Infant and Mother - Critique please

01/14/2005 06:44:36 PM · #1

I had a session with a girlfriend and her three week old daughter. Two of my favorite shots are here:

I'm feeling like they are too pink, but I'm not sure how to address it. The baby's skin actually was quite pink/red as she still has that newborn coloring, so I want to maintain that. However, the mom wore a pink shirt which I feel is making the whole photo's red balance a little over the top. Agree/Disagree?

Please feel free to critique all aspects of the two photos - the more feedback I get, the better I can become. Thannks in advance!

Dawn

jenesis

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

01/14/2005 07:22:39 PM · #2

To my untrained eye ;-), I think these looks just beautiful. I love the eyes in the first shot and the softness of it. I personally don't see too much pink. It might have been better for the mother to wear a different color shirt to give a little contrast between the two, but hindsite..... I think they are both precious shots and you should be proud. I'm sure she will LOVE them.

And even if they are too pink (which I don't think they are) she's a girl, so it's ok right? ;-)

Canon EOS-60D

01/14/2005 07:26:45 PM · #3

Oh I think they are both beautiful! I love this kind of shot...very intimate, very sweet, and completely honest. I don't find them to be too pink because I know how caucasian babies look at that age... and they're usually pink! Great job, and as a mom, I think she will LOVE them!! :o)

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

01/14/2005 07:27:06 PM · #4

How about B&W? Solves the pinkness problem.

Beautiful baby and lovely composition BTW. I'm going to be a dad for the first time in about 6 weeks and if I can get two shots as good as this I'll be very happpy.

vs.

Message edited by author 2005-01-14 19:32:24.

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

01/14/2005 07:29:15 PM · #5

These are so sweet. I agree that the first one especially looks a little pink. The lighting in the second one seems better to me...a little brighter. The first one seems dark. Great relaxed feel to the poses.

I'll bet she loves the shots.

Artyste

Sony Ericsson W810i

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Pentax

01/14/2005 07:30:47 PM · #6

wow four bears.. your B&W conversion *really* brings out the focus on the infant's face in the second shot..

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

01/14/2005 07:34:30 PM · #7

Originally posted by Artyste:

wow four bears.. your B&W conversion *really* brings out the focus on the infant's face in the second shot..

I've been reading 'The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers' by Scott Kelby - awesome book, I highly recommend it. I used a couple of techniques straight of the book to convert these shots to B&W so I can't really take credit :)

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

01/14/2005 07:36:48 PM · #8

I think they have just a bit to much magenta and maybe some blue from the flash. Here's my take. It might be to colorful. You could lower the saturation a little if it's to much. I like the female pinkness of it.

01/14/2005 07:49:35 PM · #9

Here's my take on the colour option. Not so much pink and nicer skin tones (IMHO). Softened using blurred layer, lab sharpened the facial features, tweaked saturation of reds and contrast.

Still reckon B&W is the way to go though.

Message edited by author 2005-01-14 19:50:51.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

01/14/2005 08:57:16 PM · #10

Wow - First of all, thank you for all of the compliments. I was a little nervous posting, so your comments have made me feel good.

pcody - yes, you're right! It's not the pink; it's the blue and magenta that are killing it. I am going to play with those now. I like yours though I agree it's saturated a bit much. Will play and come back.

Four Bears - B/W is a great idea, though it's an arena that I've not begun to master. The mother specifically asked for some B/Ws, so I will play with this shot as an option there. Thanks for the idea. Congrats on your upcoming arrival! Will look forward to seeing wrinkled baby skin in your portfolio.

Thanks again to everyone for your thoughtful and kind replies.

RockBruise

Pentax *ist DL

01/14/2005 09:55:41 PM · #11

Definately like the BW !!

01/14/2005 10:01:31 PM · #12

OK, here's my attempt with reducing the blues and magentas. Did I take it far enough?

Off to work on B/W.
:)

jenesis

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

01/14/2005 11:08:24 PM · #13

Wow, yes... now I see it. I think you've got it now. That looks pretty perfect! :-)

The b&w ones above look fantastic .... I'll definetly be looking for that book.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM

01/17/2005 03:39:35 PM · #14

just-married: Did you get my PM with the B&W process explained?

I thought I'd try my hand at a cute baby pic with this shot I took at the weekend. Something about B&W and babies just seems to work I think.

Here is Mia:

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

01/17/2005 04:06:54 PM · #15

Yes, black and white is much better!

brianlh

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM

01/17/2005 04:25:42 PM · #16

since nobody has addressed it thus far, maybe i'm completely off base here.. but the thing that strikes me the most about the images as something i would change is the black background. this seems like a time for happiness and light-hearted feeling, which although black doesn't necessarily mean dark and bad, i think would be conveyed better with a white background (if available).

01/18/2005 12:06:14 AM · #17

Originally posted by brianlh:

although black doesn't necessarily mean dark and bad, i think would be conveyed better with a white background (if available).

I guess it comes down to personal taste. I actually like the dark background as I think it draws attention and brings out the detail in the subject.

01/18/2005 02:09:49 AM · #18

Paul - I did get your detailed instructions - thank you so much. I thought I'd PMed you, but it's very possible that I only thought about it. My little one is teething and so sleep schedules have me mixing reality and dreamland a bit. Here's the B/W I pulled together:

Thanks again! The photo of Mia is great! Love the fingers. :)

The mother responded to the proofs and is very pleased. She also likes a number that I didn't think were as engaging - funny how time after time parents select ones I would have thrown away. Interesting.