it might be harder to clone out the table and have it looking natural. But I'm not good at pp.

Actually looking at it again, I might have also considered a square crop to get rid of the table leg, which could also balance it a bit by reducing the emphasis on the arm and bringing focus back to her face.

[Tafnap]

I find the angle a little to high and the right arm leading me away from her and out of the picture. Maybe see what it looks like cropping the left side of the image more. I would also try laying on the floor and trying some from low to high to see what you may get.

Thank you for sharing.

[Gunsotsu]

My problem, beside the crop, is the eyes. Did you sharpen it in post, because it looks unnatural?