... and the award for the mistress with the biggest eyelashes goes to ...

[Curtis N]

(drumroll)
Mistress Mary!
(quite contrary)
1.
http://performancephoto.smugmug.com/photos/206388445-L.jpg

2.
http://performancephoto.smugmug.com/photos/206388461-L.jpg

3.
http://performancephoto.smugmug.com/photos/207583910-L.jpg

... honorable mention to this little cutie,
but she cheated (painted her eyelashes on).

4.
http://performancephoto.smugmug.com/photos/207586902-L.jpg

[René Damkot]

#1 is a bit overexposed IMO.
Nice set otherwise. Bit cluttered BG in the last two.

[Curtis N]

Thanks, Rene.

The first one is a little bright. I should have cranked it down a little in post.

As for cluttered backgrounds in theatre:
Sometimes if I'm concentrating on a certain person or group, I'll move to change the angle and get a better background. Sometimes the stage is cluttered by design. The show was "Babes in Toyland" and the set was designed to look like a toy factory. There were about 100 kids up there and I was trying feverishly to get decent individual shots of every kid.

Here's a shot of the whole stage, during bows.

http://performancephoto.smugmug.com/photos/207999854-L.jpg

[René Damkot]

Yeah, that explains it somewhat ;)

Babes in Toyland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babes_in_Toyland_(band))? :lol:

[Curtis N]

Yeah, that explains it somewhat ;)

Babes in Toyland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babes_in_Toyland_(band))? :lol:Close, Rene. Try this one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babes_in_Toyland_(operetta)

[taygull]

I've yet to see an image where Rene does not think the background is cluttered or the highlights are a bit blown.:lol:

You would cringe at some of the shots of the top wedding shooters, blown highlights and cluttered backgrounds very much accepted.

[DwightMcCann]

I think the first is fine but wish Curtis would learn his numbers and number his images!

Rene normally thinks these things "are a pity" and I no longer know if he means that he likes them or doesn't ... pity is "sorrow for suffering" so who knows!

Top wedding photographers are top because of who they know and their presentation style and are almost unrelated to image quality at this point although they may have created some good images somewhere along the line! Some people even think being a member of the free Canon Professional Services program adds to their importance even though it has less than nothing to do with image quality, recognition or talent! Life is weird.

I'm just out here making money and making people happy with my images.

[Curtis N]

Ok Dwight. I numbered them.

And I appreciate Rene's comments, and mostly I appreciate the fact that he took the time to comment on them when no one else did.

We put files on CD and sell the CDs to parents. The only thing the parents ever say is, "These are really good pictures!" In order for us to improve, it helps a lot to have tough critics. And when I disagree with a criticism, I try to create a good discussion with it. So it's all good.

[taygull]

Curtis,

Sorry, I thought they were great. I like to have a mix of clean and cluttered backgrounds in my performance shots. The reason is it helps tell the story of the event. If every shot had a super clean background the viewer might not be able to really understand what went on.

Some people even think being a member of the free Canon Professional Services program adds to their importance even though it has less than nothing to do with image quality, recognition or talent! Life is weird.



One thing we have learned...it is usually about you or the latest million dollar piece of equipment added to your arsenal.:lol:

Actually being a member of Canon Professional Services is not free, you don't pay to be a member unless you consider a majority of your income must come from photography as a form of "payment". They make sure you've payed your dues in sweat.

My point on Rene's thoughts of highlights being slightly blown or background being busy as I continue to derive 90% of my income from photography it is a fact that a perfect technical image is only a very small part of what makes an image great.

I've also learned shooting weddings is about 10 times more difficult then shooting just about anything else. The actual wedding is pretty easy, the bridals, the engagement, the reception are the most challenging. Wedding photographers have to do so much more than concert shooters. Not only do they have to create the scene 75% of the time they also have to create the light and control it.

I love it when I get a call to go shoot a concert, I know I've got a whole lot less to think about!:lol:

[René Damkot]

Agree with all that, but IMO blown highlights are mostly pretty easy to correct.
Getting a technically decent image isn't that hard. Getting a good image is quite a bit harder. ;)

[Curtis N]

I went back and looked at the RAW file of the image in question. It turns out, I overexposed it badly and cranked down the exposure slider about 1 1/4 stops to save it. I think at that point I recovered about all there was to recover. I'm not sure how that one got screwed up so badly, but I thought the expression was worth trying to save.

Rene's initial impression was correct. And it proves once again that shooting RAW can enable you to save some shots that would otherwise be junk, but you can't expect to turn junk into greatness.

[DwightMcCann]

I went back and looked at the RAW file of the image in question. It turns out, I overexposed it badly and cranked down the exposure slider about 1 1/4 stops to save it. I think at that point I recovered about all there was to recover. I'm not sure how that one got screwed up so badly, but I thought the expression was worth trying to save.

Rene's initial impression was correct. And it proves once again that shooting RAW can enable you to save some shots that would otherwise be junk, but you can't expect to turn junk into greatness.

Once again, the value of bracketing, even for the RAW shooter, is validated when shooting the stage. I still bracket 0, -1, +1 even though I am shooting RAW (thank you, Rene) because of this common phenomenon. There seems to be resistance to bracketing in general that I will likely never understand but for stage work it is essential.

[Curtis N]

Dwight,

Take another look at her expression. It was very brief. She didn't stand there like that for 2 seconds so I could fire off five shots or even three. Like most talented theatre performers, she was very energetic and constantly moving around the stage. Keeping her in my viewfinder was hard enough.

I truly believe that my ability to capture expressions like this is a key to my success as a theatre photographer. They require me to pull the trigger without a moment's hesitation, and I have one chance.

My wife and I took over 1,100 shots of this show that had about 100 kids in it. We processed the best 500 and didn't have much time to turn this job around. I shudder to think of the time that would have been required to go through three times as many files.

My ability to get properly exposed shots has improved gradually during the two years I've been shooting theatre in a quasi-professional capacity. This show was perhaps my best job so far, with most shots being adjusted 1/3 stop or less in RAW processing. And with all due respect, I believe continuous improvement in this regard will be the best strategy for continued success.

[DwightMcCann]

Dwight,

Take another look at her expression. It was very brief. She didn't stand there like that for 2 seconds so I could fire off five shots or even three. Like most talented theatre performers, she was very energetic and constantly moving around the stage. Keeping her in my viewfinder was hard enough.

I truly believe that my ability to capture expressions like this is a key to my success as a theatre photographer. They require me to pull the trigger without a moment's hesitation, and I have one chance.

My wife and I took over 1,100 shots of this show that had about 100 kids in it. We processed the best 500 and didn't have much time to turn this job around. I shudder to think of the time that would have been required to go through three times as many files.

My ability to get properly exposed shots has improved gradually during the two years I've been shooting theatre in a quasi-professional capacity. This show was perhaps my best job so far, with most shots being adjusted 1/3 stop or less in RAW processing. And with all due respect, I believe continuous improvement in this regard will be the best strategy for continued success.

Excellent! I didn't mean to start a debate. Even Rene quibbles with my bracketing theory!