Comments and suggestions on an image please

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/12/2008 04:40:31 PM · #1

I'm hoping some of you will be kind enough to give me some CC on the image below, I have been playing around with different lighting techniques today and fancied trying out this shot, in your opinion did I pull it off? Was the processing done correctly?

rlewis

Canon EOS-40D

09/12/2008 04:54:47 PM · #2

it is a little dark for my tastes and it also strikes me that the focus is a little soft.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/12/2008 05:39:06 PM · #3

Thanks to those that have commented, I have done another edit taking into account those comments and here is the result, is this one better / worse?

Thanks again for looking.

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

09/12/2008 05:55:19 PM · #4

The thing is, it isnt really a good image to begin with. I know that sounds harsh but we can see its a doll, so any emotion that you try to provoke with it looking like a real baby are lost on the viewer. Now if it had been a real baby (and a bit more in focus) then it would of touched people on a deeper level.

sorry.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

09/12/2008 06:12:06 PM · #5

Originally posted by Simms:

No don't worry

Simms it's the sort of comment I guess I was looking for, I know it's pretty obvious it's a doll but come on gimme a break I've got 2 kids already I aint having another just for some attempts at different lighting LOL I'm already seriously lacking in sleep another kid would send me to the madhouse ;)

The focus thing is starting to worry me a little though, I had the room lights on and the model lights on full and used the 70-200 f2.8 to obtain focus then switched to manual focus and turned the lights off (using a flash lighting head wired to the trigger), I wonder if my camera / lens needs calibrating (both are fairly new - the lens less than a month old and camera less than 6 months old) because this has come up several times now. The camera is on a tripod (IS switched off) and the timer set so camera shake is not the cause... Any ideas?

ETA: Grammer

Message edited by author 2008-09-12 18:16:05.

kawesttex

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

09/12/2008 06:17:35 PM · #6

Originally posted by Mark-A:

Originally posted by Simms:
The thing is, it isnt really a good image to begin with. I know that sounds harsh but we can see its a doll, so any emotion that you try to provoke with it looking like a real baby are lost on the viewer. Now if it had been a real baby (and a bit more in focus) then it would of touched people on a deeper level.

sorry.

No don't worry Simms it's the sort of comment I guess I was looking for, I know it's pretty obvious it's a doll but come on gimme a break I've got 2 kids already I aint having another just for some attempts at different lighting LOL I'm already seriously lacking in sleep another kid would send me to the madhouse ;)

The focus thing is starting to worry me a little though, I had the room lights on and the model lights on full and used the 70-200 f2.8 to obtain focus then switched to manual focus and turned the lights off (using a flash lighting head wired to the trigger), I wonder if my camera / lens needs calibrating (both are fairly new - the lens less than a month old and camera less than 6 months old) because this has come up several times now. The camera is on a tripod (IS switched off) and the timer set so camera shake is not the cause... Any ideas?

ETA: Grammer

This is the perfect time for you to use the live view of the 40D. Try it, it works great in situations like this.

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/12/2008 06:22:39 PM · #7

Originally posted by Mark-A:

Hi Mark, two kids here as well - I feel your pain :)

I guess you are referring to the 70-200 f2.8L IS lens of yours. great lens! However what focal length are you shooting at? if you are zoomed in tight at 2.8 and the object is on the edge of the focussing limit then you find that only a miniscule plane of focus will be available to you.

How are other shots with that lens? even at 2.8 in average light you should get shots that are tack sharp. I am betting that you are shooting in tight at 2.8 and thats causing the problem. Coupled with your 1.6x cropped sensor I reckon its nothing to worry about. (as long as `normal` stuff comes out well).. Bear in mind autofocus isnt totally infallible!

09/12/2008 06:35:37 PM · #8

Originally posted by Simms:

I guess you are referring to the 70-200 f2.8L IS lens of yours. great lens! However what focal length are you shooting at? if you are zoomed in tight at 2.8 and the object is on the edge of the focussing limit then you find that only a miniscule plane of focus will be available to you.

Yes mate that's the lens :) It's awesome but HEAVY! ;) I was shooting at f8.0 in manual mode for .5 (trying to pick up a little ambient light from the hall light... I had a similar problem on the Chucky image with regards focus and that was also shot in low light but with the 28-80 f2.8 L on auto focus, the reason I do not use the manual focus ring to obtain focus is I'm short sighted and hate wearing my contact lenses when indoors and the dioptric doesn't adjust enough to give me sharp images through the view finder.

I have wondered before about focus actually several times especially when using a tripod images just don't seem to be tack sharp.

ETA: Actually any suggestions for something to take a shot of that would give a good indication of focus? I've wracked my brains for something with good contrast and lots of detail lol can't think of a thing....

Message edited by author 2008-09-12 19:00:09.