Newbie looking for C&C

threecubed · November 6, 2011

Hello! I'm new to dgrin and finally got up the nerve to post some pictures. I upgraded from a D70 to a D90 a year ago and recently I've been learning more and trying to improve my skills. Most of my photos are of my 3 year-old daughter and her friends. I'd love some feedback on these photos to help see what I'm doing well and what I need to work on.

Thanks!

1 - My first attempt at a B&W conversion
<a href="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Vacation/Camping-Amicalola-Falls-Sept/19100130_Nbcq8S#1486517127_gDP5hHS-A-LB" title="My first real attempt at B&W and I'm loving it!"><img src="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Vacation/Camping-Amicalola-Falls-Sept/i-gDP5hHS/1/L/DSC8691-L.jpg" title="My first real attempt at B&W and I'm loving it!" alt="My first real attempt at B&W and I'm loving it!"></a>

2
<a href="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Andrea/Favorites/Q4-2011/19474989_L6hZhF#1549153004_cCMDSH5-A-LB" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Andrea/October-2011/i-cCMDSH5/0/M/DSC1977-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

3
<a href="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Andrea/Favorites/Q4-2011/19474989_L6hZhF#1568999811_wBxF2V6-A-LB" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Andrea/October-2011/i-wBxF2V6/0/L/DSC2072-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

4
<a href="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Andrea/Favorites/Q4-2011/19474989_L6hZhF#1569005891_GjM6zx3-A-LB" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Andrea/October-2011/i-GjM6zx3/0/L/DSC2157-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

5
<a href="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Andrea/Favorites/Q4-2011/19474989_L6hZhF#1561383036_gsvWGBv-A-LB" title="I am in love with her eyes."><img src="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Events/Halloween-2011/i-gsvWGBv/0/L/DSC2560-L.jpg" title="I am in love with her eyes." alt="I am in love with her eyes."></a>

6
<a href="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Andrea/Favorites/Q4-2011/19474989_L6hZhF#1569031447_q9tX39R-A-LB" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Events/Halloween-2011/i-q9tX39R/0/M/DSC2697-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

7
<a href="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Sports/Fall-2011-U4-Micro-Soccer/19219549_GmFjTG#1568803898_vR9nRpk-A-LB" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Sports/Fall-2011-U4-Micro-Soccer/i-vR9nRpk/0/M/DSC2738-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

8
<a href="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Andrea/October-2011/19362563_x2Hr4Z#1518795828_k5V5mRL-A-LB" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Andrea/October-2011/i-k5V5mRL/0/M/DSC0605-2-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

9
<a href="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Children/Katie-Emma/12763670_JG7Cbs#1554746499_2QgPfFc-A-LB" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://krohnert.smugmug.com/Andrea/October-2011/i-2QgPfFc/0/M/DSC2363-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

anonymouscuban · November 6, 2011

1. Too much going on in the shot, even in B&W. She gets lost in the chaos. Looks like a great location and perfect for a very shallow DOF to isolate her in the shot.

2. Good shot but she's too centered and there is nothing interesting about the BG and those holes are a bit distracting. I'd crop this shot pretty tight on her face and shoulders.

3. Flare shots are tough. This is not a bad one but also not that great. It's a good keepsake photo but nothing special. I'd crop some off the top since it's not adding anything. That should bring her eyes up to the top third of the comp. Should improve it a bit. I don't like the bright flare on her hair.

4. Good one except I think it's a bit under exposed, at least for my liking. If it were my shot, I create a dup layer in PS and bump the exposure quite a bit on it. Then I'd add a layer mask and use the darker layer underneath to "burn" the BG down, making her pop.

5. Great shot but I don't get the crop. The fence and stuff up top does nothing for the photo. This should be a frame filler. Crop it tight and next time, keep this in mind when shooting these types of photos. Fill the frame!

6. Best shot of the bunch. I think it's great as is. Good job. Really cute photo.

7. OK snapshot.

8. Like this one but I would have moved to the right a bit to get rid of that bright bar to her right. This would put her on the left side of the frame and made the shot a bit more dynamic.

9. Another good shot that suffers from the crop/comp you chose. Too much on the top that doesn't add but detracts from the subject. You got an adorable little girl there. I don't see why you keep filling the frame with poles, holes, fences, etc. Fill it with that cute little face of hers.

Now I'm tired of typing all this stuff. Time for a couple cinnamon rolls, a cup of joe and a little boob tube.

threecubed · November 6, 2011

I really appreciate the feedback. Composition is one the things I know I need to work on. I think I used to do a lot better filling the frame until I recently got told by another photographer to try to follow the rule of thirds. I guess I'm struggling with how to balance the two rules. In trying to off-center the subject, I ended up getting too much of the background in. Hrm... I'll keep trying and see what I can do. Thanks again.

anonymouscuban · November 6, 2011

You can still use the rule of thirds and fill the frame. For example, in a real close up shot, place the eyes in the upper third of the frame. However, all these rules are guidelines to be followed but only when they improve the photo.

threecubed · November 6, 2011

I think I just got too focused recently on trying to follow the rule of thirds that I forgot the goal was showing off my daughter (and my friends' kids... pictures 7-9 aren't my child). I made some edits/crops to 2, 4, 5, 8, and 9 based on your feedback. Clicking on the images should go to the updated versions. Thanks again!

CCoop · November 6, 2011

I love the shots AND the specific suggestions above. Eminently helpful, enjoy the forum!!

ADMIT Photography · November 7, 2011

Another thing is to watch your backgrounds!

