Ken’s Tips On Your Pics: Isabella
Alex has sent me in two of her favourite photographs of her daughter Isabella. Both are very nice pics, showing the similar subject of Isabella reading but I think that one works better as an image than the other.
Isabella No 1
The first photograph shows Isabella sitting on a couch, flicking through a magazine and holding a teddy bear. There is a nice homely and humorous feeling to this picture, the humour coming from a very young child reading a magazine that is beyond her years. The homely feeling comes from the teddy bear and the couch. All the elements in this photograph add to the telling of its story and there are no distracting features. Isabella being in the foreground on the right makes for a pleasing composition and balances the sofa which takes up most of the photo. I like everything about this picture and would have been more than happy with it if I had taken it myself.
Isabella No 2
The second photo, although a nice pic of Isabella, isn’t quite as successful. Although she is holding a book she doesn’t seem to be interacting with it in the same way. In the first pic she is not only looking at the magazine but appears to be turning the page; here she seems to be looking at something else in the room. The colours in the picture, although giving a nice warm feel, are a bit distracting and you are not really sure where she is sitting. I also prefer the natural lighting in the first photograph to the harsh shadow created by the on-camera flash. This is still a lovely photo of Isabella and I like that it is cropped in tight so that the viewer’s attention is focused solely on Isabella and her book.
So, two very good photos, one of which is easily of a professional standard. Hopefully by comparing the two you will notice how very small things make a difference to how well a picture works.
If you have any photos that you like but think could be better, or just want me to comment on your favourite family shot, then either post them on my Facebook Page or send them to me at ken@kensharp.com.
Hi Ken… thanks so much… great feedback. I completely get what you mean about Isabella not being engaged with the book in the second pic and the strong shadow… really good to have ideas on how to do better! I am blessed with having a very willing and photogenic subject – obviously I’m biased!
By Alex Vere at 10:23 am on Jul 9, 2010