My first baby pics

I'm a noob and just got an XTi because our "good" P&S Fuji died just before the birth of our son. So now I get to learn about real photography. This is what I've come up with after 2 weeks... let me know how I'm doing.

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TTGator wrote in post #3963130
I'm a noob and just got an XTi because our "good" P&S Fuji died just before the birth of our son. So now I get to learn about real photography. This is what I've come up with after 2 weeks... let me know how I'm doing.

Gator; nice shots but do need to mention one thing. Please do not get into the mindset of "the better the camera and lens, the better photographer I'll be." "Real" photography is in the mind, not the hand or equipment. Granted, pro-level equipment has some advantages but 'seeing' the image/light/compositio​n is 90 percent of the final outcome.

Hinson
PS: Does the "TT" in your screen name stand for Temple Terrace? Lived there for a few years.

Adorable little baby! Congrats.
Looks like you're off to a good start with the subject and the poses aren't bad either, try to keep the focus on his eyes. In both of those I see the towel/blanket clearer than his eyes. The eyes will be the first place people will look. Keep it up!

Hinson wrote in post #3963211
Gator; nice shots but do need to mention one thing. Please do not get into the mindset of "the better the camera and lens, the better photographer I'll be." "Real" photography is in the mind, not the hand or equipment. Granted, pro-level equipment has some advantages but 'seeing' the image/light/compositio​n is 90 percent of the final outcome.

Hinson
PS: Does the "TT" in your screen name stand for Temple Terrace? Lived there for a few years.

True to some extent, I agree, but I've taken pictures that I simply could not have taken with a P&S already. But it's not my intent for this thread to have anything to do with that discussion.

And no about TT, but I did live in Temple Terrace for about a year at one point

Another thing I might mention. While you may not wish to use direct flash on one this small, a white card, pillowcase, or some other white object held in front of the face will help light the fact and put catchlights in the eyes so they do not appear as dark holes.

Hinson

Hinson wrote in post #3963283
Another thing I might mention. While you may not wish to use direct flash on one this small, a white card, pillowcase, or some other white object held in front of the face will help light the fact and put catchlights in the eyes so they do not appear as dark holes.

Hinson

Hmm... I'm not following you here. Are you saying to have a flash behind him that will bounce off of a white card or pillow case that is placed in front of him to reflect in his eyes?

Edit: Oh, you might be saying to use the white card to light face. Period. Then add catchlights in PP?

And his eyes are still grey, so not his strong point yet... but they should be blue before too long.

TTGator wrote in post #3963410
Hmm... I'm not following you here. Are you saying to have a flash behind him that will bounce off of a white card or pillow case that is placed in front of him to reflect in his eyes?

Edit: Oh, you might be saying to use the white card to light face. Period. Then add catchlights in PP?

And his eyes are still grey, so not his strong point yet... but they should be blue before too long.

Actually using the flash in this manner would work but I was just speaking of using a whitecard/reflector to put a catch light in the eyes. It would also bounce a bit of the available light onto the face.

Hinson

Can you try something for me? Reverse the effect on the first shot so that the baby is color and the blanket is black and white? I think it will put more emphasis on the baby and less on its surroundings. I'd even go as far as to lighten the blanket almost to the point of blowing it out.

Baby's adorable BTW.

seesponge wrote in post #3963733
Can you try something for me? Reverse the effect on the first shot so that the baby is color and the blanket is black and white? I think it will put more emphasis on the baby and less on its surroundings. I'd even go as far as to lighten the blanket almost to the point of blowing it out.

Baby's adorable BTW.

Thanks.

I can't do it now as I'm at work, but perhaps later.

I don't know... I like the second pic, but in the first your baby looks almost lifeless with no color. I'd either go all color or no color. Just my 2 cents...