girls and pearls

WOW... first of all a magnificent shot, i really like the white background as i think it delivers  and brings to the fore the beauty and innocence of; the eyes of a child.....BRAVO

I added this photograph to my favourites a few weeks ago so was pleased to log on today and see it as POW.
As a mum this image WOWs me on an emotional level, whats not to love about that gorgeous face and pretty blue eyes. As a wannabe photographer it's an image that impresses me on a technical level. Deceptively simple in its execution, simply lovely

This is a wonderful shot for POW.Nice pose,nice tones and light managing.Great subject!The children are very nice subject for photography.They are cute and smart.Thnx for taking and sharing.
Best regards(Bobby).

To photograph children is not my favourite pastime, and I have problems getting them to pose for me. This one I really envy, as it transports a world of feelings: shy, playful, tender. It's a wonderful image, and the huge eyes, who are the focal point, add to this. Their blue as the sole contrast among pastel colours is really stunning. Well done!

I too will not claim that child photography is my forte. However, this is a very cute capture of a darling little girl, with captivating blue eyes. My only misgiving is the photographers likeness (as a silhouette in front of a window or large light-box) captured in the child's eyes. It is a very small matter, and really does little overall to affect the image, but it does attract attention and it should not. Strong work and congratulations in your recognition. Best regards...

-Dave

I have to admit that I am getting a good chuckle from all the "baby" disclaimers..........

Baby shots are always going to have a certain charm to them, especially to a parent and more so to their own. This image has that factor, but I don't know that it is a show stopper nor that it has to be. It will serve its purpose well.

So, how could it be better or how could one hone their skills if they are working in this genre? Personally, I think it is just paying attention to the small details and learning how to do some clean up in post to minimize distractions.

First, the diagonal dark piece of hair on the left side (our left) of the child's head. Clone it out as it was probably the first thing my eye went to(there is also a smaller, thinner one a bit higher up as well, I would zap that as well). Second, two catch lights rarely work well. Clone out the second smaller one and that might be all that is needed to clarify that area. Some might reshape the larger one or even add just the slightest amount of tone to soften it, but one catch light is pretty normal and accepted. The only other thing I might do would be to soften the darkness of those neck wrinkles under the arm on our right. Just tone them down a bit so they don't pull our eye to them so strongly.

Like I said, it is a nicely done image that does its job, but not a show stopper. Paying attention to the details might not seem to even matter to the parents, but others who look at it will see these flaws and it doesn't help your marketing effort to leave them.

I love John's critique here. It could serve as a model for how to both accept a photo and look critically at it, regardless of genre and regardless of your own taste or concern with the subject matter. The main strength of John's critique is that it's helpful.

The neck lines and grittiness of shadow on the neck were what I noticed most that I'd say could use cleaning up. The catch lights in the eyes don't bother me. They seem natural and I'm not distracted by them.

This is clearly meant not to have much contrast and to appear not to have a background, so the comment someone made about increasing the feel of the background makes no sense to me.

It's interesting that we've talked about the single photo as relates to a portfolio or at least a sampling of other works. John and I have emphasized that particularly. It applies here. As a standout photo, as one to choose, I would not choose it to represent Tiffany's work (and I know the elves are not choosing it for that purpose). But I think it loses by standing alone because it does hide so much of the child's face. Were I giving parents one photo, this would not be the one photo I would choose for that reason. However, as part of a series of photos of a child, it's a great addition. It is demur and downright cute. Tiffany's work so often relies on her ability and agility in capturing personality. This certainly does.

Congrats Tiffster - well deserved ....

Now you get one of those golden beer mugs (-;

Yes, the photos is not perfect ... I agree with the issue with the neck wrinkles. But this eyes and the rest is really good and very playful. To me a deserved pow!

Holy Fstops, Batman...so many insightful, supportive and helpful comments here! I am thrilled an honored to be a PN POW....Thanks elves!
First, thank you to Avtar, Michael, Mick, Bobby and Francesco...I really appreciate your time and thoughts.

Craig, Monika, Alf and DL...a special thank you to you because you don't photograph or don't like to photograph kids. I realized after reading your comments, that the next time I don't comment on a flower or bird pic because it is "not my thing", that I am really doing an injustice to the photographer. Your comments are among the most helpful and beneficial, because you are looking at it in an entirely different way.

Lisa...Thank you. It feels especially good when someone takes you to their favorites. It is like being invited to someone's special place.

John...I really appreciate your insightful comments. I think I will use the suggestions. The little girls parents have not yet ordered their prints and I am hoping they get a big canvas print of this one. If they do, then I can give it more "wow"....thanks!

Fred...Always a pleasure to see your comments. It is funny what you said about my style of images. 12 years ago, when I was doing my dark, creepy negative sandwiching and projecting, I told my husband that I would NEVER do family photography....how boring, I thought! While I still like the darker weirder images, I have found a happy irony, that most of my paying jobs are family photography. I even occasionally get a parent who wants something a little darker for kiddie pics. I have been really working (the last couple of years) on marrying my style with my work. I guess that's what successful photographers do. Thank you for your (always) thoughtful and supportive feedback.

