I attended the highland games with my wife and daughter this weekend. I managed to shoot quite a few photos and caught these two stolen moments.

The first was a brother and sister - I couldn't decide whether they were being loving or he was threatening her.

http://www.476design.com/gallery/images/large/041.jpg

The second is a daughter not interested in the pipers on the field who was intent on getting her grandmother's attention.

http://www.476design.com/gallery/images/large/044.jpg

These must be the best shots I've ever taken or the absolute worst.

Could someone puhlease give me some feedback on these? :(

Hi Andy, I'd say he's threatening her. ;) Not too many older brothers who are willing to be subjected to baby sister love! I'm not too sure if I like the blur around the edges of the first one. The second one is very sweet- I wish that the yellow rope wasn't there though!

I bet the highland games were very cool- I'm part Scottish myself and would have enjoyed being there!

Neither one of these seems to have any impact , for me anyway. The one on top. . .the chair back and the cap on the boys head and angle of shot makes it difficult to see who we are looking at. The better of the two pics is the bottom one with the girl and her mother or grandmother. But I think if you had zoomed in real tight so we could just see the little girl and her grandother faces mostly, it would have had more impact because the background here is not really adding anything to the shot.

I attended the highland games with my wife and daughter this weekend. I managed to shoot quite a few photos and caught these two stolen moments.

The first was a brother and sister - I couldn't decide whether they were being loving or he was threatening her.

http://www.476design.com/gallery/images/large/041.jpg

The second is a daughter not interested in the pipers on the field who was intent on getting her grandmother's attention.

http://www.476design.com/gallery/images/large/044.jpg

These are sharp and colorful, which is a plus. The first one is so cluttered it is really a throw away - at least in my opinion - you can't see the kids through all the stuff around them. I fyou were closer with a relatively wide angle lens, it might have been a winner. THe second one is in dire need of fill flash. The camera has exposed for the background and left the mother and daughter in too much shadow.

:D the brother and sis---that wasn't love---hate was about to rear it's ugly head... I like the moent you got but dislike the blur and the clutter...maybe a tighter crop on mostly just their faces ( I hate to say stuff like I wish you would have gotten a bit more of her eyes or face into the shot---but what would that do since it's not like you can reshoot.) and the girl with the (grand?)mom doesn't so much for me...interestinf but not your usual impact...

I'm working on an email back to you...take care

Thanks for the comments - I appreciate all of them. WIll take these ideas into account next time a shoot.

Andy,

Faces and backgrounds.

First, when shooting people, unless a specific effect is desired, the viewer will not relate too well without seeing the subject's face.

Second, the background on the second shot is way to cluttered, as well as the face and action being visible from the other side.

Those are my tips to go along with what the others have said.