atypical portrait thoughts...

[jax314]

I took this picture of my daughter and I can't help but think there is something to it. It is not your conventional portrait shot, but I am hoping that I am beginning to better understand PP techniques. I was curious about your thoughts on the overall composition, crop, and finished color and sharpness....

Any other thoughts are welcomed as usual. Thanks for your thoughts.


Camera Nikon D5000
Exposure 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture f/6.3
Focal Length 86 mm
ISO Speed 500
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash No Flash

[samu2]

Cute little girl

I am not keen on the composition because she looks uncomfortable, like she is squashed in the frame.

lovely light in her eyes!

[AprilForever]

Moving! I love emotions well captured! Personally, I like how it is framed, goes with the feel of the picture well!

[Niresangwa]

If you're going for a dead-center composition, make sure it is dead-center. this one is slightly shaded to the right. in this instance i think it works, despite the usual eschewing of center placement. i'd probably bump up the green channel saturation... if you're going for something poppy and edgy. nice enough shot. was ther emore room at the bottom of the frame in the original? trying to think of a way to move her eyes closer to the top of the frame without cutting her hair out...

[jax314]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

there was not anymore room on the bottom, not a lot anyway. I did an 8 x 10 crop and tilted it a little sot he lines in the background were straight, and that left virtually no more room on the top or bottom......

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by jax314

Thanks for the comments everyone.

there was not anymore room on the bottom, not a lot anyway. I did an 8 x 10 crop and tilted it a little sot he lines in the background were straight, and that left virtually no more room on the top or bottom......

That's why shooting with the camera in portrait orientation comes in handy sometimes.

I like this shot, your focus is great. Not every portrait has to be a big smile, I love the emotion in this. I'd actually prefer to see it in a BW, I think a conversion would lend nicely to the overall feel and emotion. In color, the pattern of her clothing and the green background fight for attention with those big beautiful eyes and crocodile tears. Try a conversion, I'll bet you love it!

[belladoja]

I think that if your are going to center her--I would crop in really close to her face and get rid of the bright green background. I cut a paper to fit right next to her face letting only her little earrings show and then up right to under her chin--so that only her face shows. Crop line on the top is great. It gives you an intense portrait of an unhappy child. Very moving. Very nice portrait--but the green really takes away from her beautiful face--my opinion.

[jax314]

Better?

[SusanH1970]

Brighten the midtones so it's not so muddy and you've got a GREAT shot. But yes, much more impact in BW.

[conor5150]

It's a very powerful image , makes me sad to see her crying........I prefer how she looks happy in your flickr