My Daughter

[dlalonde]

Please critique and don't hold back. That's how we learn right?



Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 38 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Flash: No Flash

[subrataofkris]

Hi Dave, the exposure is very nice in the shot, I don't find any harsh shadows. The wooden table/platform and partially cut off hands is not helping the composition, so I would suggest you to crop closer from the bottom. Though she is aware of your action, her expression is very sweet. I would suggest you to keep a focal length of 75mm-105mm for portraits.

Good job!

[mygreenbird007]

I'm totally a newb to portraits, so take this with a grain of salt. I might have crouched down a little more with the lens you were using. There's a slight angle to the shot, like you were standing slightly above her eye-level with the camera. I think that might have helped with cutting off her arms. Lighting works; with a greater focal length you might be able to introduce some nice bokeh in the background which would help focus even more on her.

[Trader]

For a portrait, we usually use a larger mm lens - I think that would improve this shot. I also would like to see a little fill light coming up from the photo bottom left to take those shadows out. I'm being very critical to help improve this shot - it is a nice portrait just the way it is.

[candleman]

Originally Posted by Trader

For a portrait, we usually use a larger mm lens - I think that would improve this shot. I also would like to see a little fill light coming up from the photo bottom left to take those shadows out. I'm being very critical to help improve this shot - it is a nice portrait just the way it is.

Not true really.. RE: the focal length.
The 35mm mark on an APS-C D40 is equivalent to 50mm on a full frame.. which is considered the “correct perspective for portraits as its very very close to what the human eye sees.
But longer focal lengths do give more bokeh and reduce DOF.. which is a good thing.

I agree about the fill light.. the eyes need more light in them. You could put white paper on the table and this would add some fill into the eyes.
or get someone to hold up anything white, silver (Gold is my Fav) to shine light back into the face.

Originally Posted by mygreenbird007

. I think that might have helped with cutting off her arms. Lighting works; with a greater focal length you might be able to introduce some nice bokeh in the background which would help focus even more on her.

The framing id fine, the focal length as I’ve said previously is good.
What you could have done was correct the pose. Chopping parts of limbs off isn’t normally what we like to do.
Either crop tighter or include the hand. never chop off below the elbow or knee, always above the joint if you know what i mean.

As for Bokeh, just open up the aperture to reduce Depth of field.
You were set on F/5 my guess is on your kit lens you could get as wide as with f/3.5 at that focal length.
(that’s where aperture priority comes in.)
what mode were you using

Originally Posted by subrataofkris

Hi Dave, the exposure is very nice in the shot, I don't find any harsh shadows. The wooden table/platform and partially cut off hands is not helping the composition, so I would suggest you to crop closer from the bottom. Though she is aware of your action, her expression is very sweet. I would suggest you to keep a focal length of 75mm-105mm for portraits.
Good job!

Good points,
exposure seems exposed for the background and not “perfectly” on the skin.
I suggest using Spot or Centre weighted metering to ensure you do indeed expose for the skin.. and not the background

Originally Posted by dlalonde

Please critique and don't hold back. That's how we learn right?

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 38 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Flash: No Flash

I like that attitude

One last thing,
Always try to get a catchlight in the eye (a shiny relfection) otherwise the eyes look dull and boring.
Thi s can usually be done with the reflector mentioned above.

she's a natural poser and a pretty girl.
take a stick with you next time you go out to shoot so you can beat the boys back...

nice portrait tho'
i AM very critical.. so dont be discouraged.
honestly, you've done well. and filled the frame well.
The background is nice and clean, unobtrusive, and the inclusion of the barrel (and her interaction with it) is very good.
You have a good eye for that.

[dlalonde]

Thanks all for the comments. These are the kinds of things I need to hear, as do all us noobs, to improve ourselves.

I agree with the cutting off of the hands. The reason I did this is because she is leaning on an old whiskey barrel and the barrel was tilted and was very distracting. This was the only way to eliminate it other than moving it and reposing. I may do that and try again.

Again...thanks all.