Couple of pics advice appreciated

[Bosman]

CLICKY 1 (http://idisk.mac.com/ibosco/Public/one.jpg)

Camera Model Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Shooting Date/Time 04/18/07 03:53:10
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv(Shutter Speed) 1/1250
Av(Aperture Value) 4.0
Metering Mode Partial Metering
Exposure Compensation -1/3
ISO Speed 400
Lens 28.0 - 75.0mm
Focal Length 75.0mm
Image Size 3456x2304
Image Quality Fine
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Cloudy
AF Mode One-Shot AF
Parameters Settings
Contrast Mid. High
Sharpness Mid. High
Color saturation Mid. High
Color Space sRGB
Noise Reduction Off
File Size 3743KB
Custom Function
C.Fn:01-0
C.Fn:02-0
C.Fn:03-0
C.Fn:04-0
C.Fn:05-0
C.Fn:06-0
C.Fn:07-0
C.Fn:08-0
C.Fn:09-0
Drive Mode Single-frame shooting
ok focus is correct why does it look so "flat" is the distance?

Also does not seem sharp to me.

CLICKY 2 (http://idisk.mac.com/ibosco/Public/two.jpg)

Camera Model Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Shooting Date/Time 04/18/07 04:58:09
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv(Shutter Speed) 1/2000
Av(Aperture Value) 3.5
Metering Mode Partial Metering
Exposure Compensation -1
ISO Speed 200
Lens 28.0 - 75.0mm
Focal Length 75.0mm
Image Size 3456x2304
Image Quality Fine
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Cloudy
AF Mode AI Servo AF
Parameters Settings
Contrast Mid. High
Sharpness Mid. High
Color saturation Mid. High
Color Space sRGB
Noise Reduction Off
File Size 2860KB
Custom Function
C.Fn:01-0
C.Fn:02-0
C.Fn:03-0
C.Fn:04-0
C.Fn:05-0
C.Fn:06-0
C.Fn:07-0
C.Fn:08-0
C.Fn:09-0
Drive Mode Single-frame shooting

Just doesn't seem sharp. Am I to far away, need more zoom?


CLICKY 3 (http://idisk.mac.com/ibosco/Public/three.jpg)

Camera Model Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Shooting Date/Time 04/18/07 04:43:00
Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv(Shutter Speed) 1/500
Av(Aperture Value) 4.0
Metering Mode Partial Metering
ISO Speed 200
Lens 28.0 - 75.0mm
Focal Length 75.0mm
Image Size 3456x2304
Image Quality Fine
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Cloudy
AF Mode One-Shot AF
Parameters Settings
Contrast Mid. High
Sharpness Mid. High
Color saturation Mid. High
Color Space sRGB
Noise Reduction Off
File Size 3018KB
Custom Function
C.Fn:01-0
C.Fn:02-0
C.Fn:03-0
C.Fn:04-0
C.Fn:05-0
C.Fn:06-0
C.Fn:07-0
C.Fn:08-0
C.Fn:09-0
Drive Mode Single-frame shooting

Not sharp either, do I need faster shutter speed?

The girl in pic two was moving way slower and shutter speed was four times as fast so not sure if that is my problem.

TIA for critique and comments!

[vetkrazy]

On picture one you say the distance is "flat" so I assume you mean not as sharp as the rest of the picture. Your lens was at f/4 which is not going to give you much dof, if you wanted the distance in focus you would need f/16-22. Also, on a cloudy day why did you use an EC of -1/3? It would have helped exposure to be at + 1/3.
Picture 2, yes it would help to have a bigger zoom. But have you done any post processing, sharpening etc? Again a cloudy day and an EC of -1.
Picture 3 the shutter speed is a bit slow for track and the aperture could have been more open to have better dof for the whole track.I would also suggest AI servo for this type of shooting. Runners coming at you are difficult to keep in focus, a fast shutter speed here would have really helped.
You would find that a 70-200 would really be good for this. Good Luck

[liza]

Your biggest problem relates to composition. Your images don't have a focal point. Try shooting tighter in portrait orientation to capture facial expressions and peak action. Shooting wide open also helps with background separation which is an essential component of field sports photography. You would also benefit from shooting with a 70-200 f/2.8 lens so you can get up close and personal with your subjects.

