Joy

This is from a couple of rolls of Ilford Pro 3200 I shot at 1600,

playing with grain in some candid close-ups of kids. Thoughts? Is

the background too busy for the shot? Does it work without more

detail in the eyes?

Grain doesn't bother me, background is ok to me. What I'm missing here is a smart viewpoint/angle/camera position, that would make sense to reveal the essence of the subject. I think the subject here is an expression of joy, right...? If so, does the arm matter ? If so, don't the eyes matter more ? Wasn't it essential to get most out of this face by simply showing more of it ? Regards.

Marc,

 

As always, thanks! Fact is I liked the IDEA of the arm, because the guy expresses himself with the full body, but am not satisfied with the whole rendering and trying to figure out what to do/where to go. The moment was nice here, which was why I chose this one to post, but, yes, another angle would have been good. But I'm not sure the face alone will fully capture the expression. Perhaps a lower/to the front angle may have gotten much more of that joy. (As you can see from another recent posting and some of my past postings, I've been blowing some film on these intentionally grainy, somewhat difficult to control shots).

 

Luckily, all I need for good modeling of this particular expression is to turn on the electric trains or set up the building blocks; time to load the Ilford and give it another try!

 

Best,

 

Sam

I think the angle is fine for this one. I love the grain, and the child's expression. I can see it just fine from the angle you have here. Sometimes, it's not possible to get a different angle, particularly with children. Congrats on this.. One of my favorites!

and the arm and crop convey this. If you cropped in closer it somehow wouldn't work as well - a joyous expression with no story to tell why! I love that tongue thing and the grain. The small things that bother me are his fingers cropped and the bright spots in background, nice shot nevertheless.

I keep thinking about the angle on this one. I'm thinking a giant step back, a moderate step to the right, maybe two, and about another twelve inches lower, keeping the arm and avoiding the crop of the fingers but getting a wider view of the face just peaking over that rail.

 

Unfortunately, I think there was a lake right about there, so I'd have been in water up to my knees. But, we do what we have to!

I also like the angle and crop on this, it makes me interested in exactly what he is over joyed about. Again, I love the grain and the DOF blur is nice and of course his wonderful smile. Sometimes with kids you just have a instant to capture that amazing expression and unlike planned studio shots, you don't have another opportunity immediately. But most times I prefer candid, imaginative shots of children. This is one of those. Nice job!

Otherwise I'd say that this could indeed be the right "step" to take: "I keep thinking about the angle on this one. I'm thinking a giant step back, a moderate step to the right, maybe two, and about another twelve inches lower, keeping the arm and avoiding the crop of the fingers but getting a wider view of the face just peaking over that rail."

 

I find very interesting that "showing more of the face" was often interpreted as "zooming in", whereas precisely, I was suggesting a different angle - which does not mean to get closer. I was more thinking of pushing the arm to a somewhat more reasonable role at the side or so. Your present idea about this new angle solves the problem of the arm without at all depriving up from any element present in this composition. That's what a smart angle is: giving priority to what's prioritary.

 

I also read with interest the following comment in this thread:

 

"Sometimes, it's not possible to get a different angle, particularly with children."

 

I know it often feels that way, but I couldn't disagree more, in fact. If we come to think of it, we can always move here or there BEFORE the key moment happens. And mostly, we can always keep on following a child - for as long as he plays, for hours if necessary - in order to find not a better angle for a given picture, but a better picture all together. Most people just don't have the patience...

Thanks for the comments. Marc, I think there's almost always another angle worth exploring - though oddly in my own self-critique of this photo I had not focused on the angle. And, with kids, it's a pleasure to have the time to chase them around trying to find that angle.

 

I now note that another critical element in getting this expression is really his tongue, and the different angle would get more of that as well - the key being staying enough on the side so it's still a partial profile.

 

Thanks - this is exactly the kind of input I come here for!

 

 

 

 

Very wells. I like the grain. The hand crod... mmmmm i dont khow. :) Best rewards

Great snapshot, the grain and soft focus works here, 6/6

I like grainy finished pix than glossy onces, but what bothers me are the distructions at the background and I know you can do better than this because my assesment is you are an advance or a photographer. Am I mistaken? The other thing that

bothers me too is his blurry hand and you cut off

his fingers ( as I said you are good). Cutting his head off in this angle to me is acceptable.

 

He has a charming smile and he looks, a happy toddler.It's a good happy captured.And I like it.

 

Thanks for sharing. By the way,I read your bio &

I'm just giving you what you wanted.Yes, I know I'm not good but I know how to read and appreciate photographs. I guess I'm still energized after the RN-PATIENT RATIO rally we did

in Sacramento yesterday.

 

I am learning from all of you out there.

 

 

Thanks, Imanol, Jim, Sally -- of the set of three I posted from the saem day, this was actually my least favorite, but I've left it here because I liked the discussion and learned something from it. (And, Sally, I'm not sure I've made it yet to "advanced", but I'm trying!) I think that in the setting and from where I was standing at the time, the crop of the fingers was probably a necessary evil to keep the whole picture fairly compact and tight -- BUT - what I now realize I should have done was stepped back and to the side some, and then I could have avoided that problem.

 

Thanks!

I think the background fits the expression. Its lively, perhaps a little distracting but I like the action feel to the photo and may not of noticed if i were'nt looking for it. Admittingly, I dont really understand the whole grain phenomena... Id be interested in seeing the original to get an idea of how the mood has changed/moves me. adios brother