People Glow

Voytech · 12-18-2010, 02:05 PM

Strong sunlight was coming in through the window and I noticed how beautifully our beige carpet was acting as a reflector so I ran to get the camera

Here is the result:

Sparkle · 12-18-2010, 04:07 PM

Well done! Would be better with the left side cropped close to his arm. Cute!

**Ash** · 12-18-2010, 07:25 PM

Beautifully textured result.
Looks like something only a softbox could have produced.

dawsonjm · 12-19-2010, 06:32 PM

Very nice capture, one you will love as you both grow older.

A little crop and it is outstanding.

song_hm · 12-19-2010, 06:38 PM

Precious.

Do crop indeed.

wshi · 12-19-2010, 06:57 PM

Looks like a "cinematic" result! Any PP on the eyes? They look brilliant.

vievetrick · 12-19-2010, 07:07 PM

Great shot!!!

Voytech · 12-19-2010, 07:35 PM

Thanks all for the encouraging comments! Appreciate it. As for the crop, do you mean a 1x1 ratio? I suppose that'd help. Just never thought of it.

No PP on the eyes other than a overall sharpness bump on the whole photo.

thoughton · 12-20-2010, 04:08 AM

Very cute, and great eyes. Speaking as a fellow beige carpet owner you must have a really really reflective carpet

Voytech · 12-20-2010, 07:12 AM

Haha, the carpet isn't so reflective, but the sun coming in was just so strong and the rest of the room wasn't lit at all, so that accentuated the bounced light.

Sparkle · 12-20-2010, 03:16 PM

In follow-up to your query, try a tight crop with about 1/2 inch off the right and 3 inches off the left. You will end up with about 6.5 inches wide and 7 inches high.

woof · 12-21-2010, 08:31 AM

Originally posted by Voytech

Thanks all for the encouraging comments! Appreciate it. As for the crop, do you mean a 1x1 ratio? I suppose that'd help. Just never thought of it.

No PP on the eyes other than a overall sharpness bump on the whole photo.

Beautiful photo Voytech. As for crop... not sure. I am a fan of the 2:3 ratio and maintaining it if possible. Cropping that ratio here ostensibly to remove the perceived dead space would result in removing too much of the upper body.

So let me back into this... Basically, cropping is a tool that allows you to eliminate distracting or unwanted scene elements, to straighten a tilted horizon, to alter the center of interest, or to strengthen leading lines. Let's just start with these motivations...

I see nothing distracting in the space to crop. I suppose that some will say there is simply too much of it. OK, we'll talk about that in minute.

There is no tilted horizon. The center of interest is nicely placed right of center, which given the direction of the gaze works perfectly for me. If the proposition is to crop in order to clarify the center of interest, I would answer that there is absolutely no question as to what the center of interest is.

As for leading lines, the carpet in the background actually does subtly form decent leading lines. It is not entirely dead space.

For me, a crop might lose something here. If I was going to suggest a crop, it would be a 4:5 (8x10). I would qualify that with saying you ought to keep the current ratios intact with respect generally to the placement of the child in the frame, as it is good as is. This crop would answer to the perceived need to remove "excess" or "dead" background, and would address the issue of losing too much upper body with a 2:3 crop.

It would also add the ability to easily frame the shot. This one would definitely be on my desk at work.

I am not a big fan of 1:1. I think you'd find it flattens the overall effect of this photo.

I've seen enough of your stuff to know that you have a good eye for composition. By all means, play with a crop, but also trust yourself a little and when deciding consider if there is something in this that is lost through the proposed crop. You were working with a 2:3 ratio. My feeling is that in that "box" you nailed this one. As such I like it as it is.

The eyes and lips are very sharp as far as I can tell. If this is maintained in the larger formats I would not touch sharpness. The slight and progressive softness elsewhere on the child enhances the magic that ** is ** this photo.

Again, beautiful photo.

woof!

Sparkle · 12-21-2010, 09:05 AM

My practice is simply to copy a photo, crop it, remove the crop if I don't like it and try another. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. No harm done.

Sparkle · 12-21-2010, 09:07 AM

Oh, BTW, I just slide the photos on here around my monitor to see how they look. Easiest crop off all.

Voytech · 12-21-2010, 09:57 AM

Woof,

Thank you for your insights. I tend to share your sentiment. The photo was taken in 3:2 and framed for 3:2. I took some precautions to avoid distracting backgrounds (which can be a challenge indoors). I didn't plan for the diagonal line of the carpet to lead to his eye, but I like that it does.

I did try to crop the image as suggested and found the subject "cramped". I'm not sure why (probably just my own taste), but I like a lot of breathing room.

Either way, I appreciate you all critiquing my work

I'm very appreciative of that.

