Just beginning, feedback welcome

[rstyle]

I have always loved taking pictures but am only recently getting more serious about it. Bought a Canon Rebel XS and started taking pictures wherever I could. Still working on both composition and post-processing skills. mainly use only DPP for editing.

I've gotten a lot of compliments on this one so thought I'd ask other Photographers what they thought. Taken at Av=14 and Tv=1/20 at ISO 200. Used the Kit lens (18-55 IS).

Thoughts?

[asty80]

The snap seems blurry for AV 14..Guess this was handheld at 1/20 speed?
Its just not sharp enough. The bokeh should have been offset by a sharp focus to create a 3D feel.

Sorry if it sounds disappointing..:(

[OdiN1701]

I don't think it is very good honestly. The composition could be a lot better.

A lot to do with it is it is out of focus. Mainly because you shot at 1/20th shutter speed, and I'm assuming that you hand held the camera. That is too slow of a shutter speed for hand held here. I'm assuming this was not at the 18mm end.

A general rule for hand held shots is that your shutter speed should be at least 1/focal length. That is, at 100mm focal length of your lens, your shutter speed should be at least 1/100th, and more is better.

If this was on a tripod, 1/20th might have been fine. You can still get blurs in these shots due to wind though, so you should consider that too.

Another issue is the separation of your subject and the background. Both are green, so there is little separation which is not good. Also if the subject was in focus it would help.

[rstyle]

Thanks a lot for the honest feedback all.

[OdiN1701]

You're welcome. Feel free to ask any questions on anything you don't understand.

I don't know where you get the comments on the image that were positive, but realize that those from family/friends are often somewhat sugar-coated, which honestly does not help with the learning process.

I know nobody really likes to have the bad things pointed out about things they do, but you can't grow without it. You're out there taking photos though so that's the best thing to do - just take more, but try to work on one specific area until you figure that out, then move on to the next, etc. and post any questions here - as well as read around here there is lots of info.

[Flo]

Totally agree ^..have fun, you will soon develop your own "eye" for composition and all the things that come with it.