First atempt at portrait Photos

First atempt at portrait Photos · 05:51 PM

This is a pic i took of my nephew for Christmas.
All C & C would be a help... but please be gentle

..
Thanks,
derm

Stats: Pentax k100d ,SMC A 50mil 1.7 Ambient light.
Fake fire Place, Untamed 4 yr old

Kaimarx · 12-03-2007, 06:01 PM

Heya dermc, your pic/s arent showing up or no link posted.

dermc · 12-03-2007, 06:12 PM

Sorry all.. Took a bit to upload.. I had to resize.
Thanks derm

ve2vfd · 12-03-2007, 06:25 PM

It's a really nice picture, great composition, I do find the light a little subdued for my taste but it does have a nice soft effect.

The only thing I "sort of" dislike a little is that your nephew looks a little TOO serious

At that age boys are trouble I'd expect to see maybe a little hint of a smile.

Just my very unprofessional 2 cents worth of course!

Pat

Kaimarx · 12-03-2007, 06:26 PM

Great shot, his pose suggests he's well beyond his 4 years lol My only reservation is theres a blue colour cast over the skin tones, an easy fix.

dermc · 12-03-2007, 07:46 PM

The only thing I "sort of" dislike a little is that your nephew looks a little TOO serious

At that age boys are trouble I'd expect to see maybe a little hint of a smile.

Pat[/QUOTE]

Thanks,
After many many shots i picked this one just because the "smiling "versions looked fake.
Any hints on getting a child to smile without looking too put on?
derm

ve2vfd · 12-04-2007, 03:41 PM

I have to admit I know next to nothing about taking "posed" pictures of kids, but I would guess that having something like spongebob on a TV behind you may create a smile on a kids face which doesn't look fake.

Pat

TaoMaas · 12-04-2007, 05:03 PM

If this is your first attempt at a portrait, you did really well, IMO! As someone pointed out, his skin is too blue and there's a little too much room above his head for my taste. Other than that, I think it's a great shot. Nice work!

JCSullivan · 12-04-2007, 05:33 PM

For a first portrait me thinks its great. Thefireplace is a nice addition and that's where the "seriousness" starts, unfortunately.

Like others have said the skin tone is not right. Adding a TV behind you would unfortunately add to the skin tone "bluz".

As Pat suggested, the lad should not be so serious, provide him with a favourite object.

Composition-wise, there is too much space on the left.

BUT, it really is a nice portrait - heck a thousand times better than I could do.

dermc · 12-04-2007, 06:09 PM

Thanks all..
Very helpful comments. The blue skin tone is most likely form having a daylight keylight and everything else tungstun. added to poor clibration on my monitor (fixed now...well kinda).
as for the composition, I was trying to balance his positonwith the fireplace just to add warmth,
as far as the headroom goes, well i kinda liked the height of the fireplace behind him..Thats what i was thinking anyway.
derm

**Marc Langille** · 12-04-2007, 06:18 PM

Hi Derm,

It's a very good first attempt, and several people have given feedback. I do love the fireplace in the background. Besides, my grandfather was from Cornerbrook, so I promise to be gentle...

Disclaimer: We are only talking classical portraiture here, so I am critiquing the image with that in mind.

One important area of portraiture is if you are doing this sort of composition, generally you want parts to "match". Therefore both arms, hands, and shoulders in the photo. It can be somewhat distracting if the hand, leg, or another body part of a pair is missing. Obviously there are many other ways for the pose, and in this case both shoulders should be in the picture. It's almost there, but in my mind, the right side of the image is cutting it too close to the head and part of his shoulder is missing.

Try taking a shot with someone's shoulder or arm missing in the image - let me know what you think after after trying that type of shot. I hope that makes sense? Excellent first start, and quite a serious pose!

Cheers,
Marc

CJSpangler · 12-04-2007, 06:20 PM

Fairly nice shot,

In addition to the comments above you may want to think about the background a bit. Its a preference call but the child wearing red sweater, with brown hair seems to make for a subdued picture in indoor lighting with a redish fireplace behind it and the brown painted wall. The colors don't really play off each other when I look at it. You almost loose the top right corner of his hair against the shadows from the fireplace due to this color similarity.

Just my thoughts. Overall well done. Kids can be a handful.

stanjo · 12-04-2007, 09:57 PM

Nice first attempt.

Not going to critique the pose/staging - it's subjective.

