any advice on this photo - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/06/2007 10:21:43 PM · #1

a friend asked me to do some family photos today, this is one of them i just can't get it quite right...any advice.

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

05/06/2007 10:29:44 PM · #2

OK, just a few observations before I chip off to bed.

1. Backdrop is horrible. It need to be uniformly hung so the `drapes` dont dtand out so much. Maybe placing it further back from the subject would help as well. The colour doesnt compliment anything the kids are wearing.

2. Try to bounce (if using external flash) or even filter the flash (if using the onboard flash) to cut out the harsh shadows & harsh lighting on their faces.

The whole thing has a very snapshot feel to it.. What was you expecting to achieve? once we know then maybe we can offer some advice on how to improve with the equipment you have. My biggest tip for you at this point is

If you dont have an external flash that cannot be bounced, or studio lighting, then try to move the shot outside and use available natural light. not sunlight, an overcast day would be great, with the sun to your 8 o'clock. Spend a bit of time looking for the best place to take it. Maybe in a park or something. Shoot with a long focal length to give the image a bit of compression.

Thats it for the moment.. tired, going to bed.

bergiekat

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

05/06/2007 10:36:12 PM · #3

Goods points made thus far. Also a suggestion, move the camera a bit higher as you are getting a "nostral shot" on the oldest child in back. You almost look lower than the little guy in front. :)

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/06/2007 10:37:52 PM · #4

Back again.

OK, here is an example of a shot I took yesterday, it was a last minute `booking` (actually a freebie/pro bono job) that I got Saturday morning and I had very little to work with in respect of scenery. This shot for example was shot in a pub carpark.

I shot with no flash, 200mm focal length and F4.0 aperture. Lighting was overcast/hazy, pretty much the conditions I mention in the post below. You see how using a long focal length seperates the subjects from the bush in the background and also `compresses` the image (hard to explain that part, but compression is the word that seems to fit).

This kind of shot should be do-able with your camera.

I converted to B&W as it was a 60s/70s themed wedding. All Mods, Rockers, Vespas & Lambrettas (he is sitting on his prized Vespa scooter) and the BW seemed to fit the theme well.

aliqui

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

05/06/2007 10:40:25 PM · #5

The lighting is pretty harsh. My initial instinct was to add light coming from the top so I played a little. I used the filter under Render called Lighting Effects. I put one light coming from the top right and it didn't do what I was hoping so I kept playing. I put another to the top left and got this basically. I touched up with a little dodging and burning.

Then out of curiosity I tried a black and white version.

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/06/2007 10:43:44 PM · #6

Originally posted by aliqui:

nice rescue job

Aliqui, but I think for a memorable family portrait the actual photo needs to be nailed first of all.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

05/06/2007 10:47:34 PM · #7

so basically i need to get some good lighting? is my camera adiquate for the job?

aliqui

Nikon D300s

05/06/2007 10:49:20 PM · #8

Originally posted by Simms:

Originally posted by aliqui:
The lighting is pretty harsh. My initial instinct was to add light coming from the top so I played a little. I used the filter under Render called Lighting Effects. I put one light coming from the top right and it didn't do what I was hoping so I kept playing. I put another to the top left and got this basically. I touched up with a little dodging and burning.

nice rescue job Aliqui, but I think for a memorable family portrait the actual photo needs to be nailed first of all.

What if she can't ever get the kids to hold still again and this is all she's ever able to capture?! I agree that if it's possible to try and reshoot that is the best option, but I was just playin.

=)

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

05/06/2007 11:03:25 PM · #9

so just reshoot

Monique64

Canon EOS-30D

05/06/2007 11:10:09 PM · #10

I think crop it, bump the levels a bit and I put a soft border around it.