A couple more to critique>>>>>

[mrclark321]

This is a picture of my daughter.
The first picture was taken by the Blacks salesman on M, Tv 1/100, Av 5.6,
ISO 100, FL is 55mm

The second photo was taken by me on Portrait mode: Tv 1/400, Av 5.6, ISO 100,
FL is 48mm

Dan

[mrclark321]

Comments please!!
Come on, I'm trying to learn!!!!

[Panza]

The first one is ok, but the background is very distracting, it would help with shallower depth of field. It also seems a little underexposed.
On the second one her face is too much obscured and the play-thing take up too much of the frame. Background is excelent though. :D
Fill flash would help too, or get her to turn more towards the sun.
I hope it helped.

[mal]

Both seem like random disposable camera shots. I'm not a big fan of flash photography unless you really know what you are doing and can make the light look natural. The light on the first one makes it *very* obvious that a flash was used, and used directly into her face. Background is not pleasing, nor exposed properly. You have her centered in the image making it boring from a photographic sense. The second picture is boring from a photographic sense also. Same as Panza has said, her face is obscured and the "play-thing" is taking up too much. She is centered and the background is blurred ok, but that is boring as well. Over all, nothing I would look to see again, but nice family photos.

[vinnyveez]

by looking at these shots i wouldnt be able to tell taht you were using a great piece of eqipment like the 350. What i would recommend would be to get a 50/1.8 lens (i just picked one up yesterday and man that thing rocks). using this lens, you can use a 1.8 aperture, which really brings the attention to your subject by completly blurring your background. In the first shot you definitely need it, as the junk in the background is distracting.

[rammy]

Comments please!!
Come on, I'm trying to learn!!!!

What exactly are you trying to learn, especially when you did not take the first shot? How to take a portraiture? What makes a good portraiture?

There are many rules that you can apply but a lot of it is based on style. You have to decide for yourself, what you are trying to capture, the mood (of the picture that is) that you want to capture and probably the message you are trying to portray.

Do a search on this forum for portrait advice. There are loads.

Unfortunately, I agree with the other contributors remarks, these look like "snapshots".

Keep trying though, you'll get some interesting pictures in time.

[goldstrikn]

Unfortunately, I agree with the other contributors remarks, these look like "snapshots".

Keep trying though, you'll get some interesting pictures in time.

What is wrong with snapshots? If you mean that they are just bland with no emotion then I would agree.

[mal]

nothing is wrong with snapshots..I take plenty. But snapshots are not critiqued. They are there for memories.

[norcal99]

I think the pictures lack "snap" so to speak. Aside from the under-exposed pictures, you might want to try this technique called the rule of thirds. You basically break you viewfinder into thirds horizontally and vertically creating a tic tac toe grid. Your subject tends to "pop" out more when placed in the intersections of the grid (shooting off center can yield some very nice results. Do a search for the thirds rule and you'll get better explanations than I can give you. And for portraits, it wouldn't hurt to purchase the Canon 50mm f/1.8 MKII... it's only $70 and makes an awesome portrait lens!

[mrclark321]

Thanks everyone for the help.....jeez, I don't know were to start first!!!!

Any suggestions on what to start with?( I like outdoor pictures most )

Also have to keep the family snapshots going for the wife, but I'd like to hear her say

"wow"..... she's my worst critic!!

Dan

[vinnyveez]

for portraits, i would recommend picking up a book called how to photograph your kdis by nick kelsh. It is a totally non technical, fun and easy read. He basically goes over composition and basic lighting principals, it will only take you an hour or so to read and improve your technique alot..

To take you up a level i would recommend the following:
1. Get the 50/1.8 lens, i did and trust ne i have gotten tons more compliments than with the kit lens.
2. Kill the onboard flash, it is ruining your pictures. soft window light is best if you dont have any other lighting equipment. rembrandt made a living out of this style, steal from him.
3. fill your camera with your subject, not clutter. if you want to have a picture of clutter, tell your daughter to leave the room and take pictures of the clutter. if you want to have a picture of your daughter, tell the clutter to leave the room and take pictures of your daughter. Or if you cant help having a poor background, get the 50 lens (see #1) , put your camera in "A" mode, crank up the the aperture to 1.8, focus dead in between her eyes, and snap away. if the 50 lens is not in your budget find a nice setting (go to a park on a mildly sunny day) and set up a nice shot. If you are shooting in a bad area, like in a house with a bunch of old books behind her, zoom in on her, fill the frame with her and the clutter is instantly cleaned up.;)

4. Composition. Like the other guy said, learn the rule of thirds. while it is not a "rule" that you must obey 100% of the time, it is a concept that should be understood. Look at all of the bad ordinary pictures people have. usually all of their pictures are dead center. yeah it works, but more interesting is a side profile of your daughter looking into the rest of the frame. it will stand out. trust me.

5. use google. type in "children portaits" you will get a ton of ideas from the pros that post portfolios of their work, trying to drum up business. Find ONE that you really really like. Set out to reproduce it EXACTLY. ok you may come up short, but hey it will be a marked improvemnt from where you are and you will learn ALOT in the meantime. when you get a reasonable facsimile post it here, and we will tear it apart again. biut in the meantime you will get tons of great advice and learn alot.

good luck and your worst critics are here, not at home. People here can say whatever they want and dont have to look you in the eye when saying it. Usually this brings out the truth in people.

