Critique - My Dog

[nikoalison]

Hi -
I am new here, actually this is my first post! I got the Canon XSI and some lenses as a christmas gift this year (I have been stalking a dslr for months now). This is one of my first pictures of my dog Daisy - I took it with the Sigma 28-70mm lens. I have been going through Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure book (which is really awesome for a newbie like me). Let me know what you think! I am open to suggestions and learning.

[Naturalist]

I donot see anything in focus.
Can you state what shutter speed, aperture, lens and distance you were shooting at?

You may have been too close for the lens to properly focus, or shutter speed too slow?

[nikoalison]

I shot with an aperature of 4, ISO 400, and sorry did not note the shutter speed from a distance of about 2 feet with the Sigma 28-70mm lens. I was trying to get the background out of focus and her face in focus. Perhaps transitioning from old point&shoot to DSLR has given me the impression that this picture is "clearer" than it really is!

[DragonDan]

You might try this with the 28-70mm lens. I'd suggest using the 70mm focal length. A shutter speed of at least 1/30 would be a good place to start.
Let us see the results
Keep shootin'!

[Thumbsup]

Welcome to POTN. Cute dog but I agree with the lack of focus. Keep shooting and you'll get the hang of the differences of equipment you mentioned. Keep posting and you'll get the C&C's for future images.

[mpistone]

I agree with the above, you could have had the face entirely in focus and still a nicely blurred background. It looks like you were focused slightly in front of the foreground, or else you may have had a slow shutter speed to cause blur. Cute dog!

[JoYork]

You probably need an ISO of at least 800 to ensure a faster shutter speed. Cute dog though, I look forward to more pics of her :)

[nikoalison]

Thanks everyone! I think i learned alot just from this one post :) I do need to get a handle on when to use what lens but perhaps that comes with playing around.