#1 I would crop down a bit as I agree your subject gets lost in the photo.

#3 personally I'd at a touch of contrast to the photo.

#7 The person in the chair behind the subject is distracting.

#9 The posts to the playground equipment (?) in the background are distracting.

#4 and 6 are the best out of the bunch in my opinion!

threecubed · November 7, 2011

This is great feedback. I really appreciate it. Some of the issues with background are from the fact that these aren't planned photo shoots - just impromptu pictures while I chase a 3 year old around the playground mostly. Even #6, she was just playing with her Halloween candy, sorting and measuring it, and I had the camera out from something else, so I suggested she lay down in the candy. Before I could even get on the ground myself, she laid down and said, "Like this?" and it was all I could do to snap the picture in time.

I want to actually go out for the sole purpose of taking pictures and try to do some real portraits, but I'm trying to learn everything I can before I do that. I just started learning about exposure and stopped shooting in Program mode a little over a month ago, and I'm loving the additional control I have. I used to be frustrated because so many pictures would turn out blurry from too slow of a shutter speed or they'd be over- or under-exposed because I didn't know how to control the camera's metering. I read Understanding Exposure and have mostly been shooting in manual and trying to really figure out the details of proper exposure. Now I need to learn more about composition.

zoomer · November 7, 2011

1 and 3 and 6 I love.
1 would be better with no tilt. 3 add just a bit of black point. 6 is money....love that shot, she is SOOOO cute.

The rest .....choose your background first...see the entire frame. A photo is a combination of elements of which the subject is only one. Don't sweat the rules, if it looks good to your eye shoot it.

Lots of potential, keep working it

.

For people just starting out...I strongly recommend shooting in A and use exposure compensation as necessary.
If you shoot in A and use matrix metering very little exposure correction is normally required. Set your blinkies to go off and ride them all the way to the barn

.
Do you want to spend your time fussing with your camera and exposures or do you want to focus on the actual photographs.
Learn to take good pictures the easy way first....then later if you want to learn Manual go for it.

threecubed · November 7, 2011

Thanks for all the feedback and great suggestions. I went out this afternoon as the sun was starting to set for our first real photo shoot, where we were out for no other reason than to take pictures. I checked backgounds carefully and thought more about the composition of each shot. I am so happy with the results!

10

11

12

anonymouscuban · November 7, 2011

HOLY SMOKES! This last set is waaaaaaay good. Everything about them is pure money. Awesome.

divamum · November 7, 2011

Agreed - the last three are super!

anonymouscuban · November 7, 2011

Seriously. The difference between these two sets of shots is night & day but since this forum is all about learning and improving, I will add just some two really minor nits. First though... more good stuff.

From a compositional perspective, you absolutely nailed these. Really wonderful job. Backgrounds are wonderful. They add color, pop and interest to the photo without distracting from your subject. They compliment her. Your use of DOF is boss. They could be a little smoother but that's probably a limitation of your lens and not your shooting. Her pose and expressions are simply awesome, especially number 11. I think that's a shot you will come to cherish. White balance and skin tone is good too as is the exposure.

OK... now the nits. The first one, and this is so trivial I don't even want to mention it, is that little pink thing at the bottom of #10. Not sure what it is but I keep looking at it. I'd clone that out but again, no biggie. The other thing I'd do, this is personal preference, is to sharpen the eyes a bit. I think that will really make these photos really pop and pretty much perfect.

Sorry I didn't add this stuff before but I was on my iPad. I have a love/hate relationship with that thing. I love the portability of it and the nice screen; I hate absolutely everything else about it, especially the stupid touch keyboard.

threecubed · November 7, 2011

anonymouscuban wrote: »

OK... now the nits. The first one, and this is so trivial I don't even want to mention it, is that little pink thing at the bottom of #10. Not sure what it is but I keep looking at it. I'd clone that out but again, no biggie. The other thing I'd do, this is personal preference, is to sharpen the eyes a bit. I think that will really make these photos really pop and pretty much perfect.

Thank you again for all your helpful feedback. As I mentioned in one of my previous comments, most of the other pictures were more impromptu shoots, where I was chasing her around the playground, as opposed to actually picking a location and positioning her to setup a good shot. That definitely made things a lot easier for me this time around.

As far as the nits, the pink thing in #10 is bothering me too. I already did some burning in Lightroom to take it down a notch, but I guess it's not enough. It's part of the design on the front of her shirt. I wanted her to wear a solid shirt, but even at 3, she was very particular about what she wear and I was trying to keep her happy and excited about the shoot, so I didn't press it. I didn't want to mention it to see if anyone else was distracted by it like I am. I'll see if my PS skills are good enough to clone it out. For the eyes, I'll play with it and see what I think. Half the time when I mess with her eyes, they start looking too unnatural, so I generally try to keep any eye adjustments to a minimum.

anonymouscuban · November 7, 2011

What version of LR are you using? If LR3, then just use the preset called Sharpening - Wide Edges. That works well for sharpening faces. The trick I find to most post work is to dial it in where you like it, then nudge it back just a bit. If it's something new you're trying, then nudge it back even more.

Kids are tough to shoot and you've done a wonderful job with all the shots but especially with these last few. Pat yourself on the back. They're a ton better than a lot of stuff I see by people that get paid to shoot kids.

BrettDeutsch · November 8, 2011

Last 3 are big improvement. Nice work.

ADMIT Photography · November 8, 2011

Agreed the last set is wonderful! Good job!

Newbie looking for C&C

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