Maddie

Hey guys I have been lurking on here for a while now but this is my first post. I am here looking to learn and hopefully improve my shooting so all opinions are welcome.

I am at a point where I always find something to pick at in my own shooting and editing and I feel like I have been somewhat stagnant in my development for a couple of months now. So I am just looking for some outside opinions, feel free to to tear me a new one.

I guess I will get to the pictures now, these are from a shoot last Friday that I did for a friend.

I'm really new so I don't have any technical advice but I really like image 4 there is really emotion in that shot and I can feel it just looking at it, good catch.

Notice the different skin tones on each image.

#1 has a strange blur. Is that something you did editing?
#3, try to focus on the close eye first, then get the rest of the face in focus.

Glenlivet wrote in post #14940374
I'm really new so I don't have any technical advice but I really like image 4 there is really emotion in that shot and I can feel it just looking at it, good catch.

I am not sure who was more of the camera ham, Maddie(the little girl) or the crazy grandma haha I got a lot of good stuff from those two together.

stillinamerica wrote in post #14940404
Notice the different skin tones on each image.

#1 has a strange blur. Is that something you did editing?
#3, try to focus on the close eye first, then get the rest of the face in focus.

The blur in the first picture is because it was taken seconds after I had taken my camera out of the bag and turned it on. I looked up from checking my battery/that I had a good card and so forth and she was looking at me with that big grin on her face. I was just like oh crap take a picture fast before she falls over or looks away, shutter speed was something like 1/6 or something stupid. Personally I kind of like the blur but can't explain why.

I have gotten mixed reviews on the third pic. My initial reaction was to scrap it because of the out of focus eye but someone else told me that they liked it which I though was odd, does anyone else feel this way that can explain why?

I hope this helps:

#1 The shutter-speed is 1/6s which is way too slow, which is why nothing is really sharp. Either crank up the ISO or use flash. For taking images of toddlers that always seem to be moving you need to be close to 1/200s to eliminate motion blur. If the child is reasonably still you can get away with 1/125s to 1/160s. To get to 1/100 to 1/200s you would have needed ISO 3200 to 6400. As it is this one is a delete.

#2 Good job with this one.

#3 The focus is on the wrong eye (should be on the close one). Also (just my opinion), but I think the image would be better with a bit more depth of field. Another delete IMO.

#4 The shot would have been better if everyone's eyes weren't closed (again, just my opinion). I can see them liking this one though (nice emotion).

#5 Cute picture. I'd work with this one a bit more since I feel it's the best of the series. Maybe crop it square to get rid of the bit of the adult's shirt/arm on the right hand side. The image may also look better with a touch (not a ton) more contrast.

Bob_A wrote in post #14940448
I hope this helps:

#1 The shutter-speed is 1/6s which is way too slow, which is why nothing is really sharp. Either crank up the ISO or use flash. For taking images of toddlers that always seem to be moving you need to be close to 1/200s to eliminate motion blur. If the child is reasonably still you can get away with 1/125s to 1/160s. To get to 1/100 to 1/200s you would have needed ISO 3200 to 6400. As it is this one is a delete.

#2 Good job with this one.

#3 The focus is on the wrong eye (should be on the close one). Also (just my opinion), but I think the image would be better with a bit more depth of field. Another delete IMO.

#4 The shot would have been better if everyone's eyes weren't closed (again, just my opinion). I can see them liking this one though (nice emotion).

#5 Cute picture. I'd work with this one a bit more since I feel it's the best of the series. Maybe crop it square to get rid of the bit of the adult's shirt/arm on the right hand side. The image may also look better with a touch (not a ton) more contrast.

Thanks for the feedback I appreciate it. I'll work some more on the last one and post it up when I get a chance.

I already told the story on the first and third pictures so I won't address those again.

I absolutely love number 4. You can see nan and grandad love their grand daughter to bits Love it

Dont know why someone has mentioned their eyes closed, no one's eyes are closed. Beautiful, beautiful image.

Hey guys thanks for the feedback! I really appreciate it and love how active this forum is. I will def be sticking around here.

Keep it coming!

IMO #2 is great it's just too bad that the other person had to be in behind on the shot, and like a couple of the others have already said and I agree fully that the pure emotion really does come shining through on #4 which I am assuming is the baby's very proud grandparents. Great job!!

Heres a few more of my favorites for the day.

#3 is not just a focus issue but DOF, what bothers me is left button/shoulder in focus , right out and eyes vice versa.

I hadn't even thought of it that way. I knew that photo had issues but the couple seemed to love it, granted it is their baby. I was too close with too little DOF.