GordonB. Loc: St. Petersburg, Fl.

PS - If a child or adult has lights over her head and other
lights set at just the perfect position, can you still tell
me that she isn't aware that she's not being photographed.

Just one more question: Did you make up the title Blonde
Hair HIGHLIGHTED on young girl? So, are we to think
her hair is highlighted, too?

Wow!

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

Dude stop making comments about the young girls appearance, it really is NONE of your darn business and it's actually starting to make me uncomfortable.

as for the comment "blonde hair highlighted" I take it to mean highlighted as in by the light... man you really need to lighten up....

rdbroman

Let me set the conditions. There were about 10 girls in a good sized room. They were engaged in various activities. Yes, they knew that I was taking pictures. I used a telephoto lens and kept about 15' or more away from the girls. Sometimes they knew that I was taking a picture of a particular girl and sometimes they did not. In this case, she did NOT know that I was taking her picture as she was looking down at a book or a picture as I recall.
In any case, this was candid. As far as the lipstick goes, I had nothing to do with what she was wearing as that is what she had on when she came. Did she know that I took pictures of her during the time I was there, of course, but not this one. These pictures were taken for FUN. Lipstick and all.

tramsey Loc: Texas

Gordon:
Tell you what Hotshot, if you would've told my kid when she was nine to wipe off her lipstick, she would've laid into you like you've never been laid into before. If she would've left anything for me than you would've gotten it all over again but worse because I'm the one that taught her how to take care of herself when she is confronted by jerks, dorks, and other a** holes.

BGenie Loc: Sacramento, CA

Alright guys, lets take the pissing contest to PM shall we?

My comment to the OP:
The photo is overexposed and your white balance isn't set right for the lighting condition you are shooting under.
My suggestion is pull out your cameras' manual and figure out how to set a custom white balance which will get rid of the orange cast, plus you probably will not have to use a flash which overexposed the shot.

And I agree with some of the other comments, that the background and pose are not good for a portrait. It looks like she is either looking down concentrating on something, or is pouting, neither of which illicits a connection with the viewer.
I think it's an ok snapshot, but isn't, and cant ever be, a good photograph....as for 'fixing' a bad shot, well, you can't polish a turd. I think this is one of those shots that you file away for your own collection of fond memories and chalk it up to a learning experience, photography-wise.
You can use this to teach yourself to take better photos in the future by paying attention to the constructive comments in here, and taking the time to learn your cameras abilities.

suzip Loc: Houston

I think I might like the picture more if I could see what she was focussing on. Then it's a story. Especially if the focus is also where she is looking!

rdbroman

This has been an interesting exercise. I asked for comments
that would help to improve the picture. A rhetorical question then becomes, why would I submit a photo asking for constructive comments and suggestions if I thought it was a perfect shot with which to begin a discussion? Constructive comments are welcome. However to have the comments deteriorate into a name calling contest between those making comments is surely not contributing to improving ourselves.
In one of my comments I noted that I was aware of a light balance problem that I could not correct in the camera and I mentioned that I was trying to avoid a white balance custom to learn if there were alternatives. I got some very constructive and helpful replies which I tried with good success. Thanks to those two individuals. If some were offended by a little girl wearing lipstick, I am at a loss of what to say. I can vouch for her as being a sweet little girl. As this was a candid shot with no
intent for a portrait I submitted to LEARN and hopefully for all of us who have not yet achieved perfection to learn by receiving constructive input without resorting to coarse language.

moroeder

If I'm not mistaken the subject is the appearance of the child. The comment/ question I have is what were your camera settings. I feel the lens may not have been set in its sweet spot. Possible shot in auto mode with faster lens stop than would provide a touch more clarity. Looks cropped so depth of field may have played less important meaning subordinate objects in pic that may have been in focus were cut out and became insignificant.

TJ Loc: Austraila, Toowoomba.

deepth of field OMG you all missed it....what the?

umm i'm just a fresh beginner(it's been 4 months) but i can see you need a larger DOF, i can see ur focus point and the rest of her face is soft thats what makes me say that, as for the back ground well that was out of ur control, white balance issiues, yes, over exsposed mmm not buy much..her eyes were darkened as it was.

I have two boys 3 & 4 and im always shooting them in the same way you got ur shot, always in manual and manual focus it's great practice and im getting some good shots aswell.....I can post a pic if you would like...

kamoopsipooh Loc: Big Island

Your photo is fine to me. Yeah, the color isn't perfect, but it's warm. I like warm. The background isn't bad. Replacing the background with all black made the girl look like a cut out and it looked fake, maybe something more subtle would have been better. As far as the lipstick goes? GEEEEEEEZE! Relax already (not mentioning any names)! That's what six-year-olds and beyond do! This is a CANDID shot, not a portrait. Although, I do agree with Suzip that seeing what she is focused on would tell a story.

Dria Loc: Ohio

I am disregarding the comments leading to this and "starting over".
I am thinking you want to know how to take better photos in this type of situation in the future (Is that correct)?
1- what camera are you using? If a D-slr what lens? with this info perhaps someone here can help you for future photos in this situation.
I have kids in school and "run into" this type of light a lot-- (hate it).

brokeweb Loc: Philadelphia

I like the pose and composition of your photo. I don't like the color balance...It seems too red. Actually, too warm. Additionally, I am not fond of putting make-up on young people.

Your shot has very nice balance with her hair band & the background. This maybe a shot that should be blurred slightly. It would not hurt to mess around with it.

DennisK Loc: Pickle City,Illinois

Is there not a white balance setting such as "incandescent " or "tungsten " that you could set?

nikondaddy Loc: Mayfield,Kentucky

Second shot is more correct with out the yellow cast of the ambient light.

nikondaddy Loc: Mayfield,Kentucky

Second shot is more correct with out the yellow cast of the ambient light.