Took some shots of a boxer on the fly. Help me improve

*Edited, posted them on flickr*
I know it is Facebook and it requires an account, but it is public and I am on the road reading thru my phone. I used my 50mm and 430EX. I just started shooting in January so I hope that gives you a benchmark on my experience.

Way too many photos, pick a few, upload to photobucked or flickr and then post them here. A few of them are nice. Some of them aren't.

Facebook is not a photosharing site, is a social site. Don't expect your photos to look greatin facebook.

I uploaded a few that I liked so people can help you out. You need to watch how you crop, you are cropping her fingers, hands wrist in some of your photos.

Focus is soft in some of them, make sure to user AI Servo. Also use flash "OFF" camera for better results, the flash looks harsh on her.

I think you did a good job here. Maybe some editing needed but good job.

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I went through the album and it easily gave me an idea of your work. There are a few pretty good shots and I agree there are a lot of very average shots. While you've got time on the road you should do some reading on the the basic "rules" of photography. Guidelines really. A quick google search should be fine on the "fundamentals of photography" or the like.

The "rules" you will come across - rule of thirds, isolation of subject, composition basics etc - are made to be broken. They are not meant to be followed religiously for every photo, but they WILL help you take your photography to the next level.

The main issues I had with your images was composition and isolation of the subject. Your 50mm goes all the way up to aperture f/1.8, which will allow you to put the boxer in focus and isolate her from the background. Having everything in focus often distracts from the subject. You should also be aware of where to position the boxer in the frame. If she is looking left, have her positioned on the right third line so that she can "look" into the space in front of her (as mentioned, google 'rule of thirds'). Also be aware of the boxers expression and frame and post process accordingly, which you have done in a couple of shots.

If you want detailed critique, you need to post a few photos here rather than a link to an album. You will get much better critique that way. However, I think I've given you some things to start on.

My favorites by far were #20, #24 and #42, and they happen to line up with a lot of the said 'guidelines'.

Hope that helped a little and best of luck

I would have put them on flickr so you could see the exifs, but I uploaded them and fell asleep and had to come to work this morning at 4:30. I used mainly 1.8 to 2.8. When the flash was on I bounced it off something with a diffuser. With flash off I was at 1600 b/c the flourcent lights. So dim.
I used the 3rds in a lot of photos. I felt a lot of them were too hot. I edited the raw in Canon dpp and then finished in Lightroom2. I am always reading and getting advice. Thanks!

erikfig wrote in post #14843824
Way too many photos, pick a few, upload to photobucked or flickr and then post them here. A few of them are nice. Some of them aren't.

Facebook is not a photosharing site, is a social site. Don't expect your photos to look greatin facebook.

I uploaded a few that I liked so people can help you out. You need to watch how you crop, you are cropping her fingers, hands wrist in some of your photos.

Focus is soft in some of them, make sure to user AI Servo. Also use flash "OFF" camera for better results, the flash looks harsh on her.

I think you did a good job here. Maybe some editing needed but good job.

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I agree. I actually deleted it down from over 100. I am going back to take some more down.
The camera was on AI Servo.

ericfig picked some great ones.
I especially like his first and last.
First: playful look, not menacing. Could use a bit more light to boost the playfulness. If she had a fierce, intense look, the lighting is perfect.
Last: Great capture. She's tired...she may be losing or winning her bout and she's tired. A tired she's in the middle of earning. She's listening to the coaching she's getting in the corner, but she's not hearing all of it. She's got that thousand-yard sniper stare going on...she's locked onto her opponent and getting ready for the next round.

Definitely like it!
Thanks for sharing with POTN.

I am going to upload them to flickr when I get home so you can read the exifs. It was hard to get her to look mean cause she is sooo bubbly. Always smiling (but a WIBA ) winner. I upload 900X900 to the net for quicker upload. I do agree and deleted some repetitive lines down

mattmorgan44 wrote in post #14843867
I went through the album and it easily gave me an idea of your work. There are a few pretty good shots and I agree there are a lot of very average shots. While you've got time on the road you should do some reading on the the basic "rules" of photography. Guidelines really. A quick google search should be fine on the "fundamentals of photography" or the like.

The "rules" you will come across - rule of thirds, isolation of subject, composition basics etc - are made to be broken. They are not meant to be followed religiously for every photo, but they WILL help you take your photography to the next level.

The main issues I had with your images was composition and isolation of the subject. Your 50mm goes all the way up to aperture f/1.8, which will allow you to put the boxer in focus and isolate her from the background. Having everything in focus often distracts from the subject. You should also be aware of where to position the boxer in the frame. If she is looking left, have her positioned on the right third line so that she can "look" into the space in front of her (as mentioned, google 'rule of thirds'). Also be aware of the boxers expression and frame and post process accordingly, which you have done in a couple of shots.

If you want detailed critique, you need to post a few photos here rather than a link to an album. You will get much better critique that way. However, I think I've given you some things to start on.

My favorites by far were #20, #24 and #42, and they happen to line up with a lot of the said 'guidelines'.

Hope that helped a little and best of luck

Looking left position her in the right 3rd. I will definately remember that for next time...

Here are some I thought were good:
(I just realized this was at 1.8 and not focused on her face)

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Be harsh on yourself so that others aren't harsh for you (i.e. don't post any pics that are out of focus like the last one in the previous post). Delete, delete, delete. Some very good ones to be sure. Good thinking that the flash would highlight the sweat, but on camera makes it highlight too much. The reflections come right back into the camera. Off camera flash would make the sweat glisten and then reflect off to nowhere, which is good.

These posted here look pretty good. The color, exposure, and DOF control are all well handled.

And she looks quite happy.

Yeah good shots you have posted here last one is soft.

gtrag94 wrote in post #14846728
Be harsh on yourself so that others aren't harsh for you (i.e. don't post any pics that are out of focus like the last one in the previous post). Delete, delete, delete. Some very good ones to be sure. Good thinking that the flash would highlight the sweat, but on camera makes it highlight too much. The reflections come right back into the camera. Off camera flash would make the sweat glisten and then reflect off to nowhere, which is good.

Your right. I am working on getting one soon. Reflectors did nothing under that lighting too.

2.8 1/30 on the 50mm, no flash seemed to be the best. When she is sparring though. Thats difficult. I need good settings there.

ian_socool wrote in post #14847691
2.8 1/30 on the 50mm, no flash seemed to be the best. When she is sparring though. Thats difficult. I need good settings there.

When she is sparring or moving at all really, 1/30 second shutter speed will usually give you blurry shots at 50mm. You will probably need to increase ISO and get that shutter speed way up if you don't want to use flash.

However, a little motion blur can be great but only when used properly (like the fist and arm slightly blurred but the boxer sharp, showing a punching action)