Newbie, Go easy!

[jporter12]

http://www.jpteck.com/images/Singing.jpg

This is my second post, and I have a picture that I would like some comments on. This is an improptu shot of a friend singing at the local watering hole, where I take "party snapshots" for the DJ. This is one of the best shots I've taken there. No retouching, just sized down for transfer speed.

Canon Digital Rebel, 18-55 Lens, 1/20, f5.0, built-in flash, Manual mode, ISO 1600.

I've learned a few things since, I can get good pictures in that place at ISO 400, and just some general framing and focusing technique.

Any suggestions?

[Jessica Rabbit]

Im definately not professional in teh least, but the lights are a bit distracting. Looks like she was having a nice time!

[Arsonist lolol]

I'm right there with Jessica, not a pro in the least hah. But:

Offset the subject a little bit, move your cam to the right so your friend appears in the position of the other girl (who is also distracting, but less distracting than the lights to the right) Only other small thing that's bugging me is the intensity of the flash, the contrast between her and the background is reaaaally extreme, but it's good in a way because you obviously want her to stand out.

Other than that I like it, not a lot of dead space above her head, nice tight shot.

[cjm]

Whats with the girl in the Audience? She looks like she see's a ghost.

[jporter12]

Yes, I agree the lights off to the right are VERY annoying! Also, the girl on the left was walking up as I took the shot, wasn't intentional to have her in there! The contrast between her and the background was intended. I attempted to use photoshop to work on the background, but that didn't pan out so well.

As for the flash intensity, it's a pretty dark place and a bit difficult as an amateur for me to get pictures to come out right, but I am getting there! I believe that if I had shot with ISO 400 it would've been much better. I hope to get another change at a similar shot, without the lights.

Thanks for all the comments!

[serissolutions]

I think its a good shot but some photoshop work could make this shot alot better.
Crop out the girl on the left, that will eliminate her and offset the subject.
Clone out the lights by her forhead and darken her skin tone a little and you have a winner.
I am not an expert either, just a noob but these are my first impressions.

[mgbeach]

there's a technique you might want to try to give it more of a party atmosphere. Try using Av mode with the flash. It will fire the flash and freeze the motion of your subject, but the shutter will stay open long enough to expose the background properly. Depending on how much you move the camera, the background will be blurs of light. I think it makes for a great party shot. I took some like that last Halloween. You can check them out at http://www.beachphotography.net/HALLOWEEN . Also, you should look into getting one of the EX dedicated flashes. My 420ex is probably the best purchase I have made to this point. One more thing; the hacked firmware for the DRebel will let you set flash exposure compensation, which can help keep you from having this "deer in the headlights" result.

[monkey_wrench]

I hope you dont mind me playing around with it

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/tatton/Singing.jpg

[OCCNC]

Or just go all the way:

[IanBMW]

Cropping out the red girl....yes. Cropping out the lights I think more detract from the picture in a bad way. Maybe cloning more lights in different places in the background and doing a motion blur would add a more party atmosphere. But all in all I think you did a pretty damn good job given the circumstances. And now you know what to do better next time.

[jporter12]

I'm going to try out the Av mode suggestion this weekend. There's a big party that I'll be taking pictures for, and I'll have lot's of shots to mess around with.

As for a better flash, that's definately on my wish list. I was thinking along the lines of a 420ex.

I have no problem with the image being messed with, maybe I can learn something that way! I'm not all that great with photoshop yet, but I'm learning! I'm not so sure about the lights being gone though, seeing it without them looks too empty, especially with the reflections on the ceiling (from other sources). Just looks like something is missing.

MGBEACH, those are some good looking pictures! I'm definately going to try some new stuff!

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, and remembering that this was just a "snapshot", with no real preparation for that particular shot!