Candy Cane at Christmas!

My wife and I managed to get our 22 month old daughter to sit more or less still for a couple of pictures. I don't see how the pros do it; it took me about 100 exposures to get a few where she was not moving, in focus, and smiling! Using the 5D was a big help, as I had penty of pixels to spare for cropping and didn't have to frame a moving subject so tightly.

#1

#1 has too much empty space above. I know you wanted to capture the tree, so maybe a lower angle would have proved to be more useful in eliminating the extra space and capturing the tree at the same time. I think you captured a nice image here! yummy, a CANDY cane!

#2 Precious! i still feel the subject isn't big enough in the shot. because the tree is so big, and your cutie pis is so small, she is being dominated by the tree Maybe crop out the right portion where the wall and floor are visible?

-Both images are a bit flat, and could use some contrast bumping!

Nice job getting these shots! I can only imaging how hard and tiresome it must be working with kids

Thanks for the comments; I agree with both your points. I have been playing around with the cropping but my wife wanted as much of the tree as possible. I haven't done much processing, so bumping the contrast is certainly something I will try.

SkWeEkiE wrote in post #2449750
#1 has too much empty space above. I know you wanted to capture the tree, so maybe a lower angle would have proved to be more useful in eliminating the extra space and capturing the tree at the same time. I think you captured a nice image here! yummy, a CANDY cane!

#2 Precious! i still feel the subject isn't big enough in the shot. because the tree is so big, and your cutie pis is so small, she is being dominated by the tree Maybe crop out the right portion where the wall and floor are visible?

-Both images are a bit flat, and could use some contrast bumping!

Nice job getting these shots! I can only imaging how hard and tiresome it must be working with kids

I was thinking a lower angle as well. Perhaps more tree and less tree skirt, but put the tree off to her left side and allow her to fill the whole space on the right.

Very nice, crisp shots of your daughter, though, and what a cute, cute kid!

I am a pro baby & child photographer.....and all i can say is DISTRACTION is the key to taking a good shot of a kid! I have the knack now but it did take me a good month to get a hold of what i was doing right and wrong. Once they hit 2 yrs old, that is when trouble starts...its so hard to get a shot of a 2 yr old, BUT for some reason i can do it now so easily LOL

OK like i say you need distraction, position her (USE TRIPOD TOO!!!! Remote if you have one works wellll!!) then grab tigger or whatever is needed get eye contact then bounce around like crazy laughing, smiling, claping, singing out YAYYYY, absolutely anything to distract them and make them laugh.

These shots dont really grab me...first thing is first, get your settings right before getting the shot, then go for your life, this is digital snap as many as you can! When i KNOW i got the shot i still take 5 more just incase its out of focus or whatever.

Secondly....these shots need cropping, especially the second. The 2nd shot is a gorgeous smile, crop it right in to just get her body - doesnt matter the tree isnt in the shot - its an xmas shot she has a candy cane and is dressed in red - what more do you want? I think the tree is too busy personally and LESS is more (Thats my motto!!!)

Keep trying....its EASY once you have the knack - TRUST ME...i dotn even HAVE kids, im a 24 yr old female with only neices and nephews that i cant even control LOL

Del

I had a little time today and took some of your advice; I cropped and upped the contrast and a little saturation. I think they definitely look better; thanks, all
#1

They weren't bad shots to begin with, but your PP has made them great shots. Personally, I like the vertical format better. By the way, she's a real cutie!

Thanks for the compliments; I was thinking about portrait orientation for both shots but wanted to try something different in the second one. I may crop it differently if I print it again.

By the way, I have to ask if you are related to this Jim Capaldi?

Have you considered scooting her higher up and than cropping closer? You have a great little model once she gets the hang of it... Now mine let me do what I want to get it over with so they can go play She is super cute!

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Your vertical crop made all the difference in the world. She's a cutie!

tweatherred wrote in post #2470396
By the way, I have to ask if you are related to this Jim Capaldi?

No, just the same name. And I am glad I am not him since he died almost two years ago on January 28, 2005!

I do share a birthdate with a famous person - Jay Leno - both born on April 28, 1950.

I like your edits above! very awesome!

I often wonder what the original poster thinks of particular edit because I do this to learn, new techniques or to recognize the possibilities of a picture... is there a politically correct way to say, "what do you think of MY edit" without being a thread hijacker or a self centered pain in the rump?

It looks like you have your camera set to Adobe RGB if so you should set it to sRGB. Adobe colors are very flat sRGB gives better color saturation.

valerism wrote in post #2473437
I often wonder what the original poster thinks of particular edit because I do this to learn, new techniques or to recognize the possibilities of a picture... is there a politically correct way to say, "what do you think of MY edit" without being a thread hijacker or a self centered pain in the rump?

I can only speak for myself, but you asked a perfectly reasonable question. I want people to play around with my pictures so that I can learn from their techniques. I liked all your edits; the first two in particular would make great cards (which is what we did this for). I don't like the last one quite as much. B/W and selective color can be a good combination, but the green of the tree and red of her dress give it a holiday feeling that you lose in black and white. Thanks for you interest and responses.