Children Photography - C&C welcome

[ashjamesgav]

1. http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/11/l_aa8d74ac4eef408db7d7f69eaef84192.jpg

2. http://a204.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/62/l_da0a6fbaaf2a5cbec7e22cd586f3cdb3.jpg

3. http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/41/l_4a126350a17246a694a8326ed69231ab.jpg

4.
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/57/l_3fcc00873a034e57822ec9dc3c0dfd88.jpg

5.
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/26/l_ee4c3dd7261a4882bf40ae43247ec967.jpg

6. http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/22/l_686512d9a1084a0597daf5f788e519f8.jpg

7. http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/47/l_4ec28a74db55427a8abc5ceb0144535a.jpg

8. http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/64/l_6701a0f680084582998bd639b7363bf3.jpg

9. One more: http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/5/l_23dcc382d3984f80a543b639d37ffd37.jpg


Please let me know what you think! If there are areas where you think I can improve, please shed some light in my direction. I am shooting with a Canon 40D and a 28-135 lens. I just got my camera a little over two weeks ago, and switched from a P&S.

[Robert_Lay]

In my opinion, 5, 6, and 7 are the best, but they are all good.

In #8 I don't like the facial coloring or the expression.
In #4 the area of interest is too much up in the top left corner looking OUT of the frame.
In #1 the facial expression and the stance are not very flattering.
In #2 the lighting is very poor.
In #3 the lighting is better but still not very good. Dappled light coming through a tree is more often than not a lost cause. You got away with it in #5, but here it got you.

[ashjamesgav]

In my opinion, 5, 6, and 7 are the best, but they are all good.

In #8 I don't like the facial coloring or the expression.
In #4 the area of interest is too much up in the top left corner looking OUT of the frame.
In #1 the facial expression and the stance are not very flattering.
In #2 the lighting is very poor.
In #3 the lighting is better but still not very good. Dappled light coming through a tree is more often than not a lost cause. You got away with it in #5, but here it got you.

Thanks for your input. All of these were taken in my yard, and we have tons of trees, so I know that the lighting is probably the biggest issue. I'm going to work on going somewhere (a park probably wouldn't be much better) where I can take pictures without the shade.

[ashjamesgav]

In my opinion, 5, 6, and 7 are the best, but they are all good.

In #8 I don't like the facial coloring or the expression.
In #4 the area of interest is too much up in the top left corner looking OUT of the frame.
In #1 the facial expression and the stance are not very flattering.
In #2 the lighting is very poor.
In #3 the lighting is better but still not very good. Dappled light coming through a tree is more often than not a lost cause. You got away with it in #5, but here it got you.

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/40/l_0c2ce452183245408cd444679e951469.jpg
Coloring any better?

[Robert_Lay]

Coloring any better?

Yes, that looks better.

In regard to lighting - open shade is best. See the following:
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 from a large expanse of blue open sky and 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.

What are the Disadvantages of Direct Sunlight?
-- A subject illuminated by direct rays of the sun will have very high overall contrast. In fact, the range of brightnesses on the subject will typically be greater than can be captured without special processing.
-- The subject will usually find it difficult to keep his eyes open without severe squinting, the shadows will be so deep and black as to be featureless or without detail.
-- The highlights of illumination on the subject will often be such a bright white that they will be featureless or without detail.
-- There will be very few elements of the subject having mid-range tonal values - everything will be either overly bright or overly dark.

What is the Quickest Way to Recognize an Overly Harsh or Contrasty Lighting Environment?
-- Look to see if the subject is casting a deep black shadow on the ground. If so, he is in the direct rays of the sun - not in Open Shade.

[ashjamesgav]

Yes, that looks better.

In regard to lighting - open shade is best. See the following:
What is Open Shade, and How Does It Improve Outdoors Portraits?



Great, thanks! I'll keep that in mind when looking for a place to shoot. I only wish my house could serve as the building giving open shade, but as you can see, there are other elements contributing to the shade (those pesky trees ;)).

[Flo]

I will disagree about #2.I love this one out of the entire series.the lighting doesn't affect the photo as a whole to me at all.The perspective works.( for me)

[chauncey]

Yes, that looks better.

In regard to lighting - open shade is best. See the following:
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 from a large expanse of blue open sky and 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.

What are the Disadvantages of Direct Sunlight?
-- A subject illuminated by direct rays of the sun will have very high overall contrast. In fact, the range of brightnesses on the subject will typically be greater than can be captured without special processing.
-- The subject will usually find it difficult to keep his eyes open without severe squinting, the shadows will be so deep and black as to be featureless or without detail.
-- The highlights of illumination on the subject will often be such a bright white that they will be featureless or without detail.
-- There will be very few elements of the subject having mid-range tonal values - everything will be either overly bright or overly dark.

What is the Quickest Way to Recognize an Overly Harsh or Contrasty Lighting Environment?
-- Look to see if the subject is casting a deep black shadow on the ground. If so, he is in the direct rays of the sun - not in Open Shade.

One of the best explanations that I have read, thanks Robert.

[ashjamesgav]

I will disagree about #2.I love this one out of the entire series.the lighting doesn't affect the photo as a whole to me at all.The perspective works.( for me)

Thank you :) That is one of my favorites, too.

[egordon99]

Photos are blocked at work, but I'll check them out tonight.

[zerovision]

Based on #5, I would say your yard is not a bad place to shoot. #5 is a good example of open shade, because you can see the light hitting the left side of the face to give the subject the right amount of light to stand out from the background and is very well exposed with no shadows.

This is an excellent picture. It tells a story and that is what every picture is suppose to do. The lighting is excellent, the color is excellent, it shows what the subjects attention is on......etc. If I were to do anything to this, it would be to sharpen it just a little, maybe add a tiny bit of contrast, but I don't see anything else.

By all means, you should get out and take pictures at other locations, if in direct sun light, open shade, overcast, or what ever. This is the only way to learn. Just remember the 80/20 rule. most of the time only 20% or less are keepers. Not every picture will be perfect every single time.

Keep up the good work and practice as much as you can.

[ashjamesgav]

Based on #5, I would say your yard is not a bad place to shoot. #5 is a good example of open shade, because you can see the light hitting the left side of the face to give the subject the right amount of light to stand out from the background and is very well exposed with no shadows.

This is an excellent picture. It tells a story and that is what every picture is suppose to do. The lighting is excellent, the color is excellent, it shows what the subjects attention is on......etc. If I were to do anything to this, it would be to sharpen it just a little, maybe add a tiny bit of contrast, but I don't see anything else.

By all means, you should get out and take pictures at other locations, if in direct sun light, open shade, overcast, or what ever. This is the only way to learn. Just remember the 80/20 rule. most of the time only 20% or less are keepers. Not every picture will be perfect every single time.

Keep up the good work and practice as much as you can.


Aww, thank you so much for your comments! That made my work day better! I have been practicing with open shade more often, before I wasn't really paying attention to the shadows (as you can see from some of these photos), but hopefully I'll get the hang of it and then be able to move onto a different type of lighting :)