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Gratuitous Kid Shot
Gratuitous Kid Shot
timfythetoo


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Trains & Railroads (Advanced Editing IV)
Camera: Canon EOS-300D Rebel
Lens: Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon
Location: Columbus
Date: Oct 20, 2006
Aperture: 9
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/125
Galleries: Landscape, Transportation
Date Uploaded: Oct 20, 2006

 My other idea would have had Aidan playing with one of his toy trains on these tracks. But instead I went with Aidan in his Halloween costume. Thomas is one of his favorites. We drove around town looking at different areas of railroad and came across this one area that had a good view of trees rather than any road or buildings. Took a bunch of different shots of his poses. One of the other stronger quality shots had him looking right at the camera. I decided to go with this one as it didnt feel as much of a gratuitous kid shot (but I kept the title). I dont expect this to do gangbusters - kid shot and all - but it is one I am proud of. My boy is growing up and I love having pics like these. 3 minutes after taking this shot the train rolled by REAL fast. Kind of like a bonus for him posing.

PP - Shot in RAW - initial tweaks with saturation, exposure, shadow and highlight contrasts and tint, in PS - selective color to tweak the colors of the leaves, contrast, burning and dodging, USM a couple of times, selective blur to clean up his face and outfit, USM, resize, NI, USM, border.

Statistics
Place: 111 out of 196
Avg (all users): 5.4605
Avg (commenters): 7.2000
Avg (participants): 5.2308
Avg (non-participants): 5.6757
Views since voting: 1160
Views during voting: 425
Votes: 215
Comments: 21
Favorites: 2 (view)

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AuthorThread
 11/01/2006 10:42:00 AM
*Critique Club*

As I commented before, I really love this concept! I kind of agree with the previous comment that the blue and red colors sort of clash with the fall colors on the trees. But then it would be a totally different shot and I think while being technically a little better, it just wouldn't have the same impact.

Here are some things I don't like: The whiteness of the sky (but I know that's hard to avoid sometimes!) and the border (I feel it's just too overpowering).

Other things I do like, though: The colors are amazingly beautiful. I love the pose with head down.. it makes it seem contemplative and interesting. I love the double sets of tracks and how you did not center them; the perspective with the lines into the distance towards the clearing in the trees is very awesome as well.

Just because this is a shot with a kid doesn't mean it's not also good photography. Like a previous comment talked about, your title probably didn't help things. This is a good shot and I wish it had done better.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/01/2006 05:27:09 AM
This is a sweet picture. :) Sorry it didn't do better, it's really quite lovely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/30/2006 02:12:05 PM
This really should have scored higher - I think you actually did yourself in with the title. I love the "straight down the tracks" view with the light on the rails. I didn't recognize this as Aidan though I suspected it might be - hard to tell when you can't see his curls! And you gotta quit sticking your kid on active railroad tracks... ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/30/2006 02:00:08 AM
Very nice Tim! I think its a great picture even if the voters didn't think so. 2 favs also! Great job
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/29/2006 06:13:58 PM
unfortunately, I think this would have been better had he not been wearing that. the blues and reds take away from the otherwise gorgeous colors of the leaves.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/29/2006 03:08:37 PM
family album material 4
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/29/2006 07:33:40 AM
Gratuitous pehaps but very endearing... great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/27/2006 07:49:39 AM
Love it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/27/2006 06:13:34 AM
Well-titled ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/26/2006 05:58:44 AM
Interesting Career Path for this young man. Proverbs 22:6, "TRAIN up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." "Woooooo-A-Wooooo, Mom!"
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/25/2006 06:16:59 PM
Cute idea. Works well with the theme. Nice composition. Not much I would change, I would just be nickpicking (saturation levels...). 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/25/2006 05:17:15 AM
I like kids and the Thomas The Train thing is cute, but you really have yourself a GREAT composition here without him. Without, I would probably have rated this a 9+, but he is obstructing my view abit so 7.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/24/2006 03:36:21 PM
I really liked this shot. My kid isn't into trains, but what a great costume. I think if you had changed the perspective point so that he was farther away and centered in the track, we would have imagined Thomas puffing down the rails. I may have bumped it up a point or two but you got a good score none the less. Good job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/24/2006 01:52:28 PM
Clever title - very cute shot. Nice colors, though some of the branches against the sky look a bit over-sharpened.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/23/2006 05:33:06 PM
this is so cute... i love it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/23/2006 04:49:19 PM
Having a Thomas enthusiast in my house, this made me smile. I wish the sun were out to pop the foliage and give a blue sky to complement his costume. A cutie!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/23/2006 09:17:55 AM
Slow that train down!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/23/2006 04:21:37 AM
Ahhhhhh what a cutie! 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/23/2006 02:55:06 AM
Thomas! may have been better is he was on the actual track, but that's minor 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2006 10:29:46 PM
Awww. So cute. I really love the concept of a train "costume" on the tracks!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2006 09:12:18 PM
awwww, how cute. poor child :P
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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