Is this bad?

Took in aperture mode on my canon rebel. I am brand new to all this so
please critique me but be nice

Posted by Katie Rayborn on Wed, 09/25/13 10:49
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Comments by Jeff Dye on Wed, 09/25/13 13:29

Not at all to answer your question. It might have been preferable to wait, probably a
very short time, for her to look directly at the camera. That doesn't mean the direction
she's looking is wrong. The background is nicely out of focus but could stand some
crop but overall the composition is good as is the light for a portrait. Personally, I'm not
a big fan of stuff stuck on baby girl's heads but if it must be there it should be simple and
not distracting. I like the woven part of the band just not the big poofy thing. Next time
include a head band and some without. Then you have choices. The black band along
the left edge must've come from post processing. No big deal. Have fun.


Comments by Michael Meek on Wed, 09/25/13 14:03

Katie, you will see that everyone has an opinion of what looks good and so on. In the end, it's best to please yourself, but in the meantime there are certain things to look for that might spoil your picture.

The most immediate reaction I had was that the colorful and bright clothing overwhelms the baby's face. Her expression is fine, but not all that interesting. Lots of people like to adorn their babies, so that is just a preference. The crop from the top would help. Nothing up there adds and does subtract from the subject.

I don't like the chair being so great a part of the scene myself. Seems too prominent and the lines are not beautiful or interesting.

At the left-hand border a hand is cut off dramatically. Now that's bad! Just kidding, but consider not doing that if it comes off looking peculiar, as this does. You did good with your aperture setting to get the background blurred out to focus on the baby.

Nothing seems to improve one's technique and eye for the beautiful than looking critically at lots and lots of photos, both of your own and those of others. Borders, backgrounds, intrusions, etc. always have to be of great concern. After that, it's subject, light and shadow, composition, timing, and all that other aesthetic stuff. It's an infinite shore to explore. What's better than that?


Comments by Vladimir Vorobeychik on Wed, 09/25/13 17:09

I would agree with Michael. Just want to add.
From my point there are roughly two categories of pictures: for the family album and to show to strangers. For the first category this picture is not bad at all. For the second category the approach is different. You should take all your feelings out and take a look at the picture with "stranger" eye. If you feel it is interesting then publish it. Or leave it on your computer for a while and take a look at it after that time. I would call it "time treating" approach.