Toddler Portrait by light of window

[kasiakoz]

Hello, I am a very, very new DSLR user. I just purchased a Canon T2i and shot this picture of my daughter using the light through the window. I would love to know your thoughts on the lighting and composition. I have not yet played with any type of post-processing, I don't even have a program.
Thanks!


Camera Canon EOS REBEL T2i
Exposure 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 74 mm
ISO Speed 1600

[MrJones]

nice lightning and DoF.
it would have been better composed if you moved your camera to the right, putting him on the left side of the photo. this way, he is looking to the right and the viewer eyes goes with his line of vision just to get blocked by the end of the photo.
please provide EXIF data so we can help you better.

[kasiakoz]

Originally Posted by MrJones

nice lightning and DoF.
it would have been better composed if you moved your camera to the right, putting him on the left side of the photo. this way, he is looking to the right and the viewer eyes goes with his line of vision just to get blocked by the end of the photo.
please provide EXIF data so we can help you better.

Hi, I did just add the EXIF. Thanks for the suggestion!

[TheMoons678]

Originally Posted by MrJones

nice lightning and DoF.
it would have been better composed if you moved your camera to the right, putting him on the left side of the photo. this way, he is looking to the right and the viewer eyes goes with his line of vision just to get blocked by the end of the photo.
please provide EXIF data so we can help you better.

It's a girl

[MrJones]

Originally Posted by TheMoons678

It's a girl

oops... sorry.. too late at night

[kristenh]

i really like the lighting- soft and even. if it were my picture, i think i would try and crop the red ball or toy that's in the background on the left- that would leave your daughter some room on the right to look into. if you try it again, see if you can encourage her to look up a bit- then the light will reflect in her eyes and give them some sparkle. (i have kids this age and i always tell them to look for birdies or airplanes- this works ONCE- so be ready )

[Nori]

I think lighting and composition are very good.. I wish you had taken the picture on eye level with her. The red ball is a little bit distracting but no big deal for me.

[Photographycampus]

Firstly congratulations on using the window light for your shot. A lot of people don't think to use window light but it works wonderfully well especially for kids because you can always get them to look towards an open window (especially if you tell them something interesting is out there...like the Easter Bunny
My comment would be to definitely get rid of the left red ball or whatever it is. Also I'd crop out the little bit of hand you can see in the bottom of the shot. It's neither here nor there for me (the hand that is).
Hope this helps.

[SusanH1970]

The lighting is lovely! Window light is fabulous and you've utilized it well here.

Compositionally, it's not working for me. She's dead-center in the frame and shot from above; also her hand is chopped off. Try getting down to her level and playing more with different compositions. You also may want to consider using a reflector - have the window side-light her, use a reflector on the other side of her so it's not in deep shadows (though you do want some subtle shadowing to keep it from being flat), and have her looking at you - you'll get great connection in your photos.

You're off to a great start!

[kasiakoz]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and encouragement. Just simply cropping out the ball, her hand and taking her out of center - does that improve? I'll definitely take more shots at her eye level too...