My first image submitted for critique. Here goes...

[Kellyman Photography]

This is an image of my son who was born on June 22, 2011. Needless to say, I am a very proud daddy. I am very much my own worst critic and as a result, I've been somewhat intimidated to submit my images for critique. It's also the reason I never started a website until now. However, it is time to step my game up and what better way to do that than to hear what I may be doing right or wrong. If you wouldn't mind also offering a critique on the what I have done with the website Kellyman Photography thus far, I would really appreciate it. Thank you in advance for your time.

[wulf]

Could you give us a few clues about the camera, settings and post-production work used for this shot? Also, do you want us to ignore or comment on your watermark (it is rather large but balances what would otherwise be quite an area of "wasted" space in the photo).

Thanks,

Wulf

[ajax_andy]

Lovely shot but i'm really not sure about the colour layer or what ever you have used to make it a weird off brown/grey colour.

[MrJones]

first of all, I feel it is underexposed. it feels grayish-brownish which could work but I don't really care for (a matter of taste).
other than that, like wulf said, you've got a "dead area" on the left which is being balanced by your watermark.. but it's not really a part of the picture. why didn't you put his head on the left and showing a bit more of the baby?

[fais54]

Your son is adorable and I love the expression. I like the set up, and what you have him sitting in. It's very adorable. I do feel the overall image is a bit flat. You can boost up the Black levels, and the contrast just a bit and I think it would help. I think the watermark takes up a large portion of the picture; I think it would look better a bit smaller.

Good job though, and good luck on your site.

[Kellyman Photography]

I used a Canon 50D with a 24-70 2.8 lens attached. This image was shot at F5 1/80 ISO 400 Focal Length 70mm.

As far as post processing, the only thing I did was desaturate the image and then added a sepia tone (Maybe I overdid it - Non color corrected laptop) via the photo filter in Photoshop.

I was attempting to add some negative space on the bottom left side of the image with him looking into the negative space. Also, as a newborn, I didn't feel his bellybutton would be very desirable in the image which is why I framed it that way.

Thanx for your input and compliments thus far. They are appreciated.

Here is the original image...

[JFSanders]

Ahhhh, he is a right handsome little guy! The negative space is a good idea but (isn't there always a but...) if you are going that route then make it negative not almost negative. Drape a black or white sheet and pin it under him and over the easy chair so that the tones are even across the negative space. I like the color version so when you do a B&W conversion keep the tonal range as true to the original as possible.

I haven't had the time to visit the website but will do so in the near future and will post to this thread.

Jim

[wulf]

I think it is too much space as a standalone photo (although a different case if you wanted to use it as something like a card to send out to friends and family, with text in the bottom left). If you do want space, I would tend to agree with Jim about keeping it simple. I'm not sure you need a drape but I would crop in close so you just have the green cushion and the wooden box, not the floor underneath. I would also try to avoid the portion of the handle (bottom centre) and the tiny bit of colour in the bottom right.

Wulf