Almost my favorite pics, but.... (56k make cupa tea)

[Moppie]

They are both flawed.

Some critiqe one what I could have done better would be great, as well as some tips on possible fixs.

Im aware both are to large for the forum, and will get resized but Iv resized both and feel they lose thier impact.
Both were taken with an A80, about 2 months after I got it, but I had owned an A40 for 18mnths prior.

I feel the first is pretty good, but the foreground appears to bright in relation to the background and the car.

F: 2.8
Exp: 1/400

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/Moppie/IMG_0406small2.jpg


This one I love, and hate.
I love the reflection.
I hate the background. But I had a real hard time getting it, either the reflection would not show up, or the background would get blown out.
Iv tried cropping it down, but I feel it needs the empty space beside the car to give the image of the girl in the reflection any impact.

F:2.8
Exp: 1/500
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/Moppie/IMG_0376small2.jpg

[Leighow]

MOPPIE


I am no expert. But I see these shots entered evey summer into our newspaper's "Wheels" contest. Everyone sends in rusted farm equipment, etc. I won once last year with a pic of 2 kids on unicycles!

I really love #1

IN THE FILED
As you say, the exposure is off. That means too much light. So, you must bracket the shot and probably pick the image with the darkest treatment. Bracket by 1 stop and then by 2 (some say about 1.3 will do). Also, If you camera has a histogram check it after each shot. Here the rightside of the front would have said -- stop down the lens! That is to say, if you shot this at say F6 you needed to shoot again at say F8.

That said, the grass occupies a bit too much of the left side. Maybe you could have moved a bit to the side without losing the frontal feel of this image. At such times, you have to think about shielding the lens from the side sun even with an unmbrella or something to avoid side light enternig the lens.

IN THE PHOTO SHOP
-- > Try using CURVES and RELACE COLOR and ADJUST SATURATION overall the image
--> then isolate and sharpen and deepen the color of the licensce plate (I think).

http://members.rogers.com/hleigh/CAR.jpg

[Moppie]

Leighow, Thank you, thats exactly why I joined this forum (after a little lurking :) )


The histogram still baffels me a little, but Iv just had a search of the forum and the web, and I can now say I do understand how it works, I just need lots of practice putting it to use.

I had a look at the histogram in photoshop, and I see exactly what you mean about it being pushed way to the right.


Thank you for the tips.

[Ronin]

Both are a little overexposed, I think...the harsh sunlight drowned out much of the interesting color.

[Molydood]

it's always going to be difficult shotting in midday sunlight (it looks around then). Perhaps try to drop the exposure a little, or take the picture from the other side of the car with the sun behind you, then you wont get such an intense contrast of bright and dark ie. it would ALL be in bright sunlight and your camera would drop the aperture or shutter speed ot take in less light. As it stands you have alot of areas in dark, and a lot in bright sunlight
I think that's the problem in both shots, the huge range of light, and shooting a few hours later or earlier would make a huge difference, but I'm new and I could be wrong.
maybe even a polarizer could be helpful, but I haven't even tried one yet, I just have an understanding of thier function.