Mentoring? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

06/27/2002 08:55:11 PM · #1

Anyone interested in mentoring a newbie?
aelith

timj351

Sony DSC-F707

06/27/2002 08:58:39 PM · #2

I'm always interested in helping out if I can.

Tim

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

06/27/2002 09:08:49 PM · #3

Remember this whole site is about helping each other out. There's also a lot of varying areas of skills. Maybe you should post a list of the things you feel most curious about right now -- I bet you'll get a long list of suggestions and links to other resources.

Also cruise through some of the past forums (lots of hints hidden in there) and the tutorial features.

My background is in graphics, so I know a lot about sizing and saving files, but I'm pretty new at the photographic side, especially lighting and exposure control. But that won't stop me from offering advice...

--Paul

06/27/2002 10:20:36 PM · #4

I'm not much of a mentor.. but i may be able to answer an easy question :)

06/27/2002 10:23:53 PM · #5

Mostly what I think I need right now is an experienced pair of eyes which can help me see what's right and what's wrong with my shots before I post. Not here on this forum but through regular email. I think my art background and recent course in image editing with PSP7 will serve as a base for a better than average learning curve.

My web site is linked on my profile and I've started a collection at pbase.com.

Yes, GeneralE, I intend to take full advantage of this forum but I wondered if any one has the time and interest for a little one on one communication by e-mail or yahoo messenger.

aelith

06/27/2002 10:43:22 PM · #6

Originally posted by jmsetzler:
I'm not much of a mentor.. but i may be able to answer an easy question :)

Jim, you said you were not happy with 'By the Light'. I put a tea candle lantern on the floor next to a big piece of cardboard, turned out the light and then crawled around shooting it from severl angles. My Kodak DX3700 was set to Macro and I had my finger over the flash. I chose the one with the best overall composition of lights and darks from an abstract point of view and then worked it over in PSP. Basically, I pushed the contrast and the color saturation to make the most of the light and dark patterns. Adjusting for non glare made the tree shape of the shaddow on the cardboard fade out and the subject became the lantern instead of the shadow. Really don't know what to do about the graininess as I assume this is the consequence of a low end camera in a low light setting.

If I could have shown it to you or someone more experienced before I posted ---

Again this time around I did the best I could with what I had but my score is even worse. I didn't want to go nocking on your door,or any other, out of the blue thus the general post.

06/27/2002 10:56:13 PM · #7

It wasn't the quality of the image that I wasn't happy with. When it comes to grain, I don't usually comment on it unless I think it adds to the photo because I know that lower end cameras introduce grain.

In this particular image, I think it was just the subject that did not appeal to me. I did like the red tint in this image... I think that a different perspective on the photo would have peaked my interest a little more... I suppose that shooting down on the top of this lantern is what I didn't like. If you had your finger over the flash, then that is exactly why you have the underexposure grain in this photo. If your camera wanted to force the flash, it set its exposure up based on the flash adding to it. If your camera allows you to turn the flash off, you would have been able to get a cleaner exposure on this photo. I scored this shot with a 5.

I like the concept and I estimated a lower end camera so I didn't subtract for that.

Please don't take my negative critique on this photo personally. I just thought I would tell you what was on my mind about it since you asked :)

john

06/27/2002 11:01:32 PM · #8

Originally posted by timj351:
I'm always interested in helping out if I can.

Tim

Thank you Tim. Do you know what to do about a grainy picture from a low end camera in a low light situation? aelith

06/27/2002 11:06:38 PM · #9

No I didn't take it personally but then I did't know the consequences of turning the flash off as apposed to covering it up. I'll try again. THANKS!
aelith

06/27/2002 11:09:44 PM · #10

Originally posted by aelith:
No I didn't take it personally but then I did't know the consequences of turning the flash off as apposed to covering it up. I'll try again. THANKS!
aelith

If you turn the flash off, you should consider using a tripod to steady your camera for the shot. Turning the flash off will lengthen the shutter speed, so any camera shake will be very pronounced in the photo...

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

06/27/2002 11:14:24 PM · #11

Ok. thanks. A.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

06/27/2002 11:27:58 PM · #12

Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Originally posted by aelith:
[i]No I didn''t take it personally but then I did''t know the consequences of turning the flash off as apposed to covering it up. I''ll try again. THANKS!
aelith

If you turn the flash off, you should consider using a tripod to steady your camera for the shot. Turning the flash off will lengthen the shutter speed, so any camera shake will be very pronounced in the photo...
[/i]

Ritz Camera had a little (6-8" high) tripod with gooseneck legs, so it can be wrapped around irregular objects. I think it cost about $6.00. Also, if your camera has a self-timer, set your shot up on the tripod and use that to avoid camera shake.

* This message has been edited by the author on 6/27/2002 11:35:10 PM.

Corey

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

06/27/2002 11:28:42 PM · #13

I think this would be a really good leaning experence. I have never worked with anyone that I haven't leaned things from. If anyone would like to work with me I would be an honor.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

06/27/2002 11:33:08 PM · #14

Originally posted by Corey:
I think this would be a really good leaning experence. I have never worked with anyone that I haven't leaned things from. If anyone would like to work with me I would be an honor.

Mr. Two Ribbons, u should be teachin this class :)

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

06/27/2002 11:34:26 PM · #15

Originally posted by aelith:
Mostly what I think I need right now is an experienced pair of eyes which can help me see what's right and what's wrong with my shots before I post. Not here on this forum but through regular email.

I wrote a long answer to this when my browser went wacko and lost it. Send me an email (address on profile page) with info/links to your images and I'll take a look...for what it's worth, I have enough experience with "submitter's remorse" that I'm usually checking out mine with someone else before submitting too. I think maybe it's only after seeing a photo posted on the site that I see it as others might...

Corey

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

06/27/2002 11:36:11 PM · #16

Luck goes a long ways, I always love the chance to get to work with other people, that is where you always lean the most. And this comment coming from someone who has a higher average score than me. :)

* This message has been edited by the author on 6/27/2002 11:38:48 PM.

lisae

Olympus C-720UZ

06/28/2002 12:51:40 AM · #17

aelith, your photo is one of those images that commenters mostly seemed to like, but the majority of voters rated low. This is because you captured some nice things creatively, but people who just come here to vote without much of an idea about "art" just see a grainy photo without a big, obvious subject and give it a low number. I thought it was a beautiful photo and gave it 9.