| Author | Thread |
|
|
07/22/2008 04:39:08 PM · #1 |
Last month my wife and I went down to Alki Beach in Seattle to do a little photoshoot - mainly so I can practice using my EF 50mm f/1.8 lens. I'm looking for an overall general critique of the photoshoot. Not picture by picture.
All critiques and comments are welcome.
Note, these pictures were taken around 8p (about an hour before sunset) with no flash.
Photos: //www.dpatterson.net/ViewGallery.aspx?private=1&gallery=20080620%20-%20Tammy%20at%20Alki
Thanks in advance!
Message edited by author 2008-07-22 22:58:13.
|
|
|
|
07/22/2008 06:39:54 PM · #2 |
You want critiques of all the pictures? There are a lot of them there.
Overall I'd say that the ball cap seemed to fool the autofocus of the camera. The cap was more in focus than she was at times.
As shooting progressed, I'm assuming that the first photos are earlier, it looks like you went to a wider aperature so depth of field suffered in closeup shots.
By about page 6 focus is pretty soft on a couple of the images and it looks like a refresh on the white balance could have been helpful. At the bitter end, the sun or artificial lighting is casting some strong shadows across her face.
|
|
|
|
07/22/2008 06:58:00 PM · #3 |
Well, your wife certainly did a great job as the model. The camera seems to like her and she doesn't appear to be afraid of it at all. You captured some great looks. The focus looks a bit soft in some of the shots. Were you shooting a max aperture with available light? It might have been better to stop down a bit, even if you had to bounce some extra light in. All in all, I think you got a very nice set of photos.
|
|
|
|
07/22/2008 10:42:46 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by ambaker:
You want critiques of all the pictures? There are a lot of them there.
Overall I'd say that the ball cap seemed to fool the autofocus of the camera. The cap was more in focus than she was at times.
As shooting progressed, I'm assuming that the first photos are earlier, it looks like you went to a wider aperature so depth of field suffered in closeup shots.
By about page 6 focus is pretty soft on a couple of the images and it looks like a refresh on the white balance could have been helpful. At the bitter end, the sun or artificial lighting is casting some strong shadows across her face. |
Sorry I should have said. I meant more in a general sense, not picture by picture. I appreciate the feedback. What do you mean by "refresh on the white balance"?
Originally posted by Mick:
Well, your wife certainly did a great job as the model. The camera seems to like her and she doesn't appear to be afraid of it at all. You captured some great looks. The focus looks a bit soft in some of the shots. Were you shooting a max aperture with available light? It might have been better to stop down a bit, even if you had to bounce some extra light in. All in all, I think you got a very nice set of photos. |
Hehe I'll have to pass your compliments on to my wife - she'll get a kick out of it. It's funny because at first she was very nervous because we were right next to the sideway that everyone walks by. After 10 minutes though she really opened up and really enjoyed the photoshoot.
I think you are right. Next time I'm going to stop down to 2.8 or 3.5 instead of 1.8. We'll see how it goes...
|
|
|
|
07/22/2008 11:01:42 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by tammysman:
I think you are right. Next time I'm going to stop down to 2.8 or 3.5 instead of 1.8. We'll see how it goes... |
I have that lens, and I have noticed (I guess this would be true for all lenses, not just the 50) is that when you get down to large apertures the depth of field is so narrow that it's hard to get the focus correct. One thing that I have learned to do is to select just one auto focus point (say the middle one), then put that over where you want to focus. As long as no one moves after you do that, this should ensure the focus is where you want it.
BTW, let me be the first to say that your wife is hottttt!!!! |
|
|
|
07/22/2008 11:37:14 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by CaseyAllen:
Originally posted by tammysman:
I think you are right. Next time I'm going to stop down to 2.8 or 3.5 instead of 1.8. We'll see how it goes... |
I have that lens, and I have noticed (I guess this would be true for all lenses, not just the 50) is that when you get down to large apertures the depth of field is so narrow that it's hard to get the focus correct. One thing that I have learned to do is to select just one auto focus point (say the middle one), then put that over where you want to focus. As long as no one moves after you do that, this should ensure the focus is where you want it.
BTW, let me be the first to say that your wife is hottttt!!!! |
It seems to me that if one was to use the proposed method that they'd still have to set the aperature properly to get the desired amount of focus. If you are taking a portrait shot and have the focus point set at the person's nose and the aperature wide open at 1.8 the nose will be sharp and completely in focus but the face will become a bit softer towards the cheek bones and ears. However if you stop down to 3.5 or 4 more of the face would become as sharp as the nose right?
|
|
|
|
07/23/2008 01:26:01 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by tammysman:
It seems to me that if one was to use the proposed method that they'd still have to set the aperature properly to get the desired amount of focus. If you are taking a portrait shot and have the focus point set at the person's nose and the aperature wide open at 1.8 the nose will be sharp and completely in focus but the face will become a bit softer towards the cheek bones and ears. However if you stop down to 3.5 or 4 more of the face would become as sharp as the nose right? |
That is right. Usually the standard place to focus for a portrait is the eyes, so I would put the focus point over one of her eyes. You are correct that if you stop down the aperture a bit that it won't be too much of an issue. Here is a depth of field table to tell you exactly how much you can expect to get. |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Prints! -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/25/2024 03:13:37 AM EDT.
