AEP collage 8-07.jpg
by mpeters

Comment:
This is a glorious collage. Isn't it wonderful how our hobby helps us capture memories for our families? I esp. like the "parts" ones: ear, feet, hand.

Ataahua
by joynim

Comment:
About all I can offer here is to study your camera's manual. If you want to shoot in JPG for now instead of RAW, that's fine. Just figure out how to set the sharpness to how you like it. Usually, SLRs are set by default to produce pretty soft JPGs, on the assumption that people who own SLRs will want to do their own processing.

I think you have more than softness, though. The shutter speed of 1/30s is quite slow. I like to shoot portraits at least at 1/60s, and preferably faster. The wide aperture of F/3.6 also gives you relatively little depth of field to work with. Both of those could be solved by pushing your ISO higher than 100. For every doubling of ISO, you can double the shutter speed or close down the aperture a stop. For example, at ISO 200 you could've shot at 1/60s. At ISO 400 you could've shot at 1/60s and a stop smaller aperture (about F/5).

Aide from that, I suggest either having her face the light or hold up a piece of posterboard in front of her to put some light back into her eyes.

Dance
by joynim

Comment:
How's the layer practice coming? Aside from using a soft light layer (see idnic's excellent tutorial), try using a reflector to bounce light back onto her face from below. I use a piece of white posterboard - it doesn't have to be expensive. Her eyes are so beautiful, you want them to shine. :)

From pillar to post
by joynim

Comment:
I like the subject, but I'd like it better if I could see more detail in the birds and the far end of the pier. The shot kind of feels caught between being about the perspective and being about the birds.

Joy
by joynim

Comment:
I like this shot! :) The girl's play is obvious and her little bit of color is a nice touch. I find myself wishing she were a little further into the frame and a little more active - running, jumping or something.

......Didn't I lock the door??
by albc28

Comment:
HA! This is very funny. :)

Armed for Romance
by PapaBob

Comment:
Ouch. Well, you and everyone else knows the date doesn't mean squat about the photo itself. So now you know you've taken a 7+ shot, something I can't claim. Well done!

Faster Than A Speeding Bullet
by JawnyRico

Comment:
Congrats on the top 10. Your effort really paid off! On top of that, it's got nice color and good composition. :)

Study Break
by JeniY

Comment:
First, sorry to hear about your puppy.

That said, ha! What a wonderful, joyous celebration of youth and life. I'm so happy for you that you got this with kids you care about, and who obviously care about you. And I'm also happy the voters recognized this for the triumph it is. :) Going in my faves.

The Age of Innocence
by Kali

Comment:
Oh, the title is sooooo perfect. Her upturned face and expression are simply wonderful, as is your composition. Well done!