1st w/ 50mm lens!

[GAinGa]

I am almost afraid to do this but..this is where I learn...so:

A week ago I couldnt get white balance set, didnt know a thing about anything other than "FULL AUTO MODE" for the most part. My attempts at "indoor" were so very sad, and required an hours worth of PP in PSE6.

So... I have been learning, and also I just got my 50mm prime in the mail!! YAY!! (But I have a ton of questions all of a sudden just regarding THAT!!!)

Anyway: The first picture is straight out of the camera, no PP at all.

The second I fixed my babies "boo-boo" on nose, and sharpened the eyes. No color changes or auto anything!

My question is "how is the white balance/ skin tone?" I only have 2 low watt umbrella lights (constant-on) and before now I couldnt even get a shot under 400 ISO at all...... and even that was grainy and icky colors!
THANKS! Ga in Georgia

[mdineenwob]

It seems too dark.

[SwingBopper]

The WB and skin tone look good to me. It looks like you shot with a wide open f-stop. Which 50mm lens do you have? Next time I'd try focusing on the bridge of the nose and stop down to try to get both eyes in focus - only the left seems in focus in this shot. Invest in a tripod so you can shoot with higher f-stops and lower shutter speeds. Since you have 2 lights, put one behind and above her to help separate her from the BG. Cute kid by the way!

[GAinGa]

The WB and skin tone look good to me. It looks like you shot with a wide open f-stop. Which 50mm lens do you have? Next time I'd try focusing on the bridge of the nose and stop down to try to get both eyes in focus - only the left seems in focus in this shot. Invest in a tripod so you can shoot with higher f-stops and lower shutter speeds. Since you have 2 lights, put one behind and above her to help separate her from the BG. Cute kid by the way!


Thanks for the info SwingBopper, I just learned thru someone else comment that my camera had a DOF preview and I am learning how to use it.... well, I am reading about it now...and then this week I will give it a go.

THANK YOU!!!!!! Georgia Anne

OH!! I just purchased the Canon EF 50mm 1:1.8 II
I have a Canon Digital Rebel XT
kit lens (18-55) and also 70-300mm zoom

[GAinGa]

The WB and skin tone look good to me. It looks like you shot with a wide open f-stop. Which 50mm lens do you have? Next time I'd try focusing on the bridge of the nose and stop down to try to get both eyes in focus - only the left seems in focus in this shot. Invest in a tripod so you can shoot with higher f-stops and lower shutter speeds. Since you have 2 lights, put one behind and above her to help separate her from the BG. Cute kid by the way!


I forgot to ask you....what do you mean (and how is it obvious) by "Wide open F-stop" ? I know I focused poorly, not the camera...and my light was too low or atleast I didnt have proper placement to distinguish her hair from the backdrop.... I am posting another from the same night.... is the lighting (atleast) better in this one? (the placement of light) Thanks for your help!!!!

OH! and I know she is WAY WAY out of focus here... but I tried to still use the photo... its my daughter so I would like to keep it!!! I may have oversharpened, etc. But was wondering about the lights, because one is camera left, in front of her...the other is camera right and just behind her... both on bounce umbrellas with the constant light source of 250w
1/100 f2.5 400 ISO using 50mm lens, hand held. Metering mode says "Pattern" which is confusing, as my choices are Evaluative, Partial and Center-weighted Average Guess I should have been on Partial Metering??

[HappySnapper90]

I prefer the softness of the first photo compared to the 2nd one that had too much sharpening applied. You shouldn't be able to count individual hairs ofher eye brows. The 2nd photo look unnaturally sharp - sharper than she would appear through you own eyes.

It's easy to crank up sharpness settings with digital, but you'll have more pleasing pictures, especially portraits, if you be conservative with sharpness. Usually portraits are softer as people don't want too much skin texture to show, wrinkles, etc. You may have heard of "soft focus" lenses for portraits.

[GAinGa]

I prefer the softness of the first photo compared to the 2nd one that had too much sharpening applied. You shouldn't be able to count individual hairs ofher eye brows. The 2nd photo look unnaturally sharp - sharper than she would appear through you own eyes.

It's easy to crank up sharpness settings with digital, but you'll have more pleasing pictures, especially portraits, if you be conservative with sharpness. Usually portraits are softer as people don't want too much skin texture to show, wrinkles, etc. You may have heard of "soft focus" lenses for portraits.

I guess I got a little "SHARP" happy as I had never used it before and I thought WOW!! Look at those eyes pop!!! (Nothing else "pops" so I tried the eyes only!!!)

I didnt sharpen her eyebrows though... just the eyes and I just did catch the edges of her eyelashes....I didnt sharpen her bangs either, but notice they look a bit funny, too.......... hmmmmm....

Yeah, I love the softer look in portraits, too...... but since I just found that sharpen tool I was thinkin it added something. And the 3rd picture (the different one) I over sharpened the ENTIRE image in an effort to save it as half way recognizeable........ I love this pic of my daughter and hate that my lack of knowledge caused me to miss capturing this moment well enough to be acceptable!!!!!

Thanks for the C&C. thats what I am here for!!!!!