The Self Critic Shutterbug

Av: F/5.6; Tv: 0.017s(1/60); f: 44mm (35mm-equiv:72 mm); ISO: 1600

I clicked this photo during a train journey when I was experimenting few shots with an interesting looking old lady. It was a little before sunset and with the train casting weird shadows and lightings, it wasn’t too simple to get a good shot on a moving train.
This is the shot of a beggar’s daughter who came upto the lady. She picked her up and was playing with her. But there was a tinge of sadness on the little girl’s face, even with a 10 Rupee note in her hand, saying this is not what she wants to be doing now. I’m glad my capture picked up the expression of the moment. I clicked this photo in Black and White mode itself. I like the sharpness of the image, however, the photo is over exposed in a few areas. I tried to correct that with photoshop using the burn tool. The vignetting has improved the emphasis on the subjects.
I took this photo at an angle to experiment with different compositions. However, I have to say this angle looked better while clicking than in the PC.
I worked quite a bit to get a decent sort of frame for the image. Framing a photo takes the photo to a new level; in terms of its appeal and the way it comes out.
Improvements I would’ve liked in this image include the composition – full coverage of the girl’s palm would’ve brought the note into the picture & conveyed a little more meaning to the photo.
Better exposure without over exposure would also have been better.

Tags: beggar, Black and white, Girl, lady, poor, train

Av: F/5.6; Tv: 0.040s (1/25); f: 55mm (35mm-equiv:89 mm); ISO: 100

This is a photo I took on my visit to an old-age home. I just loved the way it came out as soon as I took it.

Highlights of the photo would be the Soft Focus with 1 person in full focus and others in varying degrees of lens blur. The expression on the face of the old man is a good catch. With the subject looking directly into the camera, it helps to relate well with viewer of the photo conveying a lot of emotions.
The black and white mode of the photo adds more to the emotions and brings in a hint of classicism. The angle of the photo is also a little different than the usual ones we see. It has got a good upward inclination.

I did not have to resort to much post processin. However, I added the Vignette effect using Photoshop. The Vignette effect is a sort of Lens Distortion which adds the Blackish touch to the edges of the photo. I love that effect as I find that it adds a lot more emphasis to the centre of the image.
I also added a thin border to just try out the framing effect.

Tags: B & W, Black and white, Old-age home, People