Finally got round to uploading some portraits!

[Steve Zissou]

After reading through the portrait thread, I thought I'd upload some portraits of my little boy to see what people thought. I took the chicken pox ones a few months back now, but love them.

C & C very welcome. Please bear in mind though, that I'm a relative newcomer to the DSLR world (although I have already done a wedding! ), having only had the 400D for a few months, so they aren't very polished. No PP except for a slight crop on two of them and the obvious resizing.

Steve.

1

2

3

4

5

[Holowlegs]

Hi ya


Not the best at portraits myslef so can't give much advice.

But I like number 3 Its just a pity you didn't get all his head in, or maybe you croped it out.


Cheers Holo

[Steve Zissou]

No 3 was avery quick snap, so it's just down to bad photography

For some reason, the IMG tags aren't working???

[braiden]

Hi steve

some nice shots there, my fave is number 5 though. Very natural and nice use of natural light

[Steve Zissou]

I try to do that as much as possible, but he can be a pain trying to get him to stand where the rays are coming through a window.

[senu]

Portraits are notoriously difficult to get right... Children never stay still for long

It is a good effort and you'll no doubt improve with practice .
Im a bit of a portrait newbee myself but have picked a few tips along the way

Have a look HERE


I would advice

Use flash when needed ( although natural light is best even if flash will be used for fill in)
Be very aware that the background can make the difference between an interesting snapshot and a "Portrait"

ie frame with care and/or get yourself a lens like the 50mm 1.8 which is fast ( enable the use of limited light, and at wide aperture blur out background)

Use RAW if you can, it can save exposure , WB errors , and of course there is always PS or Elements for afterwards

If you have a Tele Zoom like the popular 70-300 (sigma DG APO) or similar it is also a great portrait lens nearer its wide end

In the spirit of "practice what you preach",

see these from me 3 below

The first was taken RAW with a 50mm lens and the background framed with as little clutter as possible . I was able to get a 20 x30" canvas from it.. a handy retirement gift for her: I used PSE5 to clone out unwanted shadow, a little mess on the wall.

The second was also taken RAW with the 70-300 Sigma : almost no PP. That is my daughter.. she's 6

The third 50mm RAW, minimal /No PP.. A nephew : He was trying to look "serious"

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1110/...cb7a5386_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/191/4...3cd37399_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1315/...129a64d9_o.jpg

[hutters]

here's one from a rare moment when our 19 month old son was actually sat still - with his grandpa. It's one of my favourites at the moment and it looks great printed on A3

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1020/...97815621_b.jpg

[senu]

This is my nieces daughter.. all of 10 months at the time ( she's one on Saturday) it was the best of 10,, maybe 20 shots ( she would look away with unerring accuracy just as I was about to shoot)
Im not sure its that great at all
TBH by the time I got to this one I was well past caring

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1311/...426d58d6_o.jpg