a3dtot Loc: Houston, TX

It feels good to be back. It has been a difficult few months work, injury, illness, etc. etc.. So here is a black and white of my granddaughter. I now shoot black and white almost exclusively and in raw. Since I can make color from the black and white shot I can get both. But I am finding I love black and white the best where people are concerned. In a lot of cases it seems as though the color get's in the way of the person I'm trying to shoot. Let me know what you think of the image. Canon 5DMkII, Sigma 70-300, f5.6, ISO 400, 1/200.

Janice at the park

(Download)

forjava Loc: Half Moon Bay, CA

A compelling image as composed in landscape format.
The child has involuntarily assumed a pose natural to the age group but foreign to adults.

Your B&W issue: B&W works but is there opportunity in a color version as well?
Would the incompatible colors and patterns of the clothing would be interesting in color?
Would the hair color play well with the others?

Nightski

I think that a little more patience waiting for her hand to move away from her mouth might have given you a better pose. I do like the hand holding the wisp of hair back, but would like to see more of her expression. I like the DOF you used. She stands out nicely against her background. Her eyes are a little dark. Perhaps a position that would allow the light to give you those catch lights in her eyes .. I shoot lots of wildlife shots and an animal without a catch light, hits the delete box. Children tend to move around quite a bit, so you would have gotten that light in the right place eventually.

a3dtot Loc: Houston, TX

Thanks for your comment and yes it was a candid shot of her as she walked between play areas.
In this shot the color version the separation of subject and background isn't as stark she sort of blended in.
I have others in color that work well and I'll post one later on.

a3dtot Loc: Houston, TX

I agree with you and could maybe have waited for awhile longer. Although it's a tough job keeping up with an excited 3 year old. Thanks for your comment on the DOF I have been working on that after learning from you and others here on UHH. Trying to get into wildlife but I'm mostly surrounded by city and suburbs. I'll post some more images later on and thanks again for all your help.

Nightski

I would love to see more of your granddaughter. The more you work at a subject, the better you get. I have noticed that Country'sMama has been getting incredibly good at photographing her grandchildren. She's got quite a pile of them now. I have zero .. so lucky you. What a beautiful subject to work with.

a3dtot Loc: Houston, TX

I have many of her and, I don't want to make you feel bad, and my 16 other grandchildren, but you're right they are great subjects. She as well as her older brother and sister live with us right now. She has become so used to me photographing her that later in the day I took this shot she was calling me to take photos of her when she was able to climb a new structure. I'm her personal photographer now and at her call which is paw paw instead of grandpa. Taking so many of her and my other grandchildren has definitely improved my skills and I have become quick at taking the shot and get some good ones. Thank you so much for your help over the last couple of years your advice has really helped me. I'll post a color one of her next.