Ma, Look at my hand....
- Thread starter Tashi
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ohkphoto
Snow White
Tashi, this is a cute photo. Nicely composed and cropped. My only concern is that I can't see enough of his face. I know it's kind of after the fact. But when you're doing candids of people, try your best to get at least part of their face. It will make for a more powerful picture. As it is, when I look at it, I have the urge to reach in there and turn his face toward the camera because I want to see him.
Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
I kind of like it that you CAN'T see his face. Makes the hand stand out more and that is the focus of this picture.
Pictures are all in the eye of the beholder.
Pictures are all in the eye of the beholder.
JoeLewisPhotography
Senior Member
I 100% agree with Helene. The composition is ok, but thats where it ends for me. First, my eyes go right into that pot because it is huge and takes up so much of the picture. Then, they go right to the head, where I too, want to reach in, and turn it more toward the camera. Eyes make powerful portraits or candid's. to see just one eye, would have made a huge difference.
As for the hand being the "focus of the picture" as previously stated, I almost 100% guarantee you it was an after thought. I highly doubt when this picture was taken, the dirty hand was what was intended to be the primary focal point. If it was, it would have been tighter on the hand. The "hand" idea came after realizing there wasn't much else in the image to look at (having the face turned away). Pictures are in the eyes of the beholder, but I call them as I see them, for what they are.
For the record, my critiques may seem like I am being hard on you, because, well, I am. But its what makes you grow and makes you better. Too many people on this site, are just too damn nice when it comes to critiquing. Sugar coating everything will NOT help anyone.
As for the hand being the "focus of the picture" as previously stated, I almost 100% guarantee you it was an after thought. I highly doubt when this picture was taken, the dirty hand was what was intended to be the primary focal point. If it was, it would have been tighter on the hand. The "hand" idea came after realizing there wasn't much else in the image to look at (having the face turned away). Pictures are in the eyes of the beholder, but I call them as I see them, for what they are.
For the record, my critiques may seem like I am being hard on you, because, well, I am. But its what makes you grow and makes you better. Too many people on this site, are just too damn nice when it comes to critiquing. Sugar coating everything will NOT help anyone.
Essence of Imagery
New member
Well I bet that subject is a she and not a he...LOL
I bet not. Little girls don't get that dirty
I too am thinking girl, due to the colors the subject is wearing. I don't know very many boys dressed in purple and red (my niece has to have one or both of those colors on at all times).
I am so awestruck by your observation! Whatever you said is so true...99.99%!!! I must admit that I came up with the "hand" idea later to get the attention there. I appreciate your opinion. But, I must also tell you that its just been around a year doing this and whatever pictures I am taking are all without any help or any tutorials.....of course, a little from here!! So, its only natural that you will see such mistakes...But then again, I guess that is a silly excuse!!
Thank you so much for your views.
...looking forward for more.
The place where I took this photo is a very very small hamlet....in fact, there are only two houses. So, I don't know whether to call it a hamlet.
BTW, the subject is a HE and not a SHE!! The choice of color of his dress is not his desire but compulsion.....the clothes that he is wearing are hand me down.
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JoeLewisPhotography
Senior Member
Now that is a much better picture! I would crop it a bit so he is more to the right/off center, and maybe brighten it up some but other then that, not a bad pic at all. There isnt much going on in the pic, and I wish i could see a bit more of him but the dirt on his nose makes me wonder what he was up to, and the eyes....leave me wondering what he is looking at. Not a "perfect" picture "technically" but MUCH better.
ohkphoto
Snow White
I agree with Joe here, Tashi. This is so much better. Also remember that most of the time (there are always exceptions), try to shoot children on their level. Work a little more with your angle of shooting. Try different things --eye-level, from higher up, from ground up.
I know you're new at this but it's evident that you have a real love for photography. You are in such a prime place for all types of photography. Keep working at it. I already see an improvement from the first ones you posted.
I know you're new at this but it's evident that you have a real love for photography. You are in such a prime place for all types of photography. Keep working at it. I already see an improvement from the first ones you posted.
Carolina Photo Guy
Senior Member
Tashi, I have to tell you that I like BOTH shots, but for different reasons.
The first shot, even though you used the hand as justification for the composition, is telling me a story.
This little guy, and he had to be a guy, is trying to get someone's attention to to his cleaning of the bottom of the pot.
The second shot's story is his disappointment at the lack of attention.
Just my observations, but I like the offbeat.
The first shot, even though you used the hand as justification for the composition, is telling me a story.
This little guy, and he had to be a guy, is trying to get someone's attention to to his cleaning of the bottom of the pot.
The second shot's story is his disappointment at the lack of attention.
Just my observations, but I like the offbeat.
Tashi, I have to tell you that I like BOTH shots, but for different reasons.
The first shot, even though you used the hand as justification for the composition, is telling me a story.
This little guy, and he had to be a guy, is trying to get someone's attention to to his cleaning of the bottom of the pot.
The second shot's story is his disappointment at the lack of attention.
Just my observations, but I like the offbeat.
I too like to go a little unconventional. But, being a noob, I guess I will have to learn the basics first. Thanks for you appreciation! Cheers! Pete. (I am assuming Pete is ur name as everyone calls u by that name)
amonamarth
Senior Member
I think some of you missed the point of this picture. It's not the face, but the dirty hands, dirty jacket, etc.
Is this kid working? Why? So little? Why working on something so dirty? Coal mine, trash field? Isn't there an adult around? Etc, etc.
Is this kid working? Why? So little? Why working on something so dirty? Coal mine, trash field? Isn't there an adult around? Etc, etc.
Carolina Photo Guy
Senior Member
Well, of COURSE we would miss something like that! Those of us that commented the most on that shot do NOT
have a world view of children working at such a young age. In our world, children at that age are out having playing and having fun.
Trying to help with making a living is not the FIRST thought to associate with such a picture. Sometimes, reality harshly intrudes on OUR world.
Not everywhere are children treated like in North America and Europe. In this case, I don't think the child is working, I think he's just playing around with mom's pots and pans. Where they cook over the fire, the bottom of these is just that, dirty. Poverty is "the" living condition of over 2/3 of the world's population. It's easy for us to forget...
Not every little child in this part of the world works.....not as young as this one, for Pete's sake!! (Not our Pete
!!) He was playing with the pot...he was using it as a steering of a car...or may be a tyre....I can't say exactly but he was making the vroom vroom sound.BTW, here's another pic of the kid carefully inspecting a tyre from where he seem to have got the idea to play with the pot as a tyre ....or may be a steering.
P.S. Please don't say he was working as a mechanic now!
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