two Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

a little double portrait from the same plaza in front of the Basilica de la Virgen de Agua Santa in Banos i was presenting earlier this year. i was watching these two for quite some time, making about two dozen shots hoping to catch their eyes. nonetheless, never would they raise their eyes, neither the mother nor the child. however, i felt there was some harmonious beauty in their thoughtful, almost sad expressions.

the shot was taken from afar at f/5.6 for 1/500 sec; ISO 400. thus, i have to apologize for the poor technical quality and sharpness (especially on the kid; note, no noise reduction software has been used). i know, now that i know a bit more about taking people's portraits than i did in january, i probably would not have made this shot the same way. :) but i hope you still will like it.

ps. the spotted coloring of their hair is not a result of post-processing. both of them actually had highlights.

belido, Floydian, Merline, MayaG, steliosk, cfreire, scobert, fulvio52, Charo, dlevy23, jhm, crckt, gunbud, plimrn, avene has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

belido (16357) 2008-04-04 12:46

Hi Kristaps,

for me they look completely sad and there is some kind of "sad beauty" on that (meaning reality). I see they didn't noticed your presence and they are not looking at you. This brings naturality to the scene. I like the dof and the natural colors. No problem at all with the sharpness. Great work!
Regards,
Carlos

Morac (20307) 2008-04-04 15:00

Hello Kristaps
This double portrait is beautiful.

The glances are the same ones.
The mouths are the same ones.
They are mother and girl.
Marc

lousat (15302) 2008-04-04 15:02

Hi Kris,what a nice portrait of this couple! I like a lot the expression of the face and the beautifull colours,really really great,thanks for share,Luciano

Floydian (30970) 2008-04-04 15:03

Hi Kristaps,
Two sad faces, no moment fot joy. Life is hard in Ecuador, just as in the whole Andes and South America region. The kid, oh my, the way it looks.
I don't care for the noise and the 5.6, i am more impressed by their faces, that's what counts..!!!
Technical, yes strong colours and nice detail like the neckless and earring...
Have a nice weekend, Henk

Merline (6574) 2008-04-05 8:07

Dear Kristaps,
I do find this a very moving portrait. Never mind that they don't look. Either they never saw you or they did and did not want their eyes to be "caught". That happens here in Brussels too, even with the people selling stuff in the streets, as soon as they see the camera...they avoid the direct eye contact. And its their right. This is strong nevertheless due to the intense expressions, tired and sad I can only imagine, the little one with highlights already in their hair...my heart goes to them. Lovely colors and touch of gold. Compliments, sensitive work.

TFS, Have a nice weekend
Michèle

MayaG (2393) 2008-04-05 13:25

Hi Kristaps,
yes, it's a wonderful emotive (double) portrait. You actually caught that wonderful mother-child connection, they don't look at eachother but you can feel they are one. As mentioned before me, there is a feeling of some gentle sadness inside...
Nothing wrong with the quality, I would personally go for an even tighter crop because their expressions are very precious. I will add a quick WS, really not to suggest'improvement', just to show you what I mean.
regards
Marija

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cfreire (11647) 2008-04-05 18:21

Hi Kristaps,
An excellent portrait you've taken for us with well captured the expressions of these people. I observed that the mother expresses some concern in her face, and the child, expresses sadness. Beautiful colors and contrasts and the picture is very sharpness indeed. Good job. Best regards, Consuelo

scobert (5333) 2008-04-05 22:34

Hi Kristaps,
A most interesting double portrait. I like thier pensive expressions and your excellent composition. They both appear to be in a reflective pose and it is hard to guess what they are really thinking. This is the type of image that makes us stop and think as well and ponder our own lives. I think that you have underrated this shot and it is quite good and gives us a peek into the everday lives of the Equadorean people. Good job!
Stan

alainh (35361) 2008-04-05 23:31

hello Kristaps
nice attitudes of the woman and her child. a very good dof end a format that i like a lot. always, these strong colours of the clothes.
a very nice picture
have a nice sunday Kristaps
alain

nirvana73 (8628) 2008-04-06 1:12

Hello Kristaps
i like their worried looks
nice colors and presentation
tfs
regards
Ozhan

steliosk (4784) 2008-04-06 2:48

Technically you're OK, I could say noiseless or the kind of noise that doesn't affect the quality and it doesn't disturb the eye. I'm not a fan of portrait photography, although you have captured a troubled-minded expression in this one.

