Friend's little girl

[Katharina]

Hello! I hope this is the right place to post this, I'm sorry if it isn't... I'm a complete, utter beginner - I essentially have no idea what I'm doing. So any advice you could give would be very much appreciated - this is literally from the first day of photos I've ever taken with my new DSLR, and I just really really want to learn.

In terms of composition, I think maybe I ought to have less empty space to the left, not have that tiny corner of rope in the top right corner, and not cropped the top of her head out? Am I on the right lines or is that just... wrong?

Also, I haven't done anything to it yet in photoshop so suggestions as to how that could improve it would also be very much appreciated.



(Also, I know I'm meant to show EXIF data but I can't work out where to find that? Sorry! I did warn you that I know nothing )

[BryanPanting]

I think overall its a good shot. The focus is sharp. and the composition is good for the most part. I would maybe crop some of the left off but not a lot. I think it would have been nice if you were a little lower, more on her level but the angle you shot at works. What mode did you shoot this in? Also have you tried it as a black and white image. It may look pretty nice like that. Overall though nice shot for starting off.

[Katharina]

Thank you

I shot it in Aperture priority mode - it's the section I understand the best, so I figured it would be the best thing to start fiddling around with!

Black and white is a good idea, I'll try that tomorrow! Thank you very much for your comments.

[BryanPanting]

That's great that you shot it in AP and not one of the program modes. Much more control of whats going on that way. Not sure what your aperture was set at when you shot it, but it might have been nice to open it up a little more to get a more shallow depth of field for the background. Looking forward to seeing the image as a black and white.

[Katharina]

Sorry it took me such a long time to reply - I've just moved back to uni and my house had no internet connection until this morning! Thanks for your suggestions. I'll try to find out which aperture I used; I can't remember, but it's possible to find out, right?

This is the black and white version - I cropped it a little bit, too, what do you think?

[lputman]

I'd crop a bit more and on the color version, it needs a little levels adjustment to give it some pop.

[Katharina]

Thanks for your suggestions I tried to change the levels but I don't know how to control that myself (photo editing software was bought, like, a week ago, so I'm still figuring that out!) and the 'auto level' option just made it go a funny colour that I didn't like I shall try to figure that out tonight. Thanks!

[Katharina]

Oh, there we go. Look what happens when I engage my brain! I don't *understand* the levels, but I've found out how to change them. It's a start, right? Every little helps, I'm sure the understanding will come soon enough.

This one has a tighter crop and fiddled-around-with levels, better?

[kidzmom]

Now look at that! It has turned into a great shot with those simple adjustments (Levels and cropping!). WTG you are on your way

[WooD]

Nice image, I really like your edited version.

Well done.