Group Photo gone wrong

All --

What did I do wrong? Looked good on the camera screen, brought it up on the monitor and this appeared. Ok, it was a little warmer, but I brought it back with LR3. Flaming criticisms and suggestions gratefully accepted. I do nearly all architecture and landscape, so this is all new to me.

Used center point focus on the the female in the middle, settings should be in exif info

Gordon

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I think a faster shutter speed would have helped. You probably could have gotten away with a bigger aperture.

The main problem here is that you're relying on ambient light that really does not do pretty things to people's faces. Note the harsh shadows under the eyes resultant from light coming straight down.

Color balance is no issue at all and can be fixed in a second-especially if you shot in RAW (which you ought to for anything important).

One thing you can do to mitigate the (raccoon eye) issue is to use a little (or a lot !) of fill light, then drag the blacks up a little.

If I was setting up the shot, I would have added a flash on an umbrella on my left side. and let that do most of the heavy (light) lifting.

I appreciate suggestions so far. I knew the lighting was poor, but neglected to take along a flash (doh!). The photo was shot on a cruise ship. My other issue is that the photo seems awfully soft. Any suggestions as far as focus?

Gordon

major back focus to me

NodrogCop wrote in post #13831884
My other issue is that the photo seems awfully soft. Any suggestions as far as focus?

At 1/4 second exposure, I suspect that it's not a focus problem?

The 1/4 shutter could have something to do with the softness.

1/4 Second? Camera Shake.

Composition: I would have had 4 of the people standing behind the 4 seated. That way you could have shown less of the surroundings. On-camera flash would have improved it. You don't need a lot - just enough to eliminate the shadows on there faces, so maybe FEC -1

EDIT: oh I just saw the SS 1/4. Not good at all as has been pointed ouy

^^+1

Your 5D II will handle the iso but....nothing short of a tripod will handle 1/4 shutter and even then the people may move.

Open the lens up - wide open since you have them in a row (making two rows would require more DOF and more f-stop).

NodrogCop wrote in post #13831884
I appreciate suggestions so far. I knew the lighting was poor, but neglected to take along a flash (doh!). The photo was shot on a cruise ship. My other issue is that the photo seems awfully soft. Any suggestions as far as focus?

Gordon

Titus213 wrote in post #13832546
Your 5D II will handle the iso but....nothing short of a tripod will handle 1/4 shutter and even then the people may move.

Open the lens up - wide open since you have them in a row (making two rows would require more DOF and more f-stop).

Stating the obvious here, but ... I can only assume that a ship, especially a moving one (not sure if this was underway or not), will make this even more difficult to hand hold at low shutter speeds.

Thanks everyone for the replies, suggestions, and information. The ship was indeed underway. I was apparently not paying close enough attention. This was a great learning experience - albeit painful for the lost/bad photos - for me. Still have a lot to learn and am getting Understanding Exposure back out for rereading.

Thanks again all.

Gordon