Please, Help Me Improve!

[gorbe1983]

Hello everyone! I've been an avid reader of DPS but this is my first post ever.

I am an amateur photographer looking to make the jump from amateur to professional some time in the near future. Below is a shot I got of my nephew during a family photoshoot. Although the parents decided they didn't like the picture too much, I thought it was a great shot and got their permission to keep and use the photo on my photoblog.

I added a black and white lomo effect because the colored version was a little dull.

Anyhow, is the composition right? Are the shadows distracting? Does the B and W take away from the photo? Any and all critiques would sure go a long way! Thanks in advance!






Camera: Sony A350
Shutter Speed: 1/50
Aperture: f/2.0
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 400

[PointNShoot]

Well, looks like you're doing great on expressions.

[John Hendry]

The image quality is good but is it sellable if the parents did not like it ?

just a thought

All the best

[shauncunninghamphoto]

I really like what you've tried to do here. You captured a moment and it's interesting and fun. The setting also has an element of intrigue. The shot doesn't seem contrived or posed and I like the attempt to light correctly. Overall, a good job. Just some constructive criticism that would've taken it from good to great, imho...

• The shadow on the right hand side of your nephew's face is a little harsh. I think a shadow works in the overall concept of the shot, but could've been softened a little with a bounce disc positioned subject left angled towards his right cheek.
• More importantly than the above, the bounce disc would've softened (perhaps eliminated) the somewhat distracting shadow on your nephew's right arm
• The pillar in the background isn't straight but I'm sure it wasn't built at an angle. It's just a couple of degrees off and I find that visually distracting just like a slightly mis-angled horizon across the sea. I would advise re-angling the shot so that the verticals in the pillar are truly vertical.
• I struggle with "dead center" subjects and while the "crazy-cute face" and position of your nephew's arm soften the impact of it, it still feels dead center to me. His head further to the left in the shot and slightly higher would have been a better choice of composition.

www.shauncunninghamphoto.com

[gorbe1983]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

@ PointNShoot - It's more like my nephew's doing great with expressions! All I asked him to do was make a funny face...LoL.

@ John Hendry - Personally, if it were a picture of my child, I'd want it. However, being that his parents were taking model photographs as opposed to family pictures, they only decided to keep the solo photos.

@ shauncunninghamphotos - thanks for that awesome advice! The shadow to the left was a bit distracting for me as well as well as the slightly tilted column. I thought about straightening out the column, but then decided against it because, just like my nephew's pose, it gives the photo a sense of "goofiness."

This was a spur of the moment photo. He kept bugging me to take a photo of him, so I quickly turned the camera towards him, told him to make a funny face and snapped the photo. Nontheless, this is awesome advice and I thank you kindly for taking the time to offer some advice. It's greatly appreciated!

[3bayjunkie]

the exposure is nice. his facial expression is disturbing haha!!!