My Pride and My Joyby
TooCoolComment by LucidLotus: Hello from the Critique Club!
Fantastic subject, it makes a connection with the viewer, not in a specific sense necessarily but in general at the very least.
I like the choice of B&W, I find it really works well to convey emotions because there is no color splashes to distract.
The perspective is great, definitely out of the norm and really adds a nice unexpected element to the photo.
The lighting is adequate, but I agree with some of the other commenters in that the overall tone of the photo is very dark, which mutes some of the emotional impact. I would also recommend increasing the light while diffusing it - thereby increasing the soft focus/tone. This I think will give more flattering shadows and highlights instead of the somewhat harsher light currently shown.
Your son looks very comfortable and natural, great smile you can really see an engaging personality there. Your wife also has a nice beauty, but it looks as though she is a little uncomfortable pose-wise - I think this comes out in her slightly strained smile and odd neck position - perhaps if her chin was tucked down towards her neck it might look more natural.
I like the focus in this - it has a softer quality which I think really helps embody and portray the feeling behind the image. I think a sharp focus would have stifled this aspect.
Over all a great photo for the challenge and it stands alone very well too. You're a lucky person to have a great family like this and it shows in this image! Well done.
Photographer found comment helpful.