can my photo be better?

[private]

I have photo wall - not a great one, I have three pics when he was 5 months old and now I am working on the 5 year old ones. Please let me know what you think of these two. Do you prefer the B/W or the color photo? And Why?



Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/5
Focal Length: 37 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash fired, auto mode


Here is the link to the second one - per the rules of this site...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3185/...6458678b14.jpg


Thanks in advance for all of your comments. This site really is helping me.

[jiminyClickit]

patjesten,

If you will edit your thread by just placing a link to your b/w second photo, your post will be in accordance with the Critique rules, which you may want to become aware of:

Critique Forum Rules

[Panama]

I really like both of the pictures; however if I had to pick one for a wall, I would go with the 1st one. There is just something about his eyes and smile in the 1st one that makes “me” smile! I like the second one also but the page that he is turning almost seems too big and it hides his great smile. So, my vote is for the first one. What a cute little boy you have!!!!!

[private]

Thanks Panama - that is very kind of you!

[inkista]

I like the overall composition better in the color shot; but the lighting is better in the B&W. Are you using an on-board flash? Or an external flash unit? Because if you're using an external flash, you could probably get more natural-looking light by bouncing the flash or using a diffuser of some kind.

You might also want to consider dropping $80 on an EF 50mm f/1.8, rather than using the kit lens for this kind of shot--you could get a softer look by using a wide aperture and thin depth-of-field to blur the background, and you might not need to fire the flash.

[private]

I am not using an external flash, just the one that is on my camera. It isthe same photo the b/w and the color, I just tured one to b/w. So is it the cropping that you think could be better in the b/w photo?