Remember:
–Read How to Critique a Photo
–Make a critique sandwich – something positive, something you would have done differently, something positive
–My rule: no improvement tip = deleted comment
–This will benefit the person leaving the photo critique just as much if not more than the person receiving the critique.
Thank you to Pam at PhotogHer for submitting the following image.
Settings: ISO 1000, F/3.2, SS 1/100
I love the expression and catchlights you captured! i also love that this photo is in black and white. I would have loved to have either seen more of the shadowed part of her face or less. It’s a little distracting to see only part of her eye. I think that pulling the blacks back a bit and brightening the shadow would help with that. I also adore the Christmas light bokeh. Nothing makes my heart sing more than some fun bokeh in the background!
The play of light and shadow make this a beautiful photo. I might have tried to shoot at a different angle so that the lights behind the girl weren’t at the top of her head, but slightly lower, framing more of her lower head, neck and body in the light. You have done a perfect job capturing the catch lights in this beautiful girls eyes, which gives this photo such life.
I love the lights framing her head. With her left side in such deep shadow I think I would have her turn so that it would be less visible. Overall I think I would also lighten the shadows up a bit. Her expression makes this a great image that will be a joy to see for many years!! Well done!
I love the joy on the little girls face and the bokeh in the background is great! Maybe lower blacks and bring up shadows in post to bring out a little more detail? Otherwise, a great black and white image!
It’s hard not to smile when looking at her expression. I want to know what she’s trying to point at/touch–or maybe she’s saying she’s #1 in Mommy’s heart!
I’d like to see the shadow on her left side of her face increased so you only see the right side. I find that tiny sparkle in her left eye and that bit of her cheek distracting. But, really, it’s such a cute photo that I’d proudly display it!
I’m curious what sort of lights are in the background. Did you set this up or was it a spur-of-the moment photo op?
I love the look on her face and the lights in the background! beautiful catchlights also. It is a tad dark for my taste; I would have brightened a bit. A magical photo though. Very cute.
I love the lights in the background and that she actually looks like she is touching them. The shadows are a little dark and hide the detail on the left side of her face There are multiple ways to brighten the photo. I don’t see a lot of noise in your photo so I would probably bump up the ISO to 1600 or higher depending on your camera. Other ways to increase the light would be to open up your aperture to 1.8 (if your lens allows it) or change the angle of the light so that the light is 45 degrees angled towards her face instead of at a 90 degree angle. I think you did an excellent job capturing the emotion which was enhanced by the black and white conversion.
Great photo! The B&W works very well in this case. Like the others have said, it is a bit of a darker photo and I would love to see it brightened up a bit. Right now the lights are brighter than her face and that’s a bit distracting for me, as much as I love the lights! :) Still, though, I think you’ve captured this moment well. The focus is great and her expression is so precious!