Technically, it's underexposed by 1/2-2/3 f-stop, white balance is off (too blueish) - all easily correctable in RAW file.
Cropping is too tight around the body with too much ceiling on top.

dermc
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12-04-2007, 06:18 PM	#11
Marc Langille Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NW Arkansas, USA Posts: 4,708	my thoughts... Hi Derm, It's a very good first attempt, and several people have given feedback. I do love the fireplace in the background. Besides, my grandfather was from Cornerbrook, so I promise to be gentle... Disclaimer: We are only talking classical portraiture here, so I am critiquing the image with that in mind. One important area of portraiture is if you are doing this sort of composition, generally you want parts to "match". Therefore both arms, hands, and shoulders in the photo. It can be somewhat distracting if the hand, leg, or another body part of a pair is missing. Obviously there are many other ways for the pose, and in this case both shoulders should be in the picture. It's almost there, but in my mind, the right side of the image is cutting it too close to the head and part of his shoulder is missing. Try taking a shot with someone's shoulder or arm missing in the image - let me know what you think after after trying that type of shot. I hope that makes sense? Excellent first start, and quite a serious pose! Cheers, Marc

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12-03-2007, 06:01 PM	#2
Kaimarx Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Auckland Photos: Gallery Posts: 452	Heya dermc, your pic/s arent showing up or no link posted.

12-03-2007, 06:12 PM	#3
dermc Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: St. Johns, NL, CAN Photos: Gallery Posts: 242 Original Poster	Sorry all.. Took a bit to upload.. I had to resize. Thanks derm

12-03-2007, 06:25 PM	#4
ve2vfd Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,433	It's a really nice picture, great composition, I do find the light a little subdued for my taste but it does have a nice soft effect. The only thing I "sort of" dislike a little is that your nephew looks a little TOO serious At that age boys are trouble I'd expect to see maybe a little hint of a smile. Just my very unprofessional 2 cents worth of course! Pat

12-03-2007, 06:26 PM	#5
Kaimarx Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Auckland Photos: Gallery Posts: 452	Great shot, his pose suggests he's well beyond his 4 years lol My only reservation is theres a blue colour cast over the skin tones, an easy fix.

12-03-2007, 07:46 PM	#6
dermc Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: St. Johns, NL, CAN Photos: Gallery Posts: 242 Original Poster	The only thing I "sort of" dislike a little is that your nephew looks a little TOO serious At that age boys are trouble I'd expect to see maybe a little hint of a smile. Pat[/QUOTE] Thanks, After many many shots i picked this one just because the "smiling "versions looked fake. Any hints on getting a child to smile without looking too put on? derm

12-04-2007, 03:41 PM	#7
ve2vfd Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,433	I have to admit I know next to nothing about taking "posed" pictures of kids, but I would guess that having something like spongebob on a TV behind you may create a smile on a kids face which doesn't look fake. Pat

12-04-2007, 05:03 PM	#8
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	If this is your first attempt at a portrait, you did really well, IMO! As someone pointed out, his skin is too blue and there's a little too much room above his head for my taste. Other than that, I think it's a great shot. Nice work!

12-04-2007, 05:33 PM	#9
JCSullivan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Windsor, Canada Posts: 3,056	For a first portrait me thinks its great. Thefireplace is a nice addition and that's where the "seriousness" starts, unfortunately. Like others have said the skin tone is not right. Adding a TV behind you would unfortunately add to the skin tone "bluz". As Pat suggested, the lad should not be so serious, provide him with a favourite object. Composition-wise, there is too much space on the left. BUT, it really is a nice portrait - heck a thousand times better than I could do.

12-04-2007, 06:09 PM	#10
dermc Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: St. Johns, NL, CAN Photos: Gallery Posts: 242 Original Poster	Thanks all.. Very helpful comments. The blue skin tone is most likely form having a daylight keylight and everything else tungstun. added to poor clibration on my monitor (fixed now...well kinda). as for the composition, I was trying to balance his positonwith the fireplace just to add warmth, as far as the headroom goes, well i kinda liked the height of the fireplace behind him..Thats what i was thinking anyway. derm

12-04-2007, 06:20 PM	#12
CJSpangler Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Jersey, US Posts: 154	Fairly nice shot, In addition to the comments above you may want to think about the background a bit. Its a preference call but the child wearing red sweater, with brown hair seems to make for a subdued picture in indoor lighting with a redish fireplace behind it and the brown painted wall. The colors don't really play off each other when I look at it. You almost loose the top right corner of his hair against the shadows from the fireplace due to this color similarity. Just my thoughts. Overall well done. Kids can be a handful.

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12-04-2007, 09:57 PM	#13
stanjo Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: California Posts: 71	Nice first attempt. Not going to critique the pose/staging - it's subjective. Technically, it's underexposed by 1/2-2/3 f-stop, white balance is off (too blueish) - all easily correctable in RAW file. Cropping is too tight around the body with too much ceiling on top.