Dreamy Window Light

[mpreslar]

This is a shot of my daughter infront of the screen door with the mid-afternoon sun shining on her. I then used the Dreamy Filter from DreamSuites to give it the "Dreamy" look (to overuse a word massively! )

Let me know what you think?

[GB1]

Hi Mpreslar

I like the technique. The photo is well composed. The one thing that I would prefer is that your daughter be looking out the window, sort of day dreaming, instead of looking at the camera. Since you have a readily available model sitting there, try another shot or two like this. I would also shoot for a just a little brighter light outside the window (others might disagree on this...)

-GB

[swmdrayfan]

I like the possibilities with this kind of shot. But----is it me, or is this a tad pixellated?
John

[dbutler]

I like it. I didn't think about where she was facing until GB mentioned it, but now that he said it, I think it would work very well. I don't see pixelation but maybe some crosshatching?

[AC_Photo]

I like it too, and I agree with having her look out the window. The hand doesn't work for me at all. I find it very distracting.

[freygr]

This is a shot of my daughter infront of the screen door with the mid-afternoon sun shining on her. I then used the Dreamy Filter from DreamSuites to give it the "Dreamy" look (to overuse a word massively! )

Let me know what you think?

For me that pose just doesn't work for me.... If she was look out the window then maybe....

[mpreslar]

Thanks for all the input!

It did not translate to the smaller size well! I didn't have the picture in the correct size for this site, and resized it with an inferior program. I don't know if this one will look much better, the pixellization is not there in the original. Here is a re-post with the resizing done in PSE 4.0, but it might just be that the Dreamy Filter needs to be the last step with no re-sizing?

The second one is another from the same "Shoot" (so to speak) with her looking out the window and a bit less dodge on the door behind her. This is the one we used for our family calendar that we send to relatives (needed the horizontal crop for the calendar page.)

I had to chuckle when reading your responses, because the assumption is that I could actually TELL my 4 year old how to pose! LOL!!!! I guess that is why I concentrate more on landscape and nature type photography! I have absolutely NO portraiture skills! When I shoot people I almost always do casual shots. When I try to pose people they look like cardboard. I'll keep your suggestions in mind and try to apply them in the future!

In this case, I had a natural lighting assignment for a class last fall and had my daughter stand in the light of the doorway so I could practice. The conversation went something like: "Sweety, could you stand over here and let daddy take some pictures?" "Why me Dad?" "Because your brother is too tall to fit in the light!" LOL! (That is why there is such a pouty look!)

BTW, the first pose did get Honorable Mention in a local print contest! (It printed really nicely at 8x10.)

[freygr]

Thanks for all the input!

It did not translate to the smaller size well! I didn't have the picture in the correct size for this site, and resized it with an inferior program. I don't know if this one will look much better, the pixellization is not there in the original. Here is a re-post with the resizing done in PSE 4.0, but it might just be that the Dreamy Filter needs to be the last step with no re-sizing?

The second one is another from the same "Shoot" (so to speak) with her looking out the window and a bit less dodge on the door behind her. This is the one we used for our family calendar that we send to relatives (needed the horizontal crop for the calendar page.)
clip....

I like the second shot much better that the first, but that is just me.

[mpreslar]

Thanks freygr! I like them both, but then, she is my daughter! LOL! I really like the little curl of hair on the right (her left) in the second one, which is why I left the door less burnt (burned?) My hair does the same thing when it is that long (which is why, between high school and this year, when I grew it long (in the back, there ain't none in front!) I wore my hair above the ears. I couldn't stand that little flip of hair! But on her I love it! She has grown hers longer as well (a Daddy/Daughter hair project! LOL!) and it is just wavy now.

Well, enough rambling... Thanks to everyone for the great comments and suggestions! This is a great forum! I look forward to posting more photos and commenting on others work! (Thanks Alison for pointing me here! )