[Bosman]

On picture one you say the distance is "flat" so I assume you mean not as sharp as the rest of the picture. Your lens was at f/4 which is not going to give you much dof, if you wanted the distance in focus you would need f/16-22. Also, on a cloudy day why did you use an EC of -1/3? It would have helped exposure to be at + 1/3.
Picture 2, yes it would help to have a bigger zoom. But have you done any post processing, sharpening etc? Again a cloudy day and an EC of -1.
Picture 3 the shutter speed is a bit slow for track and the aperture could have been more open to have better dof for the whole track.I would also suggest AI servo for this type of shooting. Runners coming at you are difficult to keep in focus, a fast shutter speed here would have really helped.
You would find that a 70-200 would really be good for this. Good Luck


The -1 EC is a mistake, I'd been shooting in M and fliped to AV and didn't notice that.

Pic 1

I was hoping to have the kids in the middle of the field in "sharp focus". I am assuming I was just to far away. I just checked a DOF calculator and it computed my DOF for acceptable sharpness at 98 feet! Using F4 75mm FL and distance to subject of about 100feet. Theoricially that should have gotten me a sharper picture or am I missing something.

Pic 2

besides the EC problem, and me not having a longer zoom, would stoping down have helped? I am trying to "isolate" the subject with hopefully some bokeh. Is it just impossible with the focal length I'm using and the distance I'm at? Because I have got some great shots of "stationary" subjects with my Tamron, great bokeh, sharp subject, but being alot closer. So I guess I'm asking is it the distance relative to the subject? I also realize I'm shooting a moving target, but thought I had a fast enough Shutter speed in Pic 2. Maybe AI Servo will help also

Pic 3

I will increase SS and try AI Servo.



Any other input very much appreciated!

Trying again tonight.

I will

[Bosman]

Your biggest problem relates to composition. Your images don't have a focal point. Try shooting tighter in portrait orientation to capture facial expressions and peak action. Shooting wide open also helps with background separation which is an essential component of field sports photography. You would also benefit from shooting with a 70-200 f/2.8 lens so you can get up close and personal with your subjects.


Thanks Liza,
I'm not sure what you mean about the "not having a focal point". At this point the Tamron is what I have to use, I know I need more reach. I do want that separation your talking about, but stopped down a bit because I pics weren't looking sharp. I figured I could always crop later, but the subjects are just not sharp. Is it SS, not using AI Servo, just to far away?

TIA

[steve75]

To get the 'bokeh' you want depends on both the distance from you to the subject and your subject to background..... basicly, your too far from the subject, and your subject too close to the background [the angle your shooting from means the background is basicly the floor].... so you need to be both closer and lower and you'll have a much better chance of seperating your subject..... then couple all that with a nice wide open aperture and you might get somewhere.

Also just wondering what focus points your using while in AIservo? center point?

Disclaimer... Take what i say with a pinch of salt, i'm far from qualified to give anyone advise!!! lol

[Bosman]

To get the 'bokeh' you want depends on both the distance from you to the subject and your subject to background..... basicly, your too far from the subject, and your subject too close to the background [the angle your shooting from means the background is basicly the floor].... so you need to be both closer and lower and you'll have a much better chance of seperating your subject..... then couple all that with a nice wide open aperture and you might get somewhere.

Also just wondering what focus points your using while in AIservo? center point?

Disclaimer... Take what i say with a pinch of salt, i'm far from qualified to give anyone advise!!! lol

It would be center point, I think that is all you can use with AI Servo. Will try that today.

[Bosman]

bump

[davidmigl]

Wondering why you're not getting bokeh? The BG is the field, and that is very close (relatively) to the runners. If you got down on the level of the runners, your BG would be the trees, and since they are farther away, that = more bokeh.

Also, try to move in as close as possible and use as low an aperture as possible.

About the composition: in #2, you have this big wide open space with lots of distracting nets, poles, and the player is just another element. If you cannot zoom in closer, zoom with your feet or at least crop to where the only thing in the image is the subject. That is what is meant by "focal point."

[Bosman]

Are these better?

clicky (http://idisk.mac.com/ibosco/Public/h.jpg)

clicky (http://idisk.mac.com/ibosco/Public/l.jpg)

clicky (http://idisk.mac.com/ibosco/Public/r.jpg)

[Croasdail]

Much. You can go tighter still. One of the biggest differences between a snap shot and a really nice photography is having a very identifiable subject. Shooting tighter is one of the devices available for this.

[Gatorboy]

You may want to reduce the size of these images -- they look bad when my browser resizes them to fit, and when I view them fullsize, they are too big for my monitor.