How Can I Improve?

Dear good people of the internet,

I have now had my 7D for a little over a month, am using it regularly and have been working on my technique and post-processing, so I thought I would try to get a little feedback. As I scroll through the photos I have taken over the past month, I noticed that nearly all of my photos have the same sort of tone (maybe not the correct technical description) to them. I don't necessarily see that as a problem as they were generally taken under similar conditions, but thought I'd post a few for comments.

As you can probably tell, I take a lot of pictures of my kids, in poor lighting conditions. By the time they wake up from their afternoon naps, the sun is already setting this time of year. Generally using high iso and wide open apertures to try to freeze the little guys as they are running about. Considering a move to a full frame 5D mkiii (if it's ever announced) for the low light capabilities.

Interested in hearing what you think about the tone/color of some of these as the ones taken outside seem to have the same feel. All comments are welcome.

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With the exception of #2 I think your lighting is fine. What don't you like? They are nice pics especially considering the short time you've had the camera. The late afternoon is a good time to shoot. Bounced flash and more depth of field would have helped #2.

The squirrel is a bit over exposed. But I really like the snowy one
Thanks for sharing

Agreed. They all look great except number two. I love his expression in the fourth photo. And the one of the moon is awesome!

Frugal wrote in post #13846899
With the exception of #2 I think your lighting is fine. What don't you like? They are nice pics especially considering the short time you've had the camera. The late afternoon is a good time to shoot. Bounced flash and more depth of field would have helped #2.

The squirrel is a bit over exposed. But I really like the snowy one
Thanks for sharing

Thanks. There really isn't anything I dislike about these, but I thought I would post for comments. The ISO is relatively high on many of these and the noise does bother me somewhat. Late afternoon seems to come fairly early in the winter, so that's why I end up having to use ISO 1600+ much of the time outside. I have to keep the shutter speed up there as my children will generally refuse to stand still for any measurable amount of time... They are quick little guys. I'm getting an education in high speed composition with the little guys running all around, at thigh height, in low light... It's fun.

#2 was taken in my basement. I find it really difficult to get decent shots down there with the existing lighting. If I shoot in AWB, everything turns out yellow/orange, so I typically shoot in Tungsten. I have a 430EX which I use (not in this shot), but I end up with my yellow lights competing with the neutral flash and get some strange white balance dynamics going on. Thank you for the comments.

Number 4 (3083) is an outstanding photo, well done

Number 4 is the best from this set, model, lighting, sharpness, composition, everything worked perfectly.
Number 1 looks to me the focus was on the "Bell" not on the eyes.
number 2 too much noise, and the focus suffered from it.
the others are normal snapshots but still good.

Leffe67 wrote in post #13848512
#2 was taken in my basement. I find it really difficult to get decent shots down there with the existing lighting. If I shoot in AWB, everything turns out yellow/orange, so I typically shoot in Tungsten. I have a 430EX which I use (not in this shot), but I end up with my yellow lights competing with the neutral flash and get some strange white balance dynamics going on. Thank you for the comments.

Nice images and good composition. You have a good 'eye'. If you get a Full CT Orange gel and put it over the flashgun when shooting tungsten in the basement you'll get balanced images. Use window green or LEE 244 green for fluorescents.

LincsRP wrote in post #13848979
Nice images and good composition. You have a good 'eye'. If you get a Full CT Orange gel and put it over the flashgun when shooting tungsten in the basement you'll get balanced images. Use window green or LEE 244 green for fluorescents.

I had not thought of adding a gel to the flash. This is a great idea! I need to look into that immediately.

Thanks everyone for the comments.

NullMind wrote in post #13848805
Number 4 (3083) is an outstanding photo, well done

Thank you. This was a really fun day.

This was only the second time this year we received any notable amount of snow, the first storm happened in October. It was great for shooting, nice diffused light in the sky, light bouncing off all the snow on the ground and in the air. I grabbed a couple of my favorite shots that day. The image below might be my sentimental favorite. My little boy chasing me with a snowball...

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Leffe67 wrote in post #13849123
I had not thought of adding a gel to the flash. This is a great idea! I need to look into that immediately.

Thanks everyone for the comments.

I forgot to add then set your camera to tungsten as it's better than relying on auto white balance. AWB comes out a bit yucky!

I concur, I especially like #4, you can't beat a fun loving expression of a childl.

Yes #4 is a ripper. I like the moon image as well, a nice clean/sharp shot.

#4 is an amazing portrait, and that moon...wow!

get no purple side effect ? How could you make that ?

Please Help me too...

Give Advice..

Used One light and reflector..

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