6 month old baby

[clb76]

I've been really hitting it hard working on trying to take pictures with manual intuitively and working on my post-processing skills (which are lacking). I took this picture yesterday evening and like it but there is something that is "off" about it. I'm not sure if the baby just doesn't stand out enough from the background or what it is. I know that the top of her head is a little blown out but that is the only obvious thing to me. Anything else that is off? Color saturation? Sharpness? Thanks in advance!

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Here is the EXIF Data:
Camera Canon EOS REBEL T1i
Exposure 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture f/4.0
Focal Length 65 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire
X-Resolution 350 dpi
Y-Resolution 350 dpi
Image Width 4407
Image Height 3152
Bits Per Sample 16 16 16

[bullychk04]

Love this! All I could say is that it looks like the shadows across the left side of her face are a little dark. Other than that, I'd say, right on!

[clb76]

Originally Posted by bullychk04

Love this! All I could say is that it looks like the shadows across the left side of her face are a little dark. Other than that, I'd say, right on!

Thanks! And that might be it, the shadows, I think that might be what is keeping it from looking like "AHA!" to me.Thanks, again!

[MrJones]

it's a beautiful picture, there is a slight issue with the background separation but it's nothing.
two things do bother me here:
1. the colors are too bright. I like strong colors but here they are just glowing too much and looking at it too much make my eyes hurt.
2. I'd love to see more light in her eyes. they are a bit dark compered with the environment.

other than that, great sharp picture.. you've nailed that focus nicely!
one last thing.. next time bump up your ISO to 400 or even 800 and get a faster shutter speed.. 1/60 is quite slow.

[clb76]

Originally Posted by MrJones

it's a beautiful picture, there is a slight issue with the background separation but it's nothing.
two things do bother me here:
1. the colors are too bright. I like strong colors but here they are just glowing too much and looking at it too much make my eyes hurt.
2. I'd love to see more light in her eyes. they are a bit dark compered with the environment.

other than that, great sharp picture.. you've nailed that focus nicely!
one last thing.. next time bump up your ISO to 400 or even 800 and get a faster shutter speed.. 1/60 is quite slow.

It is a bright picture, I normally wouldn't have shot her in such bright clothing but it was a last minute shoote. Thanks for the suggestion on bumping up the ISO. I plan to do another shoot with my older children this afternoon around the same time so I will put that advice to use! Thanks!

[Doug Sundseth]

I like the composition and lighting and both focus and DoF work for me.

I think your WB might be a bit warm. This will pull blue of the dress toward the green of the grass. Also, the yellowish-green grass is a bit too close in color to the straps on the baby's dress.

FWIW, I don't have any problem with the shadows on the baby's face. In fact, I think they help to define both shape and expression and help the photo.