Help with Digital Image Processing

[nwoods]

Great info NWoods but I have some follow-up questions:

1. As far as composition of the image, don't you want to leave some extra space surrounding you desired point of focus to allow for cropping later?

Sometimes this is true. I find myself doing this at times when shooting outdoors with a ultra wide angle. I know that I have a lot of extra frame that I can crop away and I'm shooting a small aperture with wide depth of field and everything in focus. But I usually try to get the photo I see in front of me when I observe and compose the scene before I bring the camera up to my eye. There is no one right way for all situations, but you can save time by composing the shot prior to clicking the shutter. The more you shoot, the more instantaneous this composition step becomes.

2. I realize that light can be used in many different ways to produce various effects. Where do you want the light to be for portrait type shots?

I have no idea. I don't shoot portraits. But in my limited experience, behind the subject can be dramatic, but will result in silhouette if you don't fill in with a flash. Side lighting is good usually, and can highlight the eyes if its not too angular. Top or bottom lighting has weird effects on eye shadows and has to be looked at keenly to make sure you are going to get what you want. There are TONS of books and info on lighting techniques, non of which I have read or become knowledgeable with. I shoot 99.9% of my stuff outdoors without flash. I have a good flash, but no clue how to use it. On this forum are MANY talented photographers, including Bruce Dorn, who has this great little tutorial video here, using Scott Brady as the subject:
http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/reso...aits/speedlite_enironmental_portraits_5.shtml

Regarding focusing on the object, I attempted to blur the background of the photo by using the lowest Av setting on my camera (2.0) but it wasn't low enough. That being the case, it would appear that there are ways to accomplish the same affect after the fact. Thats great news!!!

Thanks again for all of your input and help with this photo.

Oh you definitely got the shallow depth of field you are looking for, but the focal point is behind the baby. You just missed the target. Camera AF's like hard angles to latch onto and use for the target focal point. Your baby has no hard angles! So the AF might have hunted a bit on you. You can fake this, by finding an angle, (such as the ear), focusing on it, and then repositioning the camera, but its tricky, as the depth is a little different and can soften the focus. I'm not familiar with the S100 controls, but most AF cameras allow you to hold the shutter half-way down to hold your focal point and white balance.

I really like Hono's comment about your favorite photos having emotional context over photographic perfection. Brilliantly said.