please tell me how to improve

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Permalink Reply by CameraClicker on March 20, 2009 at 7:55am

It's a nice picture. Except for the dark shadow on/above the babies head and some noise on the black background I don't see anything to improve. If the background were painted using the shadow, that might be a minor improvement.

Really good photo.

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Permalink Reply by Simon Plant ProPhotoInsights on March 20, 2009 at 2:13pm

Hi Kathy,
This is a tender moment but the lighting is not really in keeping with this.
Flash from flashguns are pretty harsh and for this image soft bounced light would be much better.
Hope this helps a little.
Regards,
Simon

Simon Plant
Automotive Photographer ~ HDR Imaging for Automotive Cgi Rendering
www.plantphoto.com
Training www.ProPhotoInsights.Net

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Permalink Reply by nathan mccreery on April 20, 2009 at 8:49am

This has the beginning of a very emotive photograph. There are however some items that need attention. It's always about the light; quantity, quality, direction and spread (how far apart the shadow and highlights are), and if you are using color film (sensor) - color. This photograph needs attention in two areas. Light direction and light quality. Look at the photograph and see if there are highlights and shadow areas left to right or right to left or top to bottom etc. There aren't. From that we know that light direction needs to be changed. If you aren't used to working with studio type flash tools use window light, get rid of the on camera flash (don't use it) and move your subject close to a large north facing window then move the subject around and watch the light; what it does. Next the quality of light needs attention. Light has two qualities; specular and diffuse. Usually in this type of photograph we would like to see a more diffuse qualityof light.
Crop the image just above the mother's right thumb. It is an understanding of light NOT NEW EQUIPMENT that will improve your photographs and allow you to create emotive works of art instead of snapshot made with an expensive camera.

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Permalink Reply by unes hassim on April 20, 2009 at 9:09am

This is a good photo. B/W photos have degrees of 'black' which in my view add to the complexity of the subject matter. That said you may want to have a look at the dark shadow just above the baby's head and also one that appears on the mom's head. My eyesight is not all that great okay. You could lighten/darken the background if you wish. I'm not sure that cropping will necessarily add to the picture .. take that with a grain of salt as generally I am not a fan of cropping !! The subject matter (mom/child) is pretty intense and capturing it in B/W I think only adds to the 'niceness' of it .. good photo.

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