New to forum some help needed

[ICE]

Hi everyone, I am new to both the forum and photography...I could use some critisim on my photos to get me off in the right direction....any help would be apreciated...my subject was very hard to shoot since it's me and I don't have a remote ...LOL oh well they'll have to do....
I have a digital rebel with 4 differnt lenses which lense is best for portrait shots???

[ICE]

and in color

[freddycr]

Hello ICE. Welcome to the forum. First of all I'd advice you to start with something else than self-portraits, as these are the hardest to do.
What gear do you have?

Regards

[ICE]

Hello ICE. Welcome to the forum. First of all I'd advice you to start with something else than self-portraits, as these are the hardest to do.
What gear do you have?

Regards

Sounds like a good idea to me! I have a Rebel 300D with 3 EF-USM lenses a 55-200 f/4.5-5.6 and a 75-300 f/4-5.6

I have some of my dog pic's here... http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=102136

[GyRob]

the 18/55 set at around 55 try for f8 f11 ,manul focus and try to get your eyes in the same place as the spot you focused on .
these are quite nice shots btw. mabe open your mouth a little .
Rob

[cmM]

Welcome, and those are very good first pics.
If you want to go towards portraits you need to work on your lighting. It is IMO the single most important element.
The first one is pretty cool, except for you composition a little bit. Your left arm is a distraction since it's cut in 2. I also think the necklace distracts a little bit but that might be just me.
The second one, I'm not a big fan of the post processing, and you don't have much of an expression, but then again, it's a little difficult being on both sides of the camera.

Anyway, good luck.
Post some more

[myth337]

Welcome to another Canadian photographer!! :)

#1 is nice.. interesting lighting, and I agree with the arm thing.
Even though i'm not a big fan of post processing.. (yet...) I like the effect in #2.

Doing self portraits is an interesting first choice...

As for the lenses... like Rob said.. try 55.. (portraits don't usually like wide angles) and see whether you get better results with the 18-55 or the 55-200. .. will also depend on distance to subject. how long are your arms?? ;)

.. Lee

[skade]

Welcome Ice!! Love what you have done with that second shot! Ive tried doing the self portrait thing... too hard for this blonde! :)

[jimsolt]

Welcome to another Canadian photographer!! :)

#1 is nice.. interesting lighting, and I agree with the arm thing.
Even though i'm not a big fan of post processing.. (yet...) I like the effect in #2.

Doing self portraits is an interesting first choice...

As for the lenses... like Rob said.. try 55.. (portraits don't usually like wide angles) and see whether you get better results with the 18-55 or the 55-200. .. will also depend on distance to subject. how long are your arms?? ;)

.. Lee
Not bad advice about wide angles, but lenses are hardly ever at their best when at either the wide or tight extremes of their zooms. Go more to the middle for better results.

Jim

[malla1962]

I think the first and last are very good.:D:D

[lisa1969]

Welcome to the forum! If you wish to do a lot of portraits a very reasonable investment would be a 50mm 1.8 lens. I just got one and love it for portraits!

[Bill Cary]

Icy stare on the last. Is that how you got your name. Great shots

[ICE]

Icy stare on the last. Is that how you got your name. Great shots
:lol: LOL no it's not how I got my name but lots of people always say I look way too serious...my nic is actually just the last 3 letters of my name
Tanice

[berto]

hi ice. nice photos you have here... for a beginner.

-for the focusing problem. the easy cure for it would be to put a subject in front of the camera at the lenght you want to shoot at. manually focus and voila! problem solved.

- as for the lighting, the first photo shows that you have some understanding of lighting from different angles. daytime and the outside(usually under a shade) would be a nice place to practice. you have ample(even) light and you can use the depth of field to blur the background(keep the background uncluttered-you are the subject you want to focus on).

thats all for now. keep up the good work and i am sure i'm not alone in this but we'd love to see more of your work. your progression :)
-bert

[Belmondo]

ICE:

Welcome to the forum.

These are very respectable efforts.

Which four lenses do you have?

[ICE]

Thanks for the great advice! Here are a few of other people that should help a little with picking the right lens....:) These are my Brothers girls....