Some kiddies portraits

AlisonB

I've posted these on another site and waiting for critiqe. To date i havent received much critique on the images, so let loose . These are pics of my friends niece. I brought the camera along with me the other day and made a model out of a 5 year old. What an entertaining day.

Fionn

cute child, always helps the picture,
these would look good in high key
my preference would be for a crop up to the neck-line of her tee-shirt (or even a bit beyond) in the first shot. I don't really know enough to comment on the lighting it seems to me it could be improved perhaps.

Second shot doesn't have the same appeal for me. I'm thinking probably coz her eyes aren't as visable as the first, maybe had she been looking up at the lens would have been a more pleasing composition. In these types of shots i'm more drawn to the eyes first.

good DoF in both photographs

kids aren't the most co operative of subjects so,
pretty good shots
well done

eas

hi AlisonB

nice shots. the focus and dof are great.

I just had a look at their histograms (in ps2) and they both seem just slightly underexposed?

Really like the conmpostion of the 1st one. I think the shadows on the dark side of her face may be slightly harsh (under her eye particularly) . Maybe a touch of flash or reflector?

2nd one possibly could use a touch more space on the right - feels slightly cramped to me. still nice tho.

off topic - how do you like the D200?

AlisonB

Thanks a million guys for the very constructive criticism. These were taken two Sundays ago in the lovely weather. I'm only a beginner so i really struggled trying to get the exposure right and to try and not blow the living bejaysus out of the white tshirt . I definitely prefer the first one!

Delighted with the D200. It was a toss up between the D70 and the D200. I thought i might grow out of the D70 a bit quick so i opted for the D200. It's probably a bit out of my league at the moment but no doubt i'll have it for a while and learn what there is to know.

eas

great to hear your enjoying your D200 - I'm currently on the upgrade chain (from D70), should have mine in the next couple of weeks.

Not sure what settings you used, but think the slight underexposer is probably due to the white shirt - for this case I would have either used centre weighted or spot metering - taken a reading from her face and locked exposure and re-composed, or slight exposure compenssation would have worked as well -

hope you don't mind - but just to show as example - I took your shot and adjusted levels slightly and dodged a touch on the shadow side of her face resulting in the below -


BEFORE




AFTER




I think it makes for a better "text book" portrait, but that's not always the intention, perhapes your happier with yours.

Dimy

Excellent shot, to eas: I prefer the original, I think B&W photo's are supposed to be "underexposed" on the histogram. You made the image lighter, while I think the original could even do with a little bit more contrast and darker
But it all comes down to personal preference of course.

eas

Dimy wrote:

I think B&W photo's are supposed to be "underexposed" on the histogram.

I don't know about that Dimy - sounds a bit weird to me. I can see if that's a personal preference, but to me underexposed is underexposed whether it's colour or BnW.

You made the image lighter, while I think the original could even do with a little bit more contrast and darker

perhaps it could do with more contrast - but I think it would be a mistake to darken it considering the innocence of the subject.

anyhow, just me 2 cents - either way we agree that it's a nice shot.

AlisonB

hey guys,

Thanks for the feedback and especially eas for the re-edit. I think it's definitely a case of personal preference. I myself prefer my edit. Nothing to do with the histogram or under exposure - the nearest eye is out of focus and the lighting conditions compliment this, this is how it was composed. Had the two eyes been completely in focus i definitely would have edited differently. The point of focus is the outside eye.

I would definitely not say that all b+w images are underexposed but i do agree that the image probably needs an adjusted (contrast layer). I'll have a play around with it tonight and see what i can muster up.

Thanks again, appreciate it.

XXX
Ali

Dimy

It all comes down with what the editor likes, in my case most of the black & white images I process look underexposed on the histogram, if I'd proces them more neutral the image becomes more like greyscale rather than black & white. When I'm happy with the brightness and contrast on a color picture and I then convert it to black&white I usually find myself darkening the image some more and add some more contrast. But anyway.. I prefer the original edited version, both pictures are excellent and crystal sharp. Not bad for a....Nikon

Shrimp

yep.. get the levels tool out.. bump the white a bit, not too much, cos it's a child, u want it to be soft..