opening myself up to critique...first 20d shots
Discussion
Guys, would value your input to the following. The only one I really like is the one of my son although I've still got to learn Elements well enough to get the right contrast etc. The drill/grinder shot was just about the first photo I took with the camera...drill in one hand, camera in the other - good test of the IS 
Haven't decided about whether I prefer the colour or B&W last two.
>> Edited by cirks on Tuesday 29th November 22:45
Haven't decided about whether I prefer the colour or B&W last two. >> Edited by cirks on Tuesday 29th November 22:45
Andy M said:
The one of your son is a cracker
Thanks!
Andy M said:
The others don't really do it for me as they don't appear to be very sharp. Is this due to compression, or are they like that out of the camera?
I agree, they're not great shots...they're just about all I've had a chance to take though
Andy M said:
Which lens are you using?
Andy.
The frost on the leaves was taken at 300mm from a bedroom window and is quite heavily cropped, the others are all taken with the 17-85mm but have had a minor amount of my very poor Elements processing on them...The images from the camera are probably slightly better.
Son: Almost brilliant. Excellent shot and excellently treated. Why does it work? The expression on the child's face, the flow of material texture around his body, the toy on the right being out of focus and extending forward towards the eye gives a real sense of depth. Only teensy flaw: you got the focus on the jumper not the eyes. Otherwise immaculate IMHO.
Drill: Interesting practice for shutter speed but not a photo.
Leaf 1: Very nice, captures the frost very well. Nice light.
Leaves: Also good but again the focus point is wrong for me - I want to see the middle leaf sharp, because that's where the eye goes. However that's only me.
Leaves 2: Think I prefer the b/w version; it draws attention to the frost somehow.
Considering this is your first go with a DSLR, I can't imagine what you'll bring us in the next year
>> Edited by simpo two on Wednesday 30th November 09:56
Drill: Interesting practice for shutter speed but not a photo.
Leaf 1: Very nice, captures the frost very well. Nice light.
Leaves: Also good but again the focus point is wrong for me - I want to see the middle leaf sharp, because that's where the eye goes. However that's only me.
Leaves 2: Think I prefer the b/w version; it draws attention to the frost somehow.
Considering this is your first go with a DSLR, I can't imagine what you'll bring us in the next year
>> Edited by simpo two on Wednesday 30th November 09:56
John, many thanks for very nice comments
That's the problem with auto-focus and a moving child...no time to manually focus on the right thing
it was interesting practice for grinding out a broken masonary nail whilst holding a camera in the other hand just in case I ever want to do it again
There's 'nowt like setting myself up for a fall is there
simpo two said:
Only teensy flaw: you got the focus on the jumper not the eyes.
That's the problem with auto-focus and a moving child...no time to manually focus on the right thing
simpo two said:
Drill: Interesting practice for shutter speed but not a photo.
it was interesting practice for grinding out a broken masonary nail whilst holding a camera in the other hand just in case I ever want to do it again
simpo two said:Can't fully blame the camera this time. Quick dash outside whilst croisants were in the oven and children going mad inside....My fault for not taking long enough to check focus and composition.
Also good but again the focus point is wrong for me
simpo two said:
Considering this is your first go with a DSLR, I can't imagine what you'll bring us in the next year
There's 'nowt like setting myself up for a fall is there
cirks said:
That's the problem with auto-focus and a moving child...no time to manually focus on the right thing
My way: always use the centre focus point. Place it on the area you want sharp. Half-depress shutter relase button to get focus lock. Then reframe as desired and finish pressing button. Takes about 1 second in all.
It seems a pity to waste the other 4 gazillion focus points that the makers love to add to our viewfinders, but by the time you've farted about finding the one that's on Junior's head, he'll have grown up.
cirks said:
There's 'nowt like setting myself up for a fall is there
Cracking shot of your son, echo the comments about the focus point.
The others seem to have got "soft" in the resize to 750, and haven't . This dosen't matter for the son shot but it rather hurts the other.
Try this tutorial for some tips and then have another go
www.photoshopsupport.com/tutorials/jennifer/bicubic.html
You'll find a squillion more tutorials on there as well - most are relevant to elements.
J
The others seem to have got "soft" in the resize to 750, and haven't . This dosen't matter for the son shot but it rather hurts the other.
Try this tutorial for some tips and then have another go
www.photoshopsupport.com/tutorials/jennifer/bicubic.html
You'll find a squillion more tutorials on there as well - most are relevant to elements.
J
joust said:
Try this tutorial for some tips and then have another go
www.photoshopsupport.com/tutorials/jennifer/bicubic.html
J
Thanks, will read through this evening. Just ordered a the Kilby PSElements 3 book from Amazon and the Adobe Classroom one so can start trying to learn how to use some of this software!
I like the patterns in no. 4, a bit of sharpening just on the centre leaf might help. Alternatively you could use it as a background to a family Christmas card (sounding a bit Blue Peter there, sorry).
With the picture of your son, the softness might also be added to by some subject movement as well as his hand has moved enormously.
With the picture of your son, the softness might also be added to by some subject movement as well as his hand has moved enormously.
following valid comments about the hand movement and slight incorrect focus, I looked at the other couple of shots I got at the same time as the first one I posted - I think this one might be slightly better? One thing I noticed, due to me having the camera in Full Auto mode, the shots were at 1/15th sec @ ISO400, neither of which will have helped with the 'crispness'!
Hi Cirks,
There's also more detail in the shadows, so maybe you did your b/w conversion differently?
I liked the hand movement anyway, but this b/w treatment is slightly better IMHO.
Don't become obsessed with ISO; I use ISO400 most of the time and unless you're being very fussy or need to hoof up shadows a lot, it's fine for most purposes.
BTW now that you're turning in such good results, it's time to leave Auto behind and take control
You can't hang on to rookiedom any more
There's also more detail in the shadows, so maybe you did your b/w conversion differently?
I liked the hand movement anyway, but this b/w treatment is slightly better IMHO.
Don't become obsessed with ISO; I use ISO400 most of the time and unless you're being very fussy or need to hoof up shadows a lot, it's fine for most purposes.
BTW now that you're turning in such good results, it's time to leave Auto behind and take control
You can't hang on to rookiedom any more simpo two said:
Hi Cirks,
There's also more detail in the shadows, so maybe you did your b/w conversion differently?
Yup - actually read a couple of articles about doing conversion properly in Elements rather than guessing
simpo two said:
BTW now that you're turning in such good results, it's time to leave Auto behind and take control
Already turned the dial a little bit...at least now I'll be shooting in Raw as well.
Andy M said:
If that was my kid, and was a picture taken by me with one of my first shots on a new camera, I'd have it printed and stuck on the wall.
A small home printed one is on my desk at work and a nice big one ready in my Photobox basket
. I'm just sorting through some other photos to be printed at the same time.Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff