quick family shot

Elaine

OK...this was a quick one...no planned wardrobe or anything...just going for a decent shot of some visiting friends. The boy in orange was on a fast track to a melt-down, so that was another reason for being fast. I left the crop wide to accomodate other crops. Other shots had better expressions of certain people, but I think this was the best average. I've had to do quite of bit of post (flash was too low and it was too dark!). I've looked at it too long...please tell me if there's anything else I should do to this? :huh

James C

I think this shot is great! Wouldn't guess that you needed to do a lot of post.

My only complaint is you cut the two kids off at the knees(ish) and I think that looks a little awkward.

-James

Elaine

James C wrote:

I think this shot is great! Wouldn't guess that you needed to do a lot of post.

My only complaint is you cut the two kids off at the knees(ish) and I think that looks a little awkward.

-James

Thanks! Yes...posing is not my strong suit...it gives me much anxiety, actually. The two kids in front were standing on stools of varying heights, so I'm not sure that going any lower would have really looked any better. If everyone had felt like being photographed, we would have tried some other positions/settings, but this was a one-time deal!

urbanaries

under the gun, you did a fantastic job of arranging their "heads" in a pleasing composition. I'm quite impressed! I'm sure they'll be, too! nice job....and you're not alone, I'm allergic to posing, too. *achoo!*

Elaine

urbanaries wrote:

under the gun, you did a fantastic job of arranging their "heads" in a pleasing composition. I'm quite impressed! I'm sure they'll be, too! nice job....and you're not alone, I'm allergic to posing, too. *achoo!*

Thanks, Lynne! Glad I'm not the only one who suffers from POSE-traumatic stress syndrome! Actually, I think all this processing gives new meaning to POST-traumatic...

Here's another shot that turned out kinda fun. After this, we were DONE!

photogmomma

Elaine wrote:

Thanks, Lynne! Glad I'm not the only one who suffers from POSE-traumatic stress syndrome!

LMAO! Very true here, too!

I think the only real "problem" I see in the first shot is that it looks a little warm to me. I think the pose is quite nice and I'm not bothered by the crop - and that's usually one of my huge pet peeves!

I love the second shot, too! Wonderful expressions!!

Gorgeous job - especially at the last minute and with only seconds to go!

saurora

Great job Elaine.......I hate posing, too. I haven't figured out what works best for me in that department! The only thing I notice, and keep in mind I am at work on an uncalibrated monitor, is I see what appears to be 'greenish' shadows along the left side of the father's face and down under his chin. It may not be a problem at all on your monitor.

Elaine

photogmomma wrote:

LMAO! Very true here, too!

I think the only real "problem" I see in the first shot is that it looks a little warm to me. I think the pose is quite nice and I'm not bothered by the crop - and that's usually one of my huge pet peeves!

I love the second shot, too! Wonderful expressions!!

Gorgeous job - especially at the last minute and with only seconds to go!

Thanks, Andi. I've been wondering about the "warmness." I'll give it another go and try to cool it down a bit.

Scott_Quier

saurora wrote:

Great job Elaine.......I hate posing, too. I haven't figured out what works best for me in that department! The only thing I notice, and keep in mind I am at work on an uncalibrated monitor, is I see what appears to be 'greenish' shadows along the left side of the father's face and down under his chin. It may not be a problem at all on your monitor.

Very good catch. In fact, the green shadow is on everyone's right side, except that of the mother.

I really like the natural look of the second shot - very much a photograph of kids being kids!

Elaine

saurora wrote:

Great job Elaine.......I hate posing, too. I haven't figured out what works best for me in that department! The only thing I notice, and keep in mind I am at work on an uncalibrated monitor, is I see what appears to be 'greenish' shadows along the left side of the father's face and down under his chin. It may not be a problem at all on your monitor.

Thanks, Susan. And yes, you spotted my green nemesis! I love taking photos out in the greenspace (meadows and trees) behind my house, but I often end up with some green shadowing. I do not have the knowledge or gumption to put into fixing this in a simple way, so for this one, I've just decided to let it go! I think Ziggy suggested using a white sheet on the ground as a reflector and to help eliminate green stuff...I'll have to try that for a more formal shoot.

Elaine

Scott_Quier wrote:

Very good catch. In fact, the green shadow is on everyone's right side, except that of the mother.

I really like the natural look of the second shot - very much a photograph of kids being kids!

Thanks, Scott!

I'm a bit paranoid about the green monster in my pics, so I tend to see it even if it isn't there (!), but as I replied to Susan, I'm not sure what I can do in post? I'm working with PSE 5. Oh, and I do have Lightroom ...just haven't had time to really sit down and work with it yet. If anyone wants to try fixing my green issue and then telling me how I can do it with what I'm working with, that would be super-duper!

Scott_Quier

Elaine wrote:

Thanks, Scott!

I'm a bit paranoid about the green monster in my pics, so I tend to see it even if it isn't there (!), but as I replied to Susan, I'm not sure what I can do in post? I'm working with PSE 5. Oh, and I do have Lightroom ...just haven't had time to really sit down and work with it yet. If anyone wants to try fixing my green issue and then telling me how I can do it with what I'm working with, that would be super-duper!

I would if I could, but there's a huge gap between being able to see a problem and fixing it. I'm just not that good with PS and don't know anything about PSE. I'm pretty sure you're not going to get much traction on this green monster with LR either (but what do I know, I only messed around with it for a couple long weeks).