Xandria Christmas Portrait

[Frank Schmidt]

A simple little portrait of Xandria waiting for Santa by the fireplace with the Christmas Tree in background. She's 2 years old in April 2012.

f/4.5, 1/250 sec, -0.3 step exposure bias, Canon 60D with 50mm lens.

I forced the flash on-camera and used a slave flash set on tri-pod camera left and slightly behind the subject for highlights.

I like her "open" facial expression.

Nice background detail focus, nice eyes, nice shadow capture.

Opinions?
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see more of my photos at: http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/frank-schmidt.htm

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[katia]

for me, this shot is FAR too busy and cluttered. it's awkward that her feet are cut completely off. the white balance of her skin looks way off, and she's not in focus.

[Frank Schmidt]

I like the soft focus. She's fair complected.

It's a kid in front of a Christmas Tree; sorry, it's going to be "busy".

Thanks for the input.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Frank Schmidt

I like the soft focus. She's fair complected.

It's a kid in front of a Christmas Tree; sorry, it's going to be "busy".

Thanks for the input.

So someone provides some feedback and you shoot everything down?

This doesn't look like anything of particular effort or interest. You didn't even get down to her level; it looks as though it's taken from regular adult-eye height.

Her expression isn't "open", it's blank, or surprised. There's no special technique involved here; hell, there's no BASIC technique involved here.

And for the record, "soft focus" and "out of focus" are NOT the same.

[katia]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

So someone provides some feedback and you shoot everything down?

This doesn't look like anything of particular effort or interest. You didn't even get down to her level; it looks as though it's taken from regular adult-eye height.

Her expression isn't "open", it's blank, or surprised. There's no special technique involved here; hell, there's no BASIC technique involved here.

And for the record, "soft focus" and "out of focus" are NOT the same.

I've seen a couple of threads and this is his regular MO. Meh, if he doesn't want to listen to opinions (after he asked for them) and would rather go on being so chuffed up with himself then it's not my problem

[evader]

The picture just looks out of focus...it's not a "soft focus" shot at all.

It looks like a quick snap shot taken with a point and shoot camera. Sorry to be so blunt but that's what I see when I look at it.

[TNH]

Originally Posted by katia

for me, this shot is FAR too busy and cluttered. it's awkward that her feet are cut completely off. the white balance of her skin looks way off, and she's not in focus.

Originally Posted by evader

The picture just looks out of focus...it's not a "soft focus" shot at all.

It looks like a quick snap shot taken with a point and shoot camera. Sorry to be so blunt but that's what I see when I look at it.

I agree with all of their points here. I would say, if she is the subject, try to make her in focus. I also don't care for how her feet are cut off, it's a bit distracting, IMO.

Try shooting it again, if you want to make this better. Get the focus on her, and avoid some unnecessary distractions. Like the stockings, and the little santa claus she is holding. (Sorry, but he really draws my eyes away from her face.)
Maybe if you zoomed in more, and had only the tree behind her, and not the walls and fireplace, it would be lees distracting.

She also looks a little surprised, and well, almost scared. You may want to try to get her to smile next time, it would be a lot cuter, IMO.

That's just my opinion on this. Hope I helped you out.

Originally Posted by Frank Schmidt

I like the soft focus. She's fair complected.

It's a kid in front of a Christmas Tree; sorry, it's going to be "busy".

Thanks for the input.

And BTW, when someone gives their opinions after you ask for them, it's really nicer to respond more nicely. Sorry, but to me, it just sounds like you're acting like you don't care about her thoughts on this.
If I'm wrong, and you didn't mean it in that way, then I'm sorry. But that's what it sounds like, to me at least.

[Frank Schmidt]

Sorry for offending some people, I'll try to do better.

FrankSchmidt | RedBubble