Happy After Lunch

[Apolis]

So this is my first post here. I got into photography a year ago when my work bought a Canon XSi and paid for me to take an 8 week photography class. I recently bought a Canon T1i for my personal use and want to learn more. I feel I have a good understanding of the basics and I think I'm relatively artistic minded. However, I feel most of my pictures are lacking.

I think the photo I've posted is a good example. Its of my son after lunch, he was very excited to get an animal cracker for dessert.



To me, I love the expression on his face and I think the composition is okay given the spontaneity of the moment. However, the photo just seems lacking, and it feels cold to me. I think it has to do with the bright light coming from the window and all the light reflecting off the 2 feet of snow in the backyard. Additionally, the focus seems a bit off, I'm not sure if its to do with the AF or a slight amount of camera shake due to shooting at a shutter speed of 1/40. My house is extremely dark, even during the brightest parts of the day, so it makes taking pictures a challenge.

Any ideas on how I could have improved this photo would be appreciated.

Camera: Canon T1i
Shutter Speed: 1/40
F stop: 3.5
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 18mm

[Benji]

The first thing I noticed is that the white balance is off. If you shoot in Raw and shoot a grey card first that would eliminate that problem. Second is the shadow on the right side of his face which indicates the main light (the window) was not positioned correctly. Since you can't move the window, you move the subject to where the lighting is more pleasing. Third thing was the high lighting ratio. A silver reflector positioned at camera left to bounce some light back into the shadows would have helped out there.

So we have 20 seconds to move him closer to the window and turn him slightly, 20 seconds to take a meter reading and shoot a grey card, and 20 seconds to position the reflector. You were only one minute from a great shot! (I LOVE his expression!!!)

Benji

[Apolis]

Thanks for the input. I don't know a lot about shooting in RAW so I should read up on that. I've always used the preset white balances on the camera (and clearly I choose wrong). How does using a gray card and shooting in RAW work? Or better yet, can you point me to link that explains it better?

What would the outcome have been with turning him towards the window and using a reflector? A more fully lit face? One of the things I liked about this scene before I choose to start shooting was the contrast of half of his face being shadowed. It seems that perhaps I shot this wrong if that was what I was trying to capture.

I think next time he is eating lunch, I'll try to set him up in better lighting first. Sadly, his mood can shift quite a bit in the minute to get everything set up, lol.

Thanks for the constructive criticism.