[vinnyveez]

ps i dont think the second shot is horrible, it is ok technically speaking, but the picture doesnt say much. and who or what is the black salesman?

[cjm]

The first one has a great moment infront of an unfortunate background. If you have Photoshop here is a (VERY QUICKLY DONE) sample of what you could do to fix the first images problematic background. I hope you don't mind.

I selected your daughter with a Poly Lasson Tool and then selected the inverse
Pic #1 has a Gaussian blur
Pic #2 has the background turned Gradient turned to B&W.

Just idea's what you can do with a good picture in the wrong place.

[rammy]

What is wrong with snapshots? If you mean that they are just bland with no emotion then I would agree.

I don't think there is anything much wrong with the first one apart from the flash on her face and the background. She has a nice expression in that shot. Maybe doing as guys have suggested and blurring out as much as the backdrop as possibly would be great. Also, trying a diffuser on the flash to stop the harshness on the face.

In the second one, there are too many shadows, a little fill in flash would have helped. Also composition is kinda "normal". Trying a different angle, for example, shooting through the "climbing frame"; maybe getting down low and shooting up or even trying an action shot, such as getting on or jumping off the lower part of the frame.

Really, what I am saying is try and add some interest.

[mrclark321]

Thanks again everyone.

I think after all the comments and doing some reading I am going to buy the 50mm/1.8 lense. Is this a lense that is worth buying used based on the price, and were to buy ( Canadian )
I only have the software that came with the camera, what Photoshop version should I buy and were is the best place to get it?
Dan

[vinnyveez]

Thanks again everyone.

I think after all the comments and doing some reading I am going to buy the 50mm/1.8 lense. Is this a lense that is worth buying used based on the price, and were to buy ( Canadian )
I only have the software that came with the camera, what Photoshop version should I buy and were is the best place to get it?
Dan

my mother in law always says, buy used and you are paying to have soemone elses problems. Now of course in certain situations it pays to take that risk, i dont think this is one of them. As you will probably be hard pressed to find a used one, and if you do i cant iamgine it costing you much less than the meager 75$ (us) that you can buy one new. If you can find a great deal get it, but i doubt you will save more than15$ and to me, id rather get a brand new one and not have to worry if the used one was broken. Now if we are talking about an L lens and you can save me 300$ then maybe its worth the risk. here is a shot i posted elsewhere, as I am amazed at the bokeh the 50/1.8 gives. I have been emailing pictures of my son to my friends since he was born, and most of the time people send back comments like cute, and aww how cute....with this new lens i have actually convinced 2 people to buy the rebel and the 50/1.8 lens as the picture quality has improved that much. To me that is the sincerest form of flattery. The bokeh in portraits just adds the WOW factor that you are looking for. One of teh girls at work actually asked me where i got them done.... ;)

[Andy_T]

I got the MKI version of the 50/1.8 used.
The difference to the MKII version you can get in the shop is that it has a metal lensmount (as opposed to plastic) so I suppose it will be more durable and better up to rough treatment.

Unfortunately, these are more expensive (going for $100 - $150 used).

Best regards,
Andy

[mrclark321]

"Blacks Photography not black salesman"
Sorry I did not mean to offend anyone.ps i dont think the second shot is horrible, it is ok technically speaking, but the picture doesnt say much. and who or what is the black salesman?

[learjet035]

Both seem like random disposable camera shots. I'm not a big fan of flash photography unless you really know what you are doing and can make the light look natural. The light on the first one makes it *very* obvious that a flash was used, and used directly into her face.

I have just switched from a point n shoot to the XT and was wondering about the flash stuff. Is there a way to shoot @ night and not get that flash look freehand? I don't really want to get the tripod out for some shots of friends but want an nice shot. Is it possible, or am I dreaming? All my shots @ night look alot like my point n shoot 4mp. I know it's me, and not the camera.

[smittymike19]

by night what do you mean/ pitch dark? no you need a flash. the camera can only expose what it sees. if it doesnt see anything then it doesnt capture anything.

[Bob_A]

Hi norcal99,

Aside from the under-exposed pictures,

I agree that the second one looks underexposed ... but the exposure for the first one looks fine to me.



Bob

[Bob_A]

Looking at your second photo, the things I feel would have improved it are:

* Try shooting it in portrait mode instead of landscape
* The picture needs to be straightened by a couple of degrees
* Fill flash would have taken the shadow off of her face
* It looks like the photo could use some USM in Photoshop

I tried messing around with your image for a couple of minutes, especially to straighten it out and find a way to crop it to make it more interesting. I kept wishing that the original had the entire length of her body in the shot ... maybe starting to climb the monkey bars.

Attached is my feeble attempt (I hope you don't mind) :)

[mrclark321]

No problem and thanks for the suggestions.


I need to get some version of PS but not sure of what one to get.

Any suggestions.

Dan

[Bob_A]

I need to get some version of PS but not sure of what one to get.


This might help make up your mind ( prices from www.staples.ca (http://www.staples.ca) ):

PS Elements 3 = $100 Canadian
PS CS 8.0 = $869.99 Canadian
PS Creative Suite Premium = $1599.99 Canadian


Regards,

Bob