12-18-2010, 02:05 PM	#1
Voytech Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NY/NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 952	Glow Lens: M50/1.7 Camera: K-x ISO: 400 Shutter Speed: 1/250s Aperture: F2 Strong sunlight was coming in through the window and I noticed how beautifully our beige carpet was acting as a reflector so I ran to get the camera Here is the result:

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12-18-2010, 04:07 PM	#2
Sparkle Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,521	Well done! Would be better with the left side cropped close to his arm. Cute!

12-18-2010, 07:25 PM	#3
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Beautifully textured result. Looks like something only a softbox could have produced.

12-19-2010, 06:32 PM	#4
dawsonjm Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boardman, Oregon Photos: Gallery Posts: 106	Very nice capture, one you will love as you both grow older. A little crop and it is outstanding.

12-19-2010, 06:38 PM	#5
song_hm Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 797	Precious. Do crop indeed.

12-19-2010, 06:57 PM	#6
wshi Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 455	Looks like a "cinematic" result! Any PP on the eyes? They look brilliant.

12-19-2010, 07:07 PM	#7
vievetrick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Easthampton - Massachusetts - USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,183	Great shot!!!

12-19-2010, 07:35 PM	#8
Voytech Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NY/NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 952 Original Poster	Thanks all for the encouraging comments! Appreciate it. As for the crop, do you mean a 1x1 ratio? I suppose that'd help. Just never thought of it. No PP on the eyes other than a overall sharpness bump on the whole photo.

12-20-2010, 04:08 AM	#9
thoughton Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Saffron Walden, Essex Photos: Gallery Posts: 362	Very cute, and great eyes. Speaking as a fellow beige carpet owner you must have a really really reflective carpet

12-20-2010, 07:12 AM	#10
Voytech Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NY/NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 952 Original Poster	Haha, the carpet isn't so reflective, but the sun coming in was just so strong and the rest of the room wasn't lit at all, so that accentuated the bounced light.

12-20-2010, 03:16 PM	#11
Sparkle Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,521	In follow-up to your query, try a tight crop with about 1/2 inch off the right and 3 inches off the left. You will end up with about 6.5 inches wide and 7 inches high.

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12-21-2010, 08:31 AM	#12
woof Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: In the present Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,870	Originally posted by Voytech Thanks all for the encouraging comments! Appreciate it. As for the crop, do you mean a 1x1 ratio? I suppose that'd help. Just never thought of it. No PP on the eyes other than a overall sharpness bump on the whole photo. Beautiful photo Voytech. As for crop... not sure. I am a fan of the 2:3 ratio and maintaining it if possible. Cropping that ratio here ostensibly to remove the perceived dead space would result in removing too much of the upper body. So let me back into this... Basically, cropping is a tool that allows you to eliminate distracting or unwanted scene elements, to straighten a tilted horizon, to alter the center of interest, or to strengthen leading lines. Let's just start with these motivations... I see nothing distracting in the space to crop. I suppose that some will say there is simply too much of it. OK, we'll talk about that in minute. There is no tilted horizon. The center of interest is nicely placed right of center, which given the direction of the gaze works perfectly for me. If the proposition is to crop in order to clarify the center of interest, I would answer that there is absolutely no question as to what the center of interest is. As for leading lines, the carpet in the background actually does subtly form decent leading lines. It is not entirely dead space. For me, a crop might lose something here. If I was going to suggest a crop, it would be a 4:5 (8x10). I would qualify that with saying you ought to keep the current ratios intact with respect generally to the placement of the child in the frame, as it is good as is. This crop would answer to the perceived need to remove "excess" or "dead" background, and would address the issue of losing too much upper body with a 2:3 crop. It would also add the ability to easily frame the shot. This one would definitely be on my desk at work. I am not a big fan of 1:1. I think you'd find it flattens the overall effect of this photo. I've seen enough of your stuff to know that you have a good eye for composition. By all means, play with a crop, but also trust yourself a little and when deciding consider if there is something in this that is lost through the proposed crop. You were working with a 2:3 ratio. My feeling is that in that "box" you nailed this one. As such I like it as it is. The eyes and lips are very sharp as far as I can tell. If this is maintained in the larger formats I would not touch sharpness. The slight and progressive softness elsewhere on the child enhances the magic that is this photo. Again, beautiful photo. woof!

12-21-2010, 09:05 AM	#13
Sparkle Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,521	My practice is simply to copy a photo, crop it, remove the crop if I don't like it and try another. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. No harm done.

12-21-2010, 09:07 AM	#14
Sparkle Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,521	Oh, BTW, I just slide the photos on here around my monitor to see how they look. Easiest crop off all.

12-21-2010, 09:57 AM	#15
Voytech Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NY/NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 952 Original Poster	Woof, Thank you for your insights. I tend to share your sentiment. The photo was taken in 3:2 and framed for 3:2. I took some precautions to avoid distracting backgrounds (which can be a challenge indoors). I didn't plan for the diagonal line of the carpet to lead to his eye, but I like that it does. I did try to crop the image as suggested and found the subject "cramped". I'm not sure why (probably just my own taste), but I like a lot of breathing room. Either way, I appreciate you all critiquing my work I'm very appreciative of that.