Would love your opinions on this portrait

hamster

I purchased this 50mm macro lens for just that - macros. But after reading about how well it works as a soft, warm portrait lens, I have been giving that a try. Most of the pictures of my son are accidental, because he won't stand still. Is this better in color, or bw? what would you do to improve it technically? Thanks for looking!!

MarkR

hamster wrote:

I purchased this 50mm macro lens for just that - macros. But after reading about how well it works as a soft, warm portrait lens, I have been giving that a try. Most of the pictures of my son are accidental, because he won't stand still. Is this better in color, or bw? what would you do to improve it technically? Thanks for looking!!

I was told (when I first started posting pics of my son) that you really need to get their eyes to get a good picture. Yes, it's hard, but the picture really does get better when you can get them to look at the camera.

Of the two, I think the black and white is the better pic. It gives it a more dreamy feel, I think ... like the kid is floating.

Hussain-Arts

Love the B&W one cause it's softer and nicer ... also me too i tried the macro lens on portraits and it makes them very attractive

Nicely done .... take care of your lovely son, He's Cute.

Peace

~Jan~

I think the b/w is the better version. Can't wait to see more of your pics!

ShepsMom

I too would like to see his eyes. B&W is a better version. Thanks for sharing!

wannabe1979

B&W for me, but I'm more partial to b&w photos though.

hamster

I appreciate all of your input! Next time I will show his eyes - I promise!

KvPhoto

Love the Black and White one, and actually don't mind not seeing his eyes too much.

Debboggy

I can really sympathize with you. My two youngest, especially my two year old, refuse to look at me when I want to take a picture. I can talk to them, try to bribe them with the offer of a toy I'm holding, anything, and get little to no response.

One thing that does work sometimes is throwing a ball. They get excited to go get it, then I ask them to bring it back to me, asking them what they've got. Then they are eager to show off their newly acquired toy and I have a better chance of them looking at me. Of course, with this trick, you have to snap fast or else the full speed ahead running makes focusing a bit tricky.

Good luck with catching those eyes. He looks like a cutie and it'll be great to see the rest of him.

ivar

Hi Hamster,

I prefer the black and white version I think. It doesn't feel so much a 'portrait' as an 'action shot'. It looks like he is really engaged in something

hamster

Deboggy, he'll be two in a couple of weeks - if he's not looking at the camera, he's trying to touch the lens.

ivar - you're right. It's not so much a portrait, I shouldn't have used that word! He was pretty intent - he'd been eating a popsicle and it fell apart. He was bent over to pick it up. I let him eat dirty popsicle.

Here's another from the same day. It's not sharp where I want it to be, but it's a cute look.

MarkR

hamster wrote:

Deboggy, he'll be two in a couple of weeks - if he's not looking at the camera, he's trying to touch the lens.

ivar - you're right. It's not so much a portrait, I shouldn't have used that word! He was pretty intent - he'd been eating a popsicle and it fell apart. He was bent over to pick it up. I let him eat dirty popsicle.

Here's another from the same day. It's not sharp where I want it to be, but it's a cute look.

I like this one best of all. It may not be technically "perfect" but it tells a great story with the popsicle and the boy's expression.

Jeff_Milo

The Hobbyist wrote:

I was told (when I first started posting pics of my son) that you really need to get their eyes to get a good picture. Yes, it's hard, but the picture really does get better when you can get them to look at the camera.

I agree with the majority of the above statement, the eyes are after all the window to the soul, expecially in children. You can get so much expression out of their eyes, they can tell such a story. But looking at the camera is not as important. I do a lot of family and expecially child portraits using a photojournalistic style (I try and never pose a client if i can avoid it) and have found that some of the most popular pictures are with the child looking off somewhere.

If choosing between the two I also perfer the b&w. Keep shooting, my two children are by and far my most favorite test models