Okay so I've finally mustered the courage for some feedback. Let me know what you think.

I've had my M6 for 4 months now and I'm still learning how to use a recently purchased Dimage Scan Elite II.

Thank you.

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=695427&size=lg

-- John Bosso (JBee193@aol.com), April 12, 2002

Answers

Here's a link to the photo.

I think it's a bit problematic. The light is in the wrong place, on the background and the pole rather than the face. The pole is in focus, but the fact isn't. The expression is cute and the composition works, but the lighting needs to be very different to make it more effective. I would have gone around to where the light is and shot her as she passed through the light.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), April 12, 2002.

jeff is certainly rite. lighting is what generally makes or breaks a shot, and it couldn't be much worse here. i know it's heresy, but fill flash would have changed everything here. i'm surprised that jeff went for the composition. it's very busy with all that background off to the rite of the image. the context is clear without it. finally, while a subject doesn't have to make eye contact with the camera by any means, i don't like it when a subject is obviously looking at something in particular, but that soemthing is outside the frame. i feel like that is the case here. an adorable subject, but not shown to her full advantage. what about a pan shot at 1/30th to show some motion. hackneyed, but sometimes it works. and when you are shooting a kid on a carousel, you're never going to get too far from hackneyed anyway. go with it.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), April 12, 2002.

Two comments: Her face color is messed up. I'd balance the whole thing for the face, and let the rest go, and the same for the overall contrast, which is flat on her face because all of the brighter background garbage is being properly rendered. All of the bright highlights in the background are distracting, and I'd make them go away--there are a number of ways to do that digitally that are relatively easy, and doing that would permit you to expand the tonal range on her face to something more normal.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), April 12, 2002.

Usually I have more to say or critique. Not today! A nice shot that gives the viewer a warm feeling. Nice exposure/lighting, DOF, composition and colours. Makes me want to make my own baby now.

Well done John

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), April 12, 2002.

John: This is a photo of joy, pure joy, childlike joy. I enjoyed the shot. The child's face and the scene are lit by florescent (sp) light and show the off colors that result from that light. But the joy of the child shines through like a beacon of sunlight. Did I say that I like the photo? Regards, Doug

-- Doug Landrum (dflandrum@earthlink.net), April 12, 2002.

John, I could think of a few things about how to make your photo more technically balanced, and maybe you can use some of the previous responces to improve it on Photoshop, but the spirit of the image is beautiful and intimate. I can see any of us on that carousel, going round and round, changing lenses, hooking up the flash, etc., seeing every possible variation of light and composition, but never quite capturing what seems to be a peaceful moment for a child. You succeeded in choosing an image that captures the movement, light and serendipity of the moment. It's a keeper. Cheers, Pat.

-- Pat Dunsworth (pdunsworth@aryarch.com), April 13, 2002.

John- I like the picture very much-- a great kid shot! A parent would be very pleased with this memory.

-- Frank Horn (owlhoot45@hotmail.com), April 13, 2002.

The main problem with the pic as I see it is the light spot on the right side. I draws away the attention from the main topic, the child. Beside that the composition is very well done. I would work a bit on the color in the face though.

If you would have taken position in the sunlight and waited for the girl to get into the sun, there would have been more contract and it would have been nicer I think. Or didn't the sun get up to the face?

-- ReinierV (rvlaam@xs4all.nl), April 13, 2002.

John, are you using PhotoShop? If not consider getting it. If you are, try this technique to help out your nice little shot: since the child isn't quite in focus (or movement has softened it ) the eye doesn't know where to look and thus the "busy comments" from others. Plus the colors to the far right are punchier, again drawing your eye away from the main subject. Take the rectangular selection tool and select the left 2/3s of the photo: feather it 200 pixels, and open the curves dialog box. play with the contrast levels there and make some midtone adjustments. If the Colors become to intense after using contrast to create the illusion of sharpness, then use the saturation dialog under image adjustment menu to re-balance the intensity. It's easier than it sounds, and you'll be amazed how it will focus the eye where you wanted it to be. Just a thought.

-- Marc Williams (mwilliams111313MI@comcast.net), April 13, 2002.

I can feel her joy. Well done, whatever problems there is with the lighting.

-- Travis (teckyy@hotmail.com), April 13, 2002.

Thanks for the thoughtful responses folks. Definitely encourages me to get more feedback down the road.

Best, J

-- John (JBee193@aol.com), April 13, 2002.

All technical matters have been well covered already. For whatever it's worth, I only want you to know of one more person happy with your picture.

Thanks for posting. Keep going, please.

-Iván

-- Iván Barrientos M (ingenieria@simltda.tie.cl), April 13, 2002.

Dear John, Considering you have only had the leica for 4 months and you were shooting a moving subject you did well. It took me 1+1/2 years to get as good and fast with my leica as I used to be with the Nikon F3 that I used for 10 prior years. However, now that I have been shooting leicas for 11 years almost without touching my nikons, I am much faster and better at street[candid] photography than I ever was with the slr. KEEP SHOOTING THE LEICA ALOT. Take the criticism with a huge grain of salt! Give yourself some time with the camera.

-- John Elder (celder2162@aol.com), April 13, 2002.