Adoring Grandpa

Please tell me how I can make this better, or what you would have done

differently. I want to learn how to take good shots of

people....something I haven't done much of. Thanks so much!

Christal, there is more than one answer to your question depending upon intent. 

  First, let me say that your photograph reminds me of a line from a poem, can’t remember which one—“The face of a child looking up, holding wonder like a cup.” I always enjoy it when a photograph strikes a verse of poetry.

  If your intent is simply to capture a good likeness of a child you have succeeded at that. It conforms to every accepted norm on sharpness, rendering of tones, capture of texture. All are well done. 

  If you are asking about composition, balance, use of format then things become more subjective. Since I do not put a lot of stock into conventional wisdoms—especially the one that says the eyes need space to look into—I would probably suggest cropping some off of the top. Most will disagree with that. I personally would crop because to me the child seems to be falling backwards out of the image area. Again, subjective. IMO, a narrower format would contain the image better, meaning the image balances better without the negative space on top. 

  Some photographers would be extremely happy with the technical expertise, with the well done capture that you have achieved. If that is your question this is the end of the critique. 

  If on the other hand you were to ask me what would make this a really interesting people photograph I would say that you should have included Grandpa. Much of the “interest” in photographs is accomplished by contrasts; light and dark, new and old, big and little, young and old. A contrast starts to give a photograph story or to enhance story. Just a thought to think about. People are emotional elements. We relate to people emotionally; I love you, I hate you, you make my heart flutter, you are gross. Use those emotions in your photographs of people. You have a choice. You can make your photographs of people look like them or you can make them say something about them. The rules on how to do that are very convoluted and you won’t find them studying technique for the sake of technique. You learn them by studying the visual language of photography. You learn them the same way a child learns the spoken language, a little at a time. 

  In looking at your portfolio, I see that you have photographs, fairly nice people photographs, of musicians that you refer to as colleagues. Some of the most respected photographers come from the ranks of musicians—Ansel Adams comes to mind. Think about the type of music that you like to pay. I would bet it is closer to Tchaikovsky than it is to I Dropped My Dolly In The Dirt. So what is the difference, nuisance, drama, emotion—try to find ways to put the language of your music into your photographs and you will make great people pictures.

Sorry, had to look it up. The poem is Sara Teasdale’s Barter. And the line is “And children’s faces looking up, Holding wonder like a cup.”

Thanks for your very generous time and information.  I am flattered and humbled by the fact that you would care enough to help me with this.  I will email you, if you don't mind, with my response to some of your comments.  I spent quite a lot of time looking at your portfolio, and you certainly know whereof you speak!  I continue to be amazed by the generosity of some of the people I've met here on PN.  Thanks so much!

On second thought, I'll make some comments here, as there may be others who are interested.  First of all, this is our adored granddaughter, and I've had difficulty getting really great shots of her.....she's always on the move, her hair is fine and she will not yet allow mom to 'fix' it, and when you point the camera at her, she knows to smile, which for her means closing her eyes and scrunching up her face.  That's very cute in its own right, and I have a picture of that.  But I also want some serious, professional looking shots of her, which I'm having difficultly accomplishing.  

I absolutely hear what you're saying about 'completing' the picture with the addition of Grandpa.  In this instance, however, Grandpa is 6'4" and standing in front of her.  If I had taken a picture of them in that position or asked Grandpa to kneel down to her level, I would have lost what I was going for.....those enormous eyes, pure skin, and look of adulation.....and the emotional part (I think) is that innocent look of childhood.  It indeed would have provided a different emotion to have Grandpa in the image.   She is leaning back because she is semi-reclined in her stroller, so that's why I tried to leave enough of the stroller in the image so there would be a context for it.  

I see your point about the crop from the top, and I see from your work you often crop close, and it's very effective.  There is also that emotional connection from most of your shots......by that I mean that they evoke a response from me and become something more than just a regular snapshot. 

I think I have trouble in general shooting people.  It's difficult if they know I'm shooting them because they immediately develop all the hang ups with being photographed.  But if I try to shoot on the sly, I almost feel like I'm being sneaky or invasive, and am afraid that I'll be 'caught' pointing the camera in their face.  I haven't found a balance or an approach yet that I feel comfortable with.  And then invariably, unless I can pose people where I want them, they are never in the right light or positioning.  I'm finding it extremely difficult to pull off good shots, and I have that much more admiration of those who excel at it.  One of my friends here on PN, ML M, churns out one image after another of great shots of children.   He somehow charms them into natural looking shots, and they're technically great as well.  There are many others whose work I really admire.

You are so right that the best way is to watch and observe and learn from others, and I'll gradually get better.  I've noticed that about my photography in general since I've been a member here on PN.  I've learned so much, and the level of my photography has definitely improved, though I have so far to go.  Photography is like music, there is no such thing as perfection, and I'll always feel like I could have done better.  That's part of the challenge, and the growth toward excellence is something I enjoy.

I think the most helpful and thought provoking thing you said is "You can make your photographs of people look like them or you can make them say something about them."  Based on my initial inquiry and your response, I think you grasp that I want to 'say something about them' in my captures.  I'll keep working at it.  I've long wondered how much can be learned and how much is intuitive in the art of photography.  I can learn much from a book, but the rest is up to me, and I think getting rid of my own inhibitions about shooting people will help a lot.  I'm working at it.  :-)  In addition, guidance and enlightenment from people like you helps a lot and is very encouraging.  I've never had any formal photo training......just an isolated weekend seminar or two.  I'll be retiring soon and am actually contemplating going to photo school.  

Thanks again, and I hope you will allow me to ask your advice from time to time.  :-)   Oh, and BTW, I had NO idea what the song 'I Dropped my Dolly in the Dirt' was, so I looked it up on YouTube, and now I can't get the melody out of my head.  :-)  But just for the record, I really do love all types of music, classical included, of course.  And all types of photography, as well.

Christal, I am no expert, so I am of no help at all. But I've taken pics of my grandchildren in the past (most on film) and it is not the easiest when they do move around a lot. I think it is a wonderful expression captured of her gazing up at Granpa!! for a wee one, with him being so tall, you can tell she loves him very much. That is a VERY LONG WAY UP!!! Black and White is lovely for this image and your presentation is very good as well. My daughter's hair was just like hers. :-) She is altogether lovely. ML M does marvellous images. I think he has such a talent for Images of Children. Having them around a lot does help, especially when you can spend the time just 'snapping away'. I hope you had a beautiful Thanksgiving.

Thanks for your lovely thoughts, Gail.  I know you love children and family is so important to you, so you can appreciate how important it is for me to be able to capture some wonderful pictures of my only granddaughter.  It's just more difficult than I thought it would be.  :-)  Every time I start feeling sorry for myself for living so far away from them, I remind myself that at least today we have Skype and Facetime, and phone calls are so cheap.  I can at least stay in touch that way.  :-)

Wonderful - I like it but I am no portrait photographer.