Baby Portrait... With or Without the bird?

[Chiwalatta]

Hi I spent a little time on a couple of images last night but tried to add a non photographic image into a portrait... With this pose I felt it needed something above, to give the effect that the baby was looking at something, so I cropped the image and added canvas creating this crop.

Do you think the blue bird adds or detracts from the image? What else do you think could I could add or do instead of the bird? Any idea weldcomed... Thanks...

Or

[butch3r]

Hahaha! I love it with the bird, it has a story! Very very funny pix and well cropped! And great illustration too!

[alphasco]

I love the bird there, and you placed it well!

[leonaashlee]

Perfect with the bird!

[wulf]

Moved to comparison critique - if you're asking for comparison of a couple of images, that's the place.

I think the bird is a neat addition but it would be better a little further to the left. It doesn't look like it is quite at the point the child is staring at at the moment.

Wulf

[tycooder]

What a look.... no bird necessary How did you light this ...its very good

[Chiwalatta]

Thanks for the comments and moving for me Wulf...

[Chiwalatta]

Originally Posted by tycooder

What a look.... no bird necessary How did you light this ...its very good

I have a couple of cheap studio lights 1 with an octagonal soft box and another with reflector and brolly.White paper back ground, altered the levels on the back ground to make the white whiter, layered and brought the baby through. Hope this helps?

[nswphotos]

The Bird is great good idea!

[mandyatm]

I am going to be the odd one out, but as a mom of a baby this age, I would prefer it without the bird. It makes it cartoonish. It depends on what you are using the image for I guess, but if it were a picture of my child, I would choose the one without. You left negative space above the baby, which works well with the expression and looking up. If you want to add something up top, I would add the baby's name.