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 07/05/2006 09:37:55 PM · #1
Is this a good photo or no?
07/05/2006 09:40:20 PM · #2
Its a nice snapshot of someone on the beach and her dog.

The whites are white without being blown out and the colors are good and appear true to what they are in real life

Message edited by author 2006-07-05 21:41:16.
 07/05/2006 09:41:12 PM · #3
Nice colors, looks more like a snapshot, but not bad. Could be more interesting from a different angle, the straight-on in the center is kind of frowned upon by photography artists.
 07/05/2006 09:42:58 PM · #4
I like the editing but the image is a bit too busy for me. I'd probably go ahead and clone out that background so that it's only a bunch of bushes back there and afterwards probably a little burning in the shadow areas.

Message edited by author 2006-07-05 21:43:26.
 07/05/2006 09:44:50 PM · #5
Can you suggest ways to take photos of people and not center them, but also not make it look like you cut off their arm or shoulder? I suck when it comes to composition.
 07/05/2006 09:45:55 PM · #6
I left you a comment.
 07/05/2006 09:50:10 PM · #7
Thank you Judi!!! I will let you know when I get someone that I can photograph again. I will def. practice what you listed for me.
 07/05/2006 09:57:59 PM · #8
Originally posted by Karalew:
Can you suggest ways to take photos of people and not center them, but also not make it look like you cut off their arm or shoulder? I suck when it comes to composition.


zoom out.
 07/05/2006 10:05:01 PM · #9
Originally posted by Karalew:
Can you suggest ways to take photos of people and not center them, but also not make it look like you cut off their arm or shoulder? I suck when it comes to composition.

One way to do this would be to zoom out. I would also try to compose it in such a way that the background distractions are minimal. You could have also utilized a shallower DOF.

Before you click the shutter, think about what you're trying to get across to the viewer (mood, themes, etc) and then compose accordingly. Whichever composition you choose should be carefully planned and crafted for your purpose. Zooming out will emphasize her surroundings more and evoke different feelings than a tighter close-up. You have to ask yourself - what am I going for with this photo? If you're simply trying to capture the woman's character, zooming in might suit your purpose better. If you want less focus on the woman (and more focus on her relationship with the environment) a wider view might suit your purpose.

Message edited by author 2006-07-05 22:06:41.
 07/05/2006 10:12:37 PM · #10
Originally posted by Karalew:
Can you suggest ways to take photos of people and not center them, but also not make it look like you cut off their arm or shoulder? I suck when it comes to composition.


Cutting off arms and such is OK...be careful WHERE you choose to cut them off, though. Avoid composing or cropping at joints (elbows, knees, wrists, etc). When you are looking through your viewfinder, put your subject to the left or right of center instead of smack in the middle, and use your DOF to allow the background to sort of fall off or blend in as needed. Experiment with the same subject over and over again, shooting in both landscape and portrait mode, with different compositions and see what you like best and what seems most visually appealing. :)
 07/05/2006 10:14:26 PM · #11


Just had a quick crop at it... When they say 'tight' they mean something similar to this...

Note that in the top left corner, there is encroaching detail... that's a bad thing, and could be stated as being a major definitive factor in the picture being 'busy'.

There are simply no clear areas where your subject is just your subject.

Another tip, I notice that with the angle of her torso, her looking straight on has caused her to look 'down'... This has an effect on her under-chin area, scrunching it up and making her look quite a bit worse. Some girls can get away with this. Most cannot.
 07/05/2006 10:14:28 PM · #12
does your camera have a "rule of thirds" display that puts a grid on your screen? that really helped me compose shots a little better. kind of like your own personal little cheat sheet. :)
 07/05/2006 10:23:23 PM · #13
Be careful of Rule of thirds cheats on screen. They can get in the way of your personal taste... Also, things can get a bit different if you are shooting for a different format than the 3:2 ratio in your camera...

I've been having some trouble getting used to the 3:2 since using almost exclusively 4:3 P&S cameras...

Now I'm starting to think how I can use it... I sometimes shoot more centered so I can crop to 4:3 later and take advantage of a better part of my lens... It makes more sense when you are using a crummier lens :).

Justin, in bright sunlight, it can be quite difficult to manage DOF... A lot of times, the camera just can't shoot that fast, so has to stop down... If I'm outdoors in bright sunlight using my 50mm f/1.8 at 1.8, I'm shooting 1/4000 on a lot of shots... And I try not to shoot in direct sunlight either... f/8, f/11 and f/16 are common choices for outdoors... get a bit of distance and bokeh becomes rather scarce.

Using a reflector to block the harsh light can help, as can using a reflector to bounce back up... On a sandy beach, there's often a fair bit of light coming up, so you just have to find a way to block the top light...

