Does This Work?

[ruth_anne_b]

I'm trying my hand at children's portraits. I LOVE this shot. Does this work for anyone else.

[BCampbell]

I think you have a technically "correct" composition here, but the image ends up being a little dull and lifeless.

What I mean compositionally is that, for example, you have some nice matching colors with the shirt and the camera, but it doesn't seem like much is happening. It looks like the kid is going to take a self portrait, except he isn't because he doesn't have a finger anywhere near the shutter release. So it actually just looks more like someone gave him a prop, for no good reason. Also, you have a good rule of thirds alignment, but again for no real reason... there's nothing happening on teh right side of the photo, it's just wasted space. If he were looking over there instead of into the camera, that would be different, for example.

Just my opinion, it looks well set up but poor final product.

[cherrygirl]

I think it is a nice concept but I would have like to see his eyes a little more...if you could have changed your angle a hair, you would have captured it. It is a little dull, just work on giving is a little color pop.

[cherrygirl]

Originally Posted by BCampbell

Also, you have a good rule of thirds alignment, but again for no real reason... there's nothing happening on teh right side of the photo, it's just wasted space. .

I respectfully disagree with this...I think the composition is fine.

[sdstone00]

I agree with Cherrygirl on the composition. The only thing is to have raised your point of view a little higher so we could see more of the eyes. The background was fine as nothing there is distracting from the subject. Nice bokeh in the background.

[ruth_anne_b]

My fault, I guess I should have given a bit of background on this shot. This child is 18 months old. BCampbell, the endearing aspect of the photo "is" the fact that the camera is facing the wrong way. I can see how that could be lost on a static viewer of the photo. He had been given a prop, but the reason was to give him something to examine and hopefully get some thoughtful photos instead of trying to get a baby to sit still and deal with him becoming very impatient. Maybe it's an image that only works for the family. His mother and grandmother, that goodness, loved the photo. I guess I like it so much cause it just exemplifies the innocence and lack of sophistication of childhood. He was so tickled to be able to take a picture of me and of course at that age the mechanics of that are just not going to sink in. I guess ultimately that answers my question, this doesn't really work across the board.

I appreciate all of the feed back.

[irishmuth]

Sounds like you got the feedback you needed. I'll just add that without more of the boy's face, it loses some of its personality. At this angle, it could almost be any child behind the camera. I also feel like the focus should have been on the boy and not the camera - the viewer would still know it's a camera even if it were OOF.