alycrom Loc: Aberdeen Scotland

My 10 Month old granddaughter Penny. We were having a picnic, the sunlight was dappled though a canopy of leaves which cast a greenish hue over everything which is why i decided to try this one in mono. I like how her eyes have caught the light and they seem to sparkle. I dont like the cookie crumb on her chin also does it matter that i have chopped off the top part of her head? All comments welcomed. Thank you
F4.5 1/250sec, iso200

(Download)

R.G. Loc: Scotland

All babies come with cookie crumbs on their chin - it's standard issue :) .

I'd say this shot is all about the eyes, and it's hard to tell if colour would be a better option or not. But the B&W works well. And the eyes are so engaging, it doesn't matter that the top of the head has been cropped.

Nightski

I'd say R.G. is right on the money about the eyes. Love the look this baby is giving you, and I even love that the baby is so serious. It may be a personality thing that you have caught and that is precious. Love the lighting. Love the crop. Love the DOF. Yes .. you could have washed the face, but then instead of this wonderful expression, you may have tears and a baby looking away instead of right at you. I'd say this is a wonderful baby portrait.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I am no portrait photographer, but I am a grandmother with a camera and from that perspective I'll say I like what you did with Baby Penny. Her eyes are gorgeous and grab attention immediately. I like the expression, which is slightly worried and not the bland expression many baby photos have. If the crumb bothers you, take it off. I tend to leave dirt and food on my grandson's faces, but I've helped others get rid of the same stuff: your preference. Many modern portraits cut off the tops of heads. It took me a while to get used to that, but now I do it fairly routinely, particularly with the grandson whose cowlicks look like Dagwood Bumstead.

You have a soft blurred appearance to the background. The only part that seems to steal any thunder from Baby Penny is the brightest row near her ear on the left side of the photo, I might tone down the brightness in those brightest blurs. Many folks here do not like sepia. I do. I might try out a bit more contrast and a more traditional black and white to see what would happen. I would bet you already did that and decided based on results. Anyway, I like Baby Penney and look forward to seeing what the REAL portrait photographers have to say...

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Amen to RG's comments.
The eyes have it!
Dave in SD

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

My first thought when looking at this was "look at those eyes". I think you did them well. My feelings are if you are going to crop off the top of the head do it so it looks like you intended to do it. Maybe just a bit above her hair line. I really like the monochrome. You have done it without taking it to extremes and it giving her a soft warm baby look.

alycrom Loc: Aberdeen Scotland

Thank you RG It was all about her eyes for me too, the colour version is very below par due to the green hue caused by the sun shining though the canopy of leaves but her eyes had such a lovely light in them that i didnt want to lose which is why i experimented with the B&W.

alycrom Loc: Aberdeen Scotland

Thank you Nightski, that serious look is the one she gives when she is trying to work out how she can grab the camera from me. She usually gives a big cheesy grin when she looks at me so it is nice to have a different expression. The lighting was horible on the colour version but it seems to work with this one

alycrom Loc: Aberdeen Scotland

Thank you Minniev, like you i love dirty faces and take great pleasure in capturing her all covered in all sorts of dinner! I did try it with more contrast and a bit darker but it was too harsh i wanted to keep the softness and lightness on her face. I see what you mean about the bright blurs, i didnt notice them at first but i do look through rose tinted glasses at Penny

alycrom Loc: Aberdeen Scotland

Thank you Dave in SD, i did wonder about leaving her eyes blue but decided that was a bit much, they look better this way i think

alycrom Loc: Aberdeen Scotland

Thank you Country's Mama, yes maybe a bigger crop off the top of her head might work, if she has lots of lovely curls i might disagree but she has even less hair than her grandfather!

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

For her the hair will come but I suspect that for grandpa such is not the case. :shock: :mrgreen:

MtnMan Loc: ID

Ditto.

But easy enough to crop the crumb. I struggle a little more with the invariable snot.