BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Pat Wimpee

Please need suggestions

I'm beginning to take more pictures of friend's children and I've noticed when doing a pose like this, the baby's shoe appears much bigger than the rest of the photo. Any suggestions on what I'm doing wrong would be greatly appreciated. This was taken with studio lighting, using the 28-85 IS lens zoomed in.

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March 23, 2005

Kerry L. Walker

You are a bad photographer and you are using a poor camera. Also, I look like Rob Lowe. OK, so much for the lies (I actually look more like Rob Reiner, old, fat and loosing hair.) You've done a good job posing this child. The problem is cause by being too close when you shoot - perspective distortion. Back up a little. If you can't get further back, try tucking the leg in a little.

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March 24, 2005

Kerry L. Walker

I also like your lighting. Good effects, not flat. Keep it up. You said you were zoomed in. I assume you mean you shot at 85mm?

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March 24, 2005

John P. Sandstedt

Gee - I thought Kerry was a macho 35 or so; but losing hair, etc. Those of who are only falling apart due to whitish, gray hair . . .

Pat - anotherissue is the fact that you shot this picture at f/5.6. As one moves close toward wide apertures, one improves his/her chances of image distortion.

This picture also needs to be cropped. There's too much background about the baby.

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March 24, 2005

Kerry L. Walker

I was 35 once, about 19 years ago, but I'm not sure about the macho part. Hair is only a little gray but I have a hole in it.

Pat, I agree with John about the cropping. Way too much blank space, sort of like what I have on the top of my head. I really believe you shot this at the wider end of your zoom. Sure looks like the distortion you get when you shoot wide angle up close. That can be used for effect but not in a baby portrait. Try shooting at at least f/11. You will get more depth of field and the foreground will look better. Still think the lighting looks good.

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March 24, 2005

Pat Wimpee

Thanks so much!! I'll try getting further back (I took several pictures and I thought I was at the 85 end on this one but probably I'm wrong. I'll try the f/11 also. Thanks for your help. I agree with the cropping too. That's why you should do it with the camera I guess, cuz when I crop in picture editing software, it doesn't match up when printing and I end up with someone's head chopped off. Thanks for your input.

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March 24, 2005

Kerry L. Walker

Try printing it as an 8x10. You will lose 2 inches off the vertical so you can take that off the top. It may be exactly what you want.

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March 25, 2005

Tonya R. Boles

One thing you could try to fix this photo is use the clone tool in and editing software like PSP. Just clone the feathers to cover the shoe. it might do the trick...

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March 26, 2005

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