newbie-1st photo-critical critism appreciated

[syuan]

Hello, I'm new here. Hear some good thing about this site and decided to join it. Here's my first photo post. Looking for some honest constructive criticism. Please feel free to comment. Thanks a lot

[barP]

very nice! i like the colors - clean and simple. i also like the dramatic lighting in this image.

wp.

[syuan]

Thanks, WP!

And would anyone beleive me if I said this picture came out of my camera as is without much pp? I think not =) What comes straight out of camera should look like this...

[trahanw]

Nice Dramatic appearance, all depends what your intent was with this photo. Personal opion, would like to see more detail on the left side of the image.

[trahanw]

Noticed your shooting with Nikon lenses, how do you like the 18-200VR...

[barP]

ignore him.

sometimes you are supposed to IMAGINE the details!



wp.

[syuan]

Wade,thank you for your feedback. I think I might try that-to bring out the eye a little bit more.... the post processed image darkens the left side a little. I want to focus the attention on the facial expression of the girl looking at the light. If I remember correctly, this shot was taken with a canon 5D with one stripbox on alienbees sb1600 on the right of the camera. Maybe a founce card was also used to reflect some light back to the girl's dress. I also have a nikon 18-200mm vr lens that I use on my Fuji S5. Its a great walk around lens. Not as sharp as the nikon 18-55mm f/2.8 lens I used to own. But for studio portrait shooting at f/8.0-11.0, you can't really tell the different in sharpness between the two lenses.

[trahanw]

Thanks Sam, I really like your picture and your style. Was trying to give an honest assesment from another prospective. I'm really still learning as well, why did you use a shutter speed of 1/125. I 'm really asking because I want to know. Spoke with several portrait photographers and they all shoot around 1/30 and say they seldom go above 1/60 in studio. Curious on this, and currently trying to master lighting and experiemention with shutter speeds. If you can give me some feedback on a photo I have posted. http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=66102 .

[syuan]

Wade, i was taught the shutter speed has to be at least inversely proportional to the camera's focal length. For example if you are shooting with a 50mm prime on a nikon, it gives a focal length of 75mm. You shutter speed has to be at least 1/75s to keep the photo relatively sharp hand-held. However, if a tripod is used, you can afford to lower the shutter speed some. I took my studio shot hand-held. Setting it at 1/125 to make sure that any shaking or motion from my hand will be minimized by a faster shutter speed. Usually studio shots are done at iso 100 to produce the lowest noise, clearest image. Then I set my shutter at 125, take a light meter to measure the f stop. adjust the light until the f stop reached around f/8.0, which is the "sweet point" where zoom lens reaches the sharpest focus. If I was shooting outside of a studio as in a wedding, I need to worry about properly exposing the ambient light which usually requires much slower shutter speed. In studio ambient light is not in the equation. All light source are from your strobes or flash which you have complete control. For non-studio shoot, I would set my iso-f stop-shutter speed combination that will give me the lowest shutter speed that is still capable of producing relatively 'clear' shot, i.e. 1/30 or 1/15 with VR. This will let in more ambient light to make the image warmer and pleasant to the eye. many landsacpe photographer shoot their outdoor pictures at f/8.0, iso 100, and this combination will force the shutter speed to slow quit a bit in order to get enough light into the lens for a proper exposure. so a tripod for landscape is always needed. I love the portrait you did with the mother and the kid. It really captured the feeling of the moment. Some post processing variations you can play with: vignetting the image to draw more attention to the kid and the mother's face. Have the mother wear darker color clothes to make the child stand out more. Introduce some shadow to increase contrast. fade out the mother's face in brightness and sharpness, bring in a spotlight on the kids face, etc. and have some fun.

[trahanw]

Wow, This all makes sense and very useful information. Thank you so much, in this post you've put so much in perspective. Been reading Understanding Exposure. What you've explained highlights several key points in the book and really helps understand the concept. Thanks. Hey...you're no Newbie you really know your stuff. Are you coming to the Captivating Light in Ft Worth. Read another post you were on earlier. Interesting reading.

[deep_creek]

Thanks Sam for the great explanation/info. I learned a great deal from your post.

[syuan]

Wade, I had others blessed me with their sharing of experience and knowledge. Glad I can do the same here. There's still a lot about photography that I don't know and would like to learn (for example, I'm somewhat illiterate in photoshop). And this is a great forum for that... I am going to the Houston Captivating Light seminar. They have some good stuff there. Looking forward to it.

Hey Michael, you're welcome. Glad you find it helpful.

[trahanw]

I'm no PS pro but can get around pretty good. If you ever need anything let me know. When you get a chance check PS action out, just recently purchased and amazed with the results. There is a fully functional demo version. It will watermark your photo until you license it; but it's really a neat program and time saver. Portraiture Action for PS. http://www.imagenomic.com/

[syuan]

Thanks for the offer, Wade. I might just take you up on that. Yes, another TPF member has introduced me to imagenomic software. it is pretty amazing! Thanks for sharing.

[ThiNguyen]

Sam,

I like the portrait. The expression is nice. Lighting is OK. I would guess you shoot with only one light source on the model left side. I am a student in this as well so take my advice suspiciously. Try to put another light with snoot behind her and light her shoulder. This would give separation between her and the dark background. I would also pose her slightly different. I don't like to see a part of the hand or feet. So show more of her left arm and hand.

Thi