One thing that can help a bit is if you grabbed a couple of ND filters... Shooting in bright conditions with an ND4 or something will do wonders for your DOF.
 07/05/2006 10:23:29 PM · #14
Just a quick edit:


One other (unrelated to this edit) thing that helps me compose a little better is to use a shorter lens and actually move in closer to my subject instead of zooming. That way I'm in control of where I stand (or sit or lie down or whatever need be) instead of the camera being in control. I find that if I am the one having to move to compose the shot, I'm more likely to move around the distractions and not leave them in the field of view.
 07/05/2006 10:27:51 PM · #15
Yes at this time I only have one lens, and I hate that I have to be so far away to take photos. 70-300MM

Thank you guys for all the tips!!! Can you suggest what lens would be better for portrait shots?

Message edited by author 2006-07-05 22:28:21.
 07/05/2006 10:31:20 PM · #16
Originally posted by eschelar:
Justin, in bright sunlight, it can be quite difficult to manage DOF... A lot of times, the camera just can't shoot that fast, so has to stop down...

You're right, I forgot to take that into consideration. Thanks.
 07/05/2006 10:34:15 PM · #17
Originally posted by Karalew:
Can you suggest what lens would be better for portrait shots?

A good general, all-purpose portrait lens in the 50mm f/1.8. Only around $80 or so, if I remember right.
 07/06/2006 07:39:18 AM · #18
it's a snapshot. It looks like no planning was done for this photo, and the worst part is that you can tell. You want people to comfort you so you don't have to admit what you already know. If you're really confident in your work, you won't need assurance of others. I suggest you take a class that focuses on composition. Other than that, this is not a 'bad' photo, it's just not a good one.
 07/06/2006 07:54:34 AM · #19


Cropping off arms legs...the top of a head is perfectly fine if they don't need to be there and if the overall image and subject maintain balance.

Try giving only as much information that is needed within frame and keep in mind that with this type of image the subjects should probably dominate.

I also added contrast and lowered the reds and yellows selectively, made a few swipes with the burn brush to make some parts stand out.

edtied: I just noticed that Laurie gave you a similar crop that might be better. Either way it goes that general crop range, let's people know exactly what's going on...no more, no less. Girl, doggie, happy...poolside.

Message edited by author 2006-07-06 16:04:43.
 07/06/2006 08:06:50 AM · #20
Originally posted by justin_hewlett:
Originally posted by Karalew:
Can you suggest what lens would be better for portrait shots?

A good general, all-purpose portrait lens in the 50mm f/1.8. Only around $80 or so, if I remember right.


For the D50, the lens would be the 50mm f/1.8 Nikkor.. It's a bit more expensive, I think between $130 and $150 USD if I recall correctly...

Probably worth the extra money... I'm not really happy with my cheap Canon 50, and will probably get the f/1.4 in a month or so.

Either way, the 50mm is a great length for portraits...

On the other hand, there is also the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 which promises to be both an extremely excellent lens for range as well as optical quality.

It will give a very decent portrait at 50mm, probably a bit better if you stop down to f/4 or so, but also gives a very decent wide angle...

Highly recommended by photozone.de and I'm pretty sure it's already available in the Nikon mount... It's a bit more expensive, at around 340 or something, but likely worth every penny...

One user here reported that he got a bad copy and had to send it back... It's still pretty new though... It pays to be patient with manufacturers as they will likely make good in the end even if you do get a bad one in the mix...

Message edited by author 2006-07-06 08:11:46.
 07/06/2006 09:11:42 AM · #21
Originally posted by Blue Moon:
it's a snapshot. It looks like no planning was done for this photo, and the worst part is that you can tell. You want people to comfort you so you don't have to admit what you already know. If you're really confident in your work, you won't need assurance of others. I suggest you take a class that focuses on composition. Other than that, this is not a 'bad' photo, it's just not a good one.


Whoa, there. That's a little harsh.

The OP asked for honesty and posed a simple question. She never asked for "comfort". I suggest you take a class that focuses on tact.

Gosh.
 07/06/2006 10:58:54 AM · #22
Nasti recommendeds using an 85mm prime to give a comfortable distance between you and your model. I think that makes perfect sense and noticed that my Sigma 105mm Macro lens fit into that theory perfectly.

I stand alone and go contrary to the popular belief that the 50mm is a great lens to use. From my experience it never/rarely delivers what I need, in terms of distance or getting what I want in frame...comfortably. It is sharp and inexpensive but I have problems using it. Again...very few people here probably agree with me there but I thought I'd serve it up anyway...
07/06/2006 11:08:00 AM · #23
More girl, less dog :-)
 07/06/2006 11:08:19 AM · #24
I love the range of the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 and find it useful for portraits and many other things. It's a great all-purpose lens that is sharp, well-built, and a good value for the money.
 07/06/2006 01:26:14 PM · #25
Thanks for the help guys. Just so you know I was not looking for comfort. I would not look for comfort online anyway! ;-) LOL

Thanks Nards! :-)

Message edited by author 2006-07-06 13:27:11.
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