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With his mother
With his mother
marvin


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Mother (Advanced Editing IV)
Camera: Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM
Location: Reykjavík
Date: Dec 31, 2005
Aperture: F/3,5
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/60 sec.
Galleries: Family, Humorous
Date Uploaded: Dec 31, 2005

Took this one on new years eve. My wife holding my son and he put up this priceless face.

I used auto levels, curves and increased saturation. Sharpened it and burned a little.

Statistics
Place: 114 out of 125
Avg (all users): 4.5074
Avg (commenters): 4.2000
Avg (participants): 4.3467
Avg (non-participants): 4.5685
Views since voting: 720
Views during voting: 413
Votes: 272
Comments: 17
Favorites: 0


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AuthorThread
01/12/2006 09:19:06 PM
Greetings from the critique club:

A very cute baby indeed with a very good disposition as evidenced by his full smile.

It is no easy feat to make such a capture with the camera's flash. because of the proximity the hot spots are always a problem. I would think twice of using a built in flash for challenges. As bad as it is there is sometimes the need but most results prove unsatisfactory.

You have two choices: plan for an outdoor shot or invest in some clamp lights if your budget will not allow a strobe or hot light system. Any of these systems will allow you to make light placement which are independent of the camera. As you know, the built in flash renders and shoots a light at the same plane as the lens. The image is not given much opportunity to display its inherent beauty and form.

The other lights will allow better modeling and interesting plays of light and shadow. You will also be able to place them at any angle and distance. In the "cheating" challenge I used three clamp lights with 100 watts. You can do a lot with them. Not only that but they will prepare you if you ever decide to upgrade to a hotlight or strobe set in the future. A couple of weeks, just toying with them will bring you better images and your lighting knowledge will improve.

The improvements will be immediate. For example look at the heavy shadow underneath junior's chin. By using these clamp lights you can use une as the main, one as a fill in and one for backlighting. You place the first light slightly to the right at about 5 feet. Check for hotspots, different skin hues want the light a little closer or farther. Then you place the fill light on the opposite side and being a fill light place it twice the distance as far as the main light. The back light can come either directly from the back or slightly above. This will give the head some hair highlights. The closer you place the backlight the more dramatic but further is generally better since you do not want to overwhelm the main light.

I think it is unfair for me to critique this image because there is no improvement that I can think of by employing the built in flash. These lights are available at places like Home Depot, Walmart and many hardware stores.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
01/08/2006 09:59:59 AM
wonderful blue eyes
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/08/2006 03:17:25 AM
The flash is harsh
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/06/2006 07:28:47 AM
The blue eyes look too good to be true
01/06/2006 02:04:17 AM
more of a snapshot... also, the challenge it mother and the mothers face is completely blocked out
01/05/2006 07:43:31 PM
Wow, look at those eyes. What a happy baby. Would like to see this in b/w I think.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/05/2006 08:13:33 AM
I think you're going to get hit in the scoring because this is more about baby than mom
01/03/2006 10:25:58 PM
Cute baby
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/03/2006 09:31:50 PM
The composition needs a little work. The choice of subject matter is ok. The image quality is a little below average. Has potential of being really creative. - 4
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/03/2006 10:12:33 AM
This one makes me giggle. Very cute!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/02/2006 11:11:26 PM
Lighting is horrible and partially out of focus. 2
01/02/2006 09:56:35 PM
Blue color cast is a little annoying, but cute baby. 6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/02/2006 09:33:23 PM
wow, really big bright and blue eyes! I would say a bit too bright for me
01/02/2006 07:56:41 PM
nice face great shot ...wish we could see more of the mother
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/02/2006 05:53:19 PM
I'd give a look like that too, if the flash was that bright in my face...
01/02/2006 02:12:51 AM
a bit bright on his face and there seems to be a blue tint on his and her clothing. the contrast is a a bit much for me as well. great capture with his expression and foot in the air!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/02/2006 12:36:56 AM
Not my favorite pic, but THAT is my favorite face! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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