yellow balls

[arcadesdude]

Here are some cat toys - yellow balls up close. Comments on technique? Other?

Post processing: removed sharp distracting plastic, adjusted levels

Make - Canon
Model - Canon PowerShot A70
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/60 seconds
ApertureValue - F 2.80

[Don Ellis]

I don't mean to be discouraging, especially since this is just your third post, but I do wonder about posting a photo that is out of focus with a distracting background and a blown highlight that attracts more attention than the balls themselves. Not to mention the longest EXIF data list in the history of any forum I've been on.

In the future, camera model, shutter speed, aperture, ISO and flash might be enough.

My concern overall is that you need to recognize a good photo yourself before you ask others' opinions. I would suggest you take 100 photographs of these two balls (or just one ball) and pick the three you like best and let us have a look. "Digital film" is free and you should be dedicated enough to your hobby that 100 photos sounds reasonable.

Good luck... hope to see you again.

Don

[arcadesdude]

Yes I do not have the 'eye' yet. I was looking for exactly the feedback you gave. Just starting to experiment with different settings and lighting, etc, and looking for feedback.

Focus: looks clear to me, is there some way you can see this?
EXIF list: copy&paste was too easy...guess I can't get away with laziness ;)

"Digital film" is free and you should be dedicated enough to your hobby that 100 photos sounds reasonable.

I agree. The 'digital' form is great.

Thanks again,

[Don Ellis]

Yes I do not have the 'eye' yet. I was looking for exactly the feedback you gave. Just starting to experiment with different settings and lighting, etc, and looking for feedback.

Focus: looks clear to me, is there some way you can see this?
EXIF list: copy&paste was too easy...guess I can't get away with laziness ;)

I agree. The 'digital' form is great.

Thanks again,
Hi,

Thanks for taking my comments in the way they were intended -- to advise rather than annoy.

Focus? Hmm... the right yellow ball is definitely out of focus -- you can see that the edges look soft. They should be sharp. You may have been too far inside the macro limits of the camera or the shutter speed may have have been too slow for handholding.

Yes, your EXIF does include everything but temperature, humidity and barometric pressure. :D

Really... give us some more yellow balls.

Cheers,

Don

[MattSG]

I realize it was a post on technique, but great subject can get you by with less technique, and a macro of a boring object is still boring.

Find some photos you like of people, or objects, and try to replicate qualities in them, experiment, and you'll get better.

[Don Ellis]

I realize it was a post on technique, but great subject can get you by with less technique, and a macro of a boring object is still boring.
Boring is in the brain of the beholder. I'm sure there are marvelous things you can do with these balls -- which I find interesting because of their color, shape and the fact I've never seen them before.

Making a "boring" subject interesting will improve your photography faster than taking an interesting subject with less technique. And if you master the technique of bringing yellow balls to life, imagine how much better you'll be with real life.

Cheers,

Don

[[blur]]

Don, your diplomacy and tacfulness are refreshing and Arcadesdude your humility is commendable.
This is exactly the way back-and-forth should go in these forums.
It's very hard to read criticism in the voice of the writer. Nothing should be assumed(unless it's sorely obvious), just taken at face value.
Cheers.