Ken...Thank you! They didn't say anything about the beer mug in the pow notification....hmmm...strange.

Lastly, I will leave you with this....it always makes me laugh and for everyone who has photographed children

wonderful portrit, beatiful colors

Thank you Eduardo!

The link that I meant to post was

The picture has its own radiation.Just this radiation makes it unique. Playing with light only reinforces the effect.

This is a wonderful picture of a real doll. I agree with all the previous comments. One other thing. I think there's a little too much space on the left but most of all I would have liked to see this doll's cute little smile to go with those wonderful blue eyes.

Congratulations Tiffany, for the well deserved recognition of your wonderful photographic talent. I find girls and pearls to be a striking portrait, and I have always liked high-key images.

I will also offer the following critique: As a landscape photographer, I occasionally have the opportunity to shoot portraits -- either outside, or inside using indirect window light; I may also use a reflector. I say this because I don't have much experience with catch light, but I find the large, square catch light to be distracting from her beautiful eyes. Perhaps the catch light can be toned down.

In the large version, the light blue background is lost in the blue of the page. Looking closely at the back drop, I can see a small amount of soft texture and tone variation that I think adds to the photograph. I like the composition, but feel the on-line image needs a digital border to firmly define the photograph, and accentuate the shallow depth of field. The small version on the home page has a border, as do some of your gallery photographs. I agree with others about softening the lighting in the area of her neck. Girls and pearls draws us in and stands well on its own, and mixes perfectly with a gallery presentation. This photo will certainly be a family treasure.

I love the close crop, the glossy eyes just "pop". Also, the slight glow around the baby is just perfect. Very well done.

Ben Forbes

I love the close crop, the glossy eyes just "pop". Also, the slight glow around the baby is just perfect. Very well done.

Ben Forbes

I understand that it is not so easy to pose a photograph children but this is a great capture. Love the high key tones and the off center composition. The eyes are so much penetrating and makes this photo very powerful. Very nice work. Congrats.

I admire people who can get children to stay still long enough to take a lovely shot. Especially since I tend to send them running. So, Kudos to you for that. Now let's move on to the more serious business of critiquing.

First, I absolutely love those focused blue eyes, & the use of a light background to emphasize the same is very smart. Problem is though, the baby is a fair child, all light & golden, so the double light effect with the background really doesn't help emphasize her beautiful hair. I'm not entirely sure what background would have. All I can say is, avoid lighting the background in these situations. And maybe you could have used a golden reflector for the child herself. That would have given her hair & skin an even lovelier tone.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there seems to be some additional sharpening in the picture. Or at least that's what the slightly blotchy highlight silhouetting the child on the left (my left) makes it look like. You need to be very careful to avoid things like that during post-processing, since it usually detracts from an otherwise lovely photograph.

Best of luck in all your future endeavours. I hope I have been helpful in some small way. I'd love to see more photographs from you soon.

Again a superb pick for the POW, well captured and so pleasant to view.

Itchy nose... hands full of pearls.. what's a girl gonna do?

Rumen, Ben, Raymond and Rashed...Thank you! I appreciate your time and feedback.

Alan...Thank you for the feedback. It is always a calculated risk to click when a child has a finger in their mouth or a hand over the face etc...I have photographed this lovely lady a few times...you can even see some more pix of her, showing her sweet face in my portfolio.

Christopher...Thank you for your time and comments. Yes, the catch lights...the catch lights! I always feel that my images have gone up a bit in quality , when the catch lights are being criticized. I will probably change them for the big print that her parents are getting. Very good point about the frame too...thank you.

Susan...please see the link I posted further up the page...you will enjoy it. Thank you for the detailed comments and observations. Yes...not only sharpened, but a high pass filter to boot! This was just one of those ones where I kept tweaking and the voices said "more! more!" It's hard to stop sometimes. I actually didn't light the bg...just post high keyed it. I personally like fair haired high keys, but that's just my taste. It's clean on my monitor and when my lab prints, so I am a bit embarrassed that you are seeing ps marks on this. Oh well...onward.

Gordon...I know...right?

Very nice: the pose, expression, lighting, etc. However, I question the framing. I understand the the top of the head, but on the right, would it have been a lesser composition to include all of the girl's head. The amount of empty space on the left has no justification to me; it could be cut in half. Am I being picky?

Very nice: the pose, expression, lighting, etc. However, I question the framing. I understand the the top of the head, but on the right, would it have been a lesser composition to include all of the girl's head. The amount of empty space on the left has no justification to me; it could be cut in half. Am I being picky?

Very nice: the pose, expression, lighting, etc. However, I question the framing. I understand the the top of the head, but on the right, would it have been a lesser composition to include all of the girl's head. The amount of empty space on the left has no justification to me; it could be cut in half. Am I being picky?