First Attempt with the 50

[tomslens]

These are some of the first shots that I got with my new thrifty fifty. The subject is my son Aidan. Quick shots mostly but I'd like some criticism just the same.

1.
http://www.tomandjaime.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1493&g2_serialNumber=1


2.
http://www.tomandjaime.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1495&g2_serialNumber=1

[Robert_Lay]

In each picture there is a large white object, very distracting.
In the top picture the sidelighting is rather severe, leaving a deep shadow on his right cheek.
In both pictures the bright cheek is a bit too hot (over-exposed) - more so in the upper picture than the lower one.

It's rather strange, but in the lower picture there is somenthing that looks like a blemish just above his right eyebrow. However, whatever it is does not appear in the upper picture.

Both pictures could have the black point set a little higher, and more importantly, both pictures show significant blown out highlights. In the lower picture, that is due to the inclusion of the bright shape at the left. In the upper pictue it is his face that is blown out.

In both shots, the main light seems to be a lamp off to his left. I suspect that it is some sort of studio light pointing directly at his face, but I have no way of knowing.

There is good color balance in both shots.

With images of this low resolution (400 x 600), it is almost impossible to tell exactly where the focus is. However, on the upper picture his eyes seem to be very sharp, so that's good, since you were shooting wide open and very close. The result of shooting wide open and that close is a very shallow depth of field, and it shows up as a very soft hair and ears.

[tomslens]

Bob, thanks for the criticism. The large white object is the window in the front door of my house. It bothers the heck out of me in the shot but I haven;t come up with a good way to get rid of it yet. Suggestions welcome.

I actually hadn't notice how blown out the bright part of his face was. Thanks for that. I'll have at it again with the levels.

The blemish is a little bruise. I touched it up in the first shot but hadn't gotten that far in the second. I will.

Lighting was all just natural light and the focus point was, indeed, his eyes.

Thanks!

[Robert_Lay]

OK - that clears up one mystery. The catch-light in the eyes looks like a vertical rectangle, which would be consistent with a doorway or window. Thanks, I wondered.