What’s Your Preference?

AntMason · #1 (**permalink**) 03-21-2011, 11:55 PM

Let me just say in advance this is the first time I ever seriously tried to take a portrait, much less of a child. I don't even have children, so this is all new to me, but I want to start pushing my photography past my comfort zone.

This was taken with a Canon T2i / ISO 100 / 130mm.

Specifically, any opinions on the composition? I like the fact the eyes shone through, but should I crop out some of the sky / tree line? I tried it out but I thought it made the picture feel a little plain.

In terms of post-processing, I used Lightroom and the adjustment brush to brighten up the shadows on one side of his face a little, as well as decrease the contrast and sharpness on areas of his face except his eyes. Does it actually look too soft, did I take away too much detail?

Thanks for any help you can offer. This is the first time I've really tried portraits, and this little kid has never had any pictures other than a point and shoot, so I'd like to get something good enough to offer as a print.

AntMason · #2 (**permalink**) 03-21-2011, 11:56 PM

_MG_6508.jpg by AntMason, on Flickr

Sime · #3 (**permalink**) 03-22-2011, 12:23 AM

For me, my focus goes right to the little guy's eyes... then to your © mark (which isn't legally necessary anymore, just fyi - © is implied) if you're keen on leaving your name / website / whatever on the photo, maybe make it less obvious?

The only other think that slightly catches my eye when, in my opinion, it shouldn't, is the tree right in the top right of the frame? Maybe crop across a tiny bit / down a little to get rid of it? or simply clone it out as I sorta like the image the size / framing that it is.

Hope that helps.

Sime

Deleted · #4 (**permalink**) 03-22-2011, 12:41 AM

I'll give my 2¢ but it's only an opinion

With kids I'd try to keep it to a 3:4 or 4:3 ratio when cropping. Parents tend, IME, to get 4x6"/6x4" prints most of the time but then you get shots like this that would look better as a 8x10" print.

If you want to keep the copyright I'd lower the opacity down to 50% or so. Enough so that people will see it and not 'borrow' it for Fb or whatever without pause but not so much that it stands out and takes away from the picture. It doesn't have to be on the bottom and in pictures like this having the © in the top left at 50% or so would have it there without taking away from the image as much, well IMO.

I'd crop a bit different. Scroll the page down until the left branch that forms a Y at the top of the head hits the top of the page. That's where I'd crop this picture, but that's just me.

kristenh · #5 (**permalink**) 03-22-2011, 12:07 PM

i love the picture. super cute kid, love the way he's playing with you. as a parent, i'm sure i'd want a big copy of it.

as a photographer (har, har, an amateur of about 1 year's vintage), i'm bothered by the lighting- too many shadows on his face. and for a portrait- i wouldn't want the branches in front of his face. also for a portrait, i'd want to try and catch some light in his eyes.

this kind of peekaboo shot is great- what about trying it with a tree trunk in shade, take from a bit above him so that he's looking up (just a bit) and you can catch the light in his eyes. tree trunk won't have any distracting branches....

ps tend to agree with pps about the crop- what about a square crop right above his head?

AntMason · #6 (**permalink**) 03-22-2011, 04:01 PM

Thanks guys - I think I've addressed everybody's suggestions:

Quote:

For me, my focus goes right to the little guy's eyes... then to your © mark (which isn't legally necessary anymore, just fyi - © is implied) if you're keen on leaving your name / website / whatever on the photo, maybe make it less obvious?

My lightroom settings automatically add that to anything going to flickr / facebook, but I did reduce the opacity down immensely, as I agree it was overly distracting. Also, naturally any prints wouldn't have that on it.

Quote:

I'd crop a bit different. Scroll the page down until the left branch that forms a Y at the top of the head hits the top of the page. That's where I'd crop this picture, but that's just me

I took this suggestion as well, I thought it helped pull the frame together, thanks!

Quote:

The only other think that slightly catches my eye when, in my opinion, it shouldn't, is the tree right in the top right of the frame? Maybe crop across a tiny bit / down a little to get rid of it? or simply clone it out as I sorta like the image the size / framing that it is.

I cropped part of it out, and cloned the rest out. Hopefully I understood what you found distracting about the image.

Furthermore I tried to brighten his face / eyes a little and clone out part of the branch that was above his eye that I felt was distracting. I realize the lighting should have been better int he first place, but I don't have any reflectors and couldn't get him to open his eyes facing more towards the light. I have a *lot* to learn in terms of working with kids!

I'm including the new one and the original, since my lightroom wrote over the old one above. Also noobish question - is there no way to edit a post? I'm looking and just don't see one...

AntMason · #7 (**permalink**) 03-22-2011, 04:02 PM

5544490437_cbcb8923b8_z by AntMason, on Flickr

New one:

_MG_6508.jpg by AntMason, on Flickr

SusanH1970 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-22-2011, 04:47 PM

What a cutie!

The second edit is way overdone - it's really obvious where you lightened the shadows, his eyes are overdone, and there is haloing around the right side of his face. Shooting in optimal lighting would be a better option than trying to fix a photo that was shot with harsh lighting, but I do understand that with kids especially that's not always the easiest thing to do.

ETA: To edit your post, just click the button that says "edit".

AntMason · #9 (**permalink**) 03-22-2011, 10:33 PM

Ok, third time's a charm...right?

_MG_6508.jpg by AntMason, on Flickr

I toned back down the brightness, and erased some of the highlights, but kept the crop and a couple of the minor edits. Any further opinions? I realize that of course the best option was to have better lighting to begin with, but considering my skill level this is at least improvement for me!

Also, an alternative shot I didn't quite like as much, but thought I'd share nonetheless if anyone has an opinion.

_MG_6505.jpg by AntMason, on Flickr