Help! Distracting or Nice?

[Ruth G.]

Hi Everyone!
Thanks in advance for your critiques and thoughts. I have learned so much from all of you and am grateful for this site!
My question....does anyone find the brightness of the white blanket or background overpowering/distracting? I had a few blinking highlights, but wanted to get the skin tones exposed properly. My histogram was definitely shifted to the right, but not cropped.
I used all available ambient light in my living room, but with such a gray day in MI (even at 1pm) I used my external flash pointed toward the ceiling and with a diffuser on it.
All in all, does this work okay or do you feel you could use a pair of sunglasses?!

Thank you,
Ruth

Manual mode
Shutter 1/125
f stop 2.0
ISO 1250
50mm fixed
Auto WB
Ext. Flash

[SusanH1970]

It's a little bright, but not so much that it's a huge problem. He's a cutie! My only nitpick is I'd like to have seen his face turned a bit more toward the camera.

Really nice photo.

[AnneWynne]

Perhaps cropping more of the white at the bottom would help a bit. Seems to me that there is too much white space there. Cute photo

[manwez]

My initial thought was the same as Anne's. A bit tighter cropping would eliminate some of the white so its not so distracting. Have attached what I mean...Very cute pic!

[sybren]

I think the blown out white is just right - it makes it feel like the baby is floating in a white infinity of clouds. I think the photo is adorable!

[DavidD]

Hey, he looks great! I agree about the too much white at the bottom. The only thing that distracts MY eye is the grey on the LHS above and below his hat. If it could be dodged to match the tone of the off white blured background it would be less distracting. But what do i know. A great shot anyway.

[Ruth G.]

Thank you all so much for your imput! It sure does help to have such a wide array of talented photographers critique my work in a nonbiased format. I really appreciate it!

[stitchbug]

Originally Posted by DavidD

Hey, he looks great! I agree about the too much white at the bottom. The only thing that distracts MY eye is the grey on the LHS above and below his hat. If it could be dodged to match the tone of the off white blured background it would be less distracting. But what do i know. A great shot anyway.

I agree! I like the bright white, but the LH corner is distracting

beautiful baby =)

[harrypalmer044]

Hello Ruth,
"Welcome" to a great site and a fantastic community, I hope you enjoy your time here. If this image is anything to go by we are going to see some wonderful images from you this year. The blanket is a little blown for me but I don't think it detracts from the wonderful little miracle sleeping in the image.
Thank you for sharing this with us, I am so looking forward to seeing more soon.
God Bless.
David.

[jsklinger@yahoo.com]

Hey Ruth,
Welcome to the Forums!!

I will take another point of view from most of the others. I find the lost highlights a deterrent to an otherwise good shot. I know sometimes it is difficult to capture the entire tonal range and you captured the correct part of the image correctly. That being said, I would bring back the highlights in post to provide a little definition to the blanket. One person's opinion .
Jim