My Kids...C&C Please

[DeadMansLife]

Any comments welcome.
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[Speedie]

It's a nice composition but the sunlight looks a little too harsh - causing too much contrast in their faces.

[Robert_Lay]

I agree with Speedie. You should learn about "Open Shade" and try to take advantage of it for outdoors portraits. You could also learn about using the flash for fill light.

What is Open Shade, and How Does It Improve Outdoors Portraits?

Open shade is the shade created by a structure that blocks the direct rays of the sun but at the same time allows the bright sky itself to illuminate the subject.

Examples of Open Shade ---
Your subject is near enough to a large structure that he or she is completely in the shade of that structure. At the same time, there is little or no blocking of the open sky above the subject. In other words, if the subject were under a canopy or roof that blocks the sky, that would be shade but not "Open Shade".

What are the Advantages of Open Shade?
-- The fact that there are no direct rays of the sun falling on the subject means that there will be lower contrast light falling on the subject. The light that illuminates the subject will be diffuse or soft, in comparison with the direct rays of the sun. The effect on the image will be that the facial shadows will be lighter or softer and more detailed, and the highlights will be softer and more detailed.
-- Portraits made in Open Shade will be less contrasty with softer shadows and with more detailed highlights rather than having deep black shadows in the eye sockets and under the chin and nose.
-- The subject will be able to pose without squinting.
-- There will usually be a background for the shot that is not white and blown out.
-- The camera's AutoExposure system is less likely to be confused by the extreme range of brightnesses in the scene and will be more likely to command a correct exposure.

[alexclc]

Bob,

I just wanted to thank you for regularly taking the time to post such useful and well thought out information.

Alex

[LeuceDeuce]

Bob,

I just wanted to thank you for regularly taking the time to post such useful and well thought out information.

Alex

2nd that.

Fantastic information always.

[DrFil]

3rd that. Thanks.

[DeadMansLife]

Thanks for the comments, I'll try to get this shot again when I get my lens back from Canon.