Looking for some constructive criticism

[SGToliver]

This is from a recent family session i did. I know I chopped a section of his hand but I am curious of what people think of the overall photo. Pose? composition? Color? Exposure? I am showing a color and black and white version.



Camera Nikon D3100
Exposure 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture f/4.0
Focal Length 50 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash No Flash

[Hill Country Hack]

Here are my two pennies.

The pose works for me, a bit overdone, but it is very difficult to always do something unique.

The kids are looking off to above camera left, I'm assuming that is where mom was, while dad is looking at the camera. Maybe have the person trying to get the kids to smile to stand more behind the photographer.

I wish the left side of the faces were not in shadow.

I'll leave the finer details to the experts.

[Matthew_Scullion]

Cute shot. My feedback and or suggestions would be:

- Whites blown on Dad's and right hand kids, right hand shoulders. Use the LCD in Highlights mode on your D3100 to watch out for this, esp in sunny situations like this. It blinks with any sections that are pure white i.e. where you've "lost the detail forever" due to over exposure. If you spot blinking sections, use Exposure Compensation to dial down the exposure and take the shot again. You can then bring up any areas that are too dark in post prod (as long as you shoot in RAW). Alternatively, dont shoot in bright sunlight like this (go into the shade or wait for evening/early morning). Or control the exposure using flashes (ask if you want to know how to do this - apologies if you already do!).

- Too much contrast between shadow and lit areas of faces. Needed fill from a reflector or flash if you want the sun from that angle. Alternatively, position models and yourself so sun from 45 degs cam left or right. Or, again, shoot with less bright sun (shade or morning/evening).

- Tight composition means you left yourself no room for a nice creative crop. I would have liked some space to left and right, same amousnt of space at the bottom as you have and loads of space at the top... (I think I would anyway!). Unfortunately you cant do this a you were v close in. As you were using a prime lens, human zoom required (i.e. take a few steps back next time).

- I personally dont like the B&W conversion. Too dark in the darks and light in the lights for me. I am no expert on this but I would play with the colour channels or try using a diff B&W filter.

On the up side, I like the pose too. Cheesy, but hey, it's a photo of a proud Dad with his kids, how can it not be. I also like have you've got down low - good work. Finally, I think the grass looks great(!).

Keep up the good work and feel free to disagree and/or ask questions.

Matthew

[SGToliver]

awesome advice, please if anyone else has anything to say please let me have it. I took about a dozen of this pose with varying degrees of exposure. Unfortunately, due to the kids looking off camera, the better exposed version were worse. Exactly what I was looking for though. I was able to dial down the exposure and gain back the detail in the hands but not the shoulders.

[SGToliver]

is it acceptable practice to include another photo in this critique? If not please tell me and I will open a new thread.

First:
This little girl was such a blast to photograph but she made it terribly difficult to snap a shot that was not at least a little bit blurry.

second:
After I did these I was really upset with myself over the background. I was towards the end and the kids had been all over the place (as you can see their daughter was not even in the picture, she was on my lap) and I snapped these off with much thought. Aside from that....any recommendations?

[ChloeEWoods]

I didn't really analyze the pictures completely, but the black and white one with the little girl towards the end stood out to me. However, in a slightly startling way... at first glance (and I don't mean to be graphic) it looks almost as if that thing on her dress is a gun shot wound and she's screaming. I'm guessing it's a pinned on flower..? Anyway, I would have asked to take that off because it is rather distracting. Also, her hand is cut off.

I understand it's difficult to work with kids, though.

[ChrisAdval]

Originally Posted by SGToliver

This is from a recent family session i did. I know I chopped a section of his hand but I am curious of what people think of the overall photo. Pose? composition? Color? Exposure? I am showing a color and black and white version.



Camera Nikon D3100
Exposure 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture f/4.0
Focal Length 50 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash No Flash

Lens used: 50.0-200.0 mm f/4.0-5.6

I would have been nicer with a lowered aperture to blow out the background better, but I understand f/4 is the lowest on this lens... with this lens, I would have lowered the shutter to 70 to 90 and lowered the ISO to 100. That should bring out more details in the faces, also a reflector or fill light could bring out more details on the face. As for post processing I would lower the greens in saturation (lower saturation), its too green for my taste, and bring out the details in the shadows in the faces in many different ways such as blacks or fill light (in lightroom).

Black and White version ,doesnt work with the the shadows in the face.