Many Regards my friend
Stelios

vincz (19039) 2008-04-06 2:50

Excellent double portrait with wonderful colours and such a great expression on the 2 faces. Quality is top here. Congratulations.

fulvio52 (8314) 2008-04-06 6:23

Hi Kristaps,
at f/5.6 for 1/500 sec. ISO 400 you've done a great job. The shot, as you mentioned, was taken from afar and yet, IMNAAHO, it retains more than enough sharpness and absolutely brilliant colors.
In the end, the sad expression on those faces is what really counts, everything else is chitchat.
Very well framed and presented, I like it.
Have a nice day, see ya soon.
Ciao,
Fulvio.

mursaloglu (5136) 2008-04-06 15:42

Dear Kristaps
What a stunning wonderful portrait work with great compo and amazing human figures great sharpness. The expressions of the faces of the mother and of the child are very meaningful. Great job best regards my friend ihsan

ifanik (20518) 2008-04-07 6:14

Hi My friend
Beautiful double portrait
Very nice colours and expressions
Bravo!!! nice work
Best regards
Nick

Charo (31665) 2008-04-07 10:25

Hola Kristaps,
Un bonito retrato de caras casi tristes. Estupendos colores y detalles.
Cordialmente
Charo

Waylim (10741) 2008-04-07 20:08

Very nice close up portrait of the Inca family. They are such interesting and beautiful people and amazing and mysterious culture. Great detail on the clothes and facial expression. Color and light very well balanced and natural.
Way

jhm (82319) 2008-04-08 3:59

Hello Kristaps,

I looked with a lot attention to these lovely picture, but see also the almost sad expressions, as well as the mother than or the child.
I like your portrait very well done, also the quality and sharpness are superb.

Best regards,
John.

chanjits (4409) 2008-04-08 4:49

your subjects are in sad mood you have composed them well with shallow depth of field but at ISO 400 Nikon 300 is giving noise even it is CMOS cam I think Nikon should think over it to improve.

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crckt (7072) 2008-04-08 12:32

Hi Kristaps,
A nice moment, captured quite memorably. Like the softness in this shot, has a tender touch to it. Lovely shot.
Regards,
Shaeri

gunbud (27789) 2008-04-08 18:09

Hi Kristaps,
Both mother and child have somber serious expression that contrast with the very happy colorful clothing. Very clear crisp colors with excellent sharpness and details to this serious portrait.
Regards, Tom

jrj (34779) 2008-04-11 6:05

Attractive mother child capture K. Soft light and colours - good facial expressions, well done

plimrn (19602) 2008-04-23 10:42

Hi Kristaps,
Yes, the mirrored expressions show the strong bond. As most do, I really like this portrait a lot.

One of the tings that I've noticed in long-distance, lower-light shots is the camera settles itself on any strong pattern like the blanket or the necklace. As most people say, the sharpness of the faces is actually quite good, I wonder if you cropped the sharper patterned area if the faces would look sharper. In any case, in such situations, I sometimes find that switching to a single focal point and placing it on the eyes works. Of course that may be what you did and you got the Mom the sharper of the two.
HLJ, Pat

avene (10944) 2008-06-04 12:03

pitty about the lack of focus and that the long zoom has flattened the photo quite a bit, because the soft light and the expressions are great here. on the other hand I like a lot how personal the photo feels because of that close zoom, I think that's the strongest element in this shot, together with the elegant folds of her shawl.

take care,
K.