A conversation with myself
by manavg

Comment by sarampo:
Hi again Manav :) Another one from the Critique Club.

By the photo, can I assume it's a double exposure? Are those the same person?
I'm just confused because in the photo details you have put that the exposure speed was 1/100.

The overall exposure is indeed a bit dark, in a challenge around knifes it was necessary to give the main part to the knife, in this one it seems a bit secondary.

AS for the technical part, what I can say is that you could have used the fact that it was advanced editing to darken a bit the background.

The blurry pattern of the background makes the impression that the actual photo is blurry, which it isn't.

The idea was good, and with more direct lighting it could be better accomplished.

Hope this helps, contact me should you need anything.

Cheers,
Joao

A Happy baby
by manavg

Comment by sarampo:
Hi Manav, greetings from the Critique Club!

First of all, congrats on your shot, you really got that priceless look for the baby :)

As for the technical aspects, I believe that your photo should have placed higher, although a 5.6 score is nothing to throw away.

There are only two things that I can think of that maybe hurt this shot, and that I would probably have liked to see differently.

The crop is a bit to close, you could either go to a face portrait, or then give it a little more breathing space. As it is it's the awkward middle point, were it fills the frame but it's not close enough.

Second aspect is that you could have tried to light also the baby from the front, either with an additional light, or with something reflecting the back light. The background is very well worked, but there are a few burned highlights by the left diaper and the cheek.

Also, something strange is happening on the baby's left hand, maybe it's from the low shutter speed, it looks like it's moving.

Other than that, you got 6.8 from commentators and that is pretty good, I think you should keep this shot, adding just a bit more background to the right, and make a great canvas :)

Please feel free to contact me should you need anything.

Cheers,
Joao

A conversation with myself
by manavg

Comment by dtremain:
On my monitor, the knife is almost too dark to see.

A Happy baby
by manavg

Comment by sjhuls:
Very cute, but the little boy needs a bit more light on him to make this a true high key shot.

A Happy baby
by manavg

Comment by Revecca:
His expression is completely and absolutely priceless.

A Happy baby
by manavg

Comment by Ringostarr:
Very nice portrait, uses high key well to its advantage. 7

Sadness of the young
by manavg

Comment by jamesgoss:
Beautiful shot. Glad you submitted it.

Sadness of the young
by manavg

Comment by posthumous:
remarkable effect achieved so simply but then well processed.
hanging this in my fantasy sepia art gallery

Sadness of the young
by manavg

Comment by sjhuls:
IMO this photo is too much about the gate instead of the child behind it. I would like to see this redone with the focus on the child instead of the gate. With the child out of focus it is hard to catch the emotion. I think if the child was moved to the left a bit so you can see the face it would be more effective as well. That heavy square over one of the eyes bothers me somewhat.

A Happy baby
by manavg

Comment by Denise:
what a cutie, just want to give a squeeze to the little one