Caught the toddler

[Emerald Rose]

Suggestions on how I could make this a better shot. First post in Critique...be gentle lol

[MrJones]

there are a few minor things you can do like straighten the photo (look at the horizon) and brightening up a bit (recommended) and maybe a little sharpening cause it's a bit soft on focus.
other than that? it's a beautiful photo, great back light!

next time, if you could post your EXIF data on the original post it would be great (and according to rules)

EXIF:

Camera Nikon D60
Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/4.2
Focal Length 110 mm
Focal Length 109.9 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash No Flash

[SusanH1970]

What a cutie! I took the liberty of posting your EXIF for you per the critique forum guidelines.

Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/4.2
Focal Length 110 mm
ISO Speed 400

Overall the image seems a bit soft. This could be due to camera shake - 1/125 is a bit slow for a 110mm focal length. I love the backlighting, but her face is underexposed. Spot metering off her cheek and using a reflector will help with that (and the reflector will put some light in her eyes also). Be sure after metering, you focus on the eyes. What mode did you shoot in (auto, aperture priority, manual, etc.)?

She's a bit centered, compositionally. Read up a bit on the rule of thirds. Shooting in portrait orientation and putting her eyes at the top third of the frame would have been a better composition.

Skin tones also a bit off in color, but that could just be the underexposure talking, lol.

Hope this helps!

ETA: LOL, Mr. Jones and I were posting at the same time.

[Emerald Rose]

Great thanks for all the info it has been very helpful. I was using P mode. I also put the EXIF data in the post but I froze up when posting so the latter part of the post did not take..Very weird, my apologies. Just bough a reflector today should put it to good use

[fotoworx]

I agree with SusanH1970, Photo would have been much stronger using the rule of thirds. Also I would try getting rid of some of the background. Other than that nice shot, beautiful subject.


Photography Tips

[belladoja]

I really don't mind the soft focus--it isn't bad at all and she is so relaxed and pensive that it fits. I do like the backlighting or rim lighting on her hair. The rule of thirds thing is good--agreed on that. You can move closer to the child and set your camera exposure to her face instead of the background look at the exposure in the viewfinder then move back and reset it in maunal for aperture and sutterspeed. This will lighten the background--blow it out a little and lighten her face. Such a nice pose--she is so relaxed. It is all about learning exposure and it takes time--and experiments. Keep at it you are doing well.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by belladoja

This will lighten the background--blow it out a little and lighten her face.

No need to blow out the background....meter correctly and use either a reflector or fill flash (more than likely a reflector is all that's needed) and both the subject and background will be properly exposed.