Children of Peru

[hughes_57]

Critique welcome took these when I was a guest on a Island in Lake Titicaca Peru, the Peruvian children our so cute and natural.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm30/david_57_photos/People%20of%20Peru/LittleSisters1of1.jpg



http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm30/david_57_photos/People%20of%20Peru/Littleboy1of1-1.jpg



http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm30/david_57_photos/People%20of%20Peru/Littlegirl5-1.jpg

[PhotogJeff]

They're all sharp and crisp looking and I think they show the features of the kids quite well. From a photojournalist or travel photography point of view, I'd like to see more of their environment. These could be Peruvian kids living in America.

It looks as though they're in front of a little storefront. When I saw the first photo, I thought to myself, why not include a bit of the store or something in the background that will help the viewer to feel as though they're there with them, in the kid's environment? In the first one there is even a goat or lamb next to the girls. Unless you have other views, I think you missed a real opportunity there. Hey I've looked at my own photos many times and seen an element that I didn't recognize at the time of shooting that could have really improved the image.

As a general rule, a photographer should (usually) get down to the kid's level. This invites the viewer to be eye to eye with the subject or subjects. This is also true of animals as well. It helps to connect the viewer with the subject and invites the viewer into the subject's world. It will oftentimes make the kids more comfortable and I think you'll find kids loosen up a bit for some reason. One exception to getting level with the subject is if you're trying to make the subject look weak. Then if you shoot down on them, it gives the impression that you're towering over them and they're weak. These rules are meant to be broken though.

Hey, the bottom line is you have some real nice pictures of Peruvian kids here. Your friends and family will enjoy seeing them. Composition and technique are usually learned skills. Like a lot of things in life they're much easier taught or wrote about than they are to put into practice. Jeff

[hughes_57]

Thanks Jeff appreciate your comments, guess I got carried away with the shallow DOF on the 17-55 as I had purchased it as my walk around lens just before I left for Peru.

[Robert_Lay]

The first one should be in color.

In the second shot, you should be at their level - not looking down at them.

Same in #3 - get down to their level.

[hughes_57]

The first one should be in color.

In the second shot, you should be at their level - not looking down at them.

Same in #3 - get down to their level.

Thank you for the comments absolutely right just hard on the knees :)

Here's the first one in color

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm30/david_57_photos/People%20of%20Peru/LittleSisters1of1-2-1.jpg

[scorpio_e]

Cute shot. Definitely could use a different perspective. Just my opinion:)

[Robert_Lay]

Thank you for the comments absolutely right just hard on the knees :)

Here's the first one in color


I really like the color version better - there may be some quibble about color balance, but that is easy to fix.

[drumsfield]

Composition and technique are usually learned skills. Like a lot of things in life they're much easier taught or wrote about than they are to put into practice. Jeff

Agreed, just because you can hold a paint brush and draw pictures doesn't mean you will create a masterpiece.