Depth?

[sorenw]

I have taken 2 almost identical portraits of my son:

Picasa Webalbum - Soren W

and

Picasa Webalbum - Soren W

The main difference is the depth of field.

Which one do you like better and why? Is it just a matter of tast or is one more "right" than the other?

Best regards

Søren

[vjhoward]

I think the photo posted caught the light better. I don't see it as a question of depth, but a question of light. One photo has a really dark background with a highlighted face (flash?). I found that photo distracting. Hope this is helpful...

[peeperita]

i like the shallower depth of field because there's nothing attractive about the background....it makes me focus more on the child and less on the scene.....

peeper

[ML Photography]

Originally Posted by vjhoward

I think the photo posted caught the light better. I don't see it as a question of depth, but a question of light. One photo has a really dark background with a highlighted face (flash?). I found that photo distracting. Hope this is helpful...

Absolutely agree. One of the pictures clearly shows you used a (on camera?) flash to lighten the subject, flattening the shadows that give depth to the image. Most of the times I try to blur the background to let the subject "pop out" of the image and be at the center mf the viewer's attention, unless the background is functional to add a meaning to the pose/clothing/etc.

This is all IMHO of course...

[SuperDan]

Originally Posted by peeperita

i like the shallower depth of field because there's nothing attractive about the background....it makes me focus more on the child and less on the scene.....

peeper

Agreed.
Nice colors too