Frustrated with images, could use some help

I took these at the park yesterday. The sun and shade conditions were challenging for me in terms of metering. I am not the best at gauging light and shadows yet since I am a newbie. I used the 85mm 1.8 lens and kept the camera in Tv mode in order to have a high shutter so I could concentrate on focus more. Does my focus look okay. I was able to use higher apertures and although the focus didn't fall exactly where I planted it, I think it fell within the DOF.

For shots where the subject is facing me, I have been aiming for the iris. I also tried the eyebrow and nose for a few shots and even tried focus recompose (which I generally avoid to minimize possibilites for error). I still can't get the focus to fall on the face or even close enough for super sharp eyes that I can get from a close-up. I checked my focus in zoom browser and the red box is where I put it, but focus is almost always down and to the left. Does the distance play a role in that? Or should the eyes be just as sharp as in a close-up? I'm guessing it's user error and wanted to see what others thought.

How do these look?

I am trying to learn as much as I can and value your feedback. Thank you very much.

Are these shot in JPG or RAW? In RAW your focus is going to not be as sharp. If in JPG it might be just the distance that is affecting your exact focus..I have the issue in lower lighting a lot, not quite sure what Im doing wrong. But the photos you posted look fine. At the reduced size you are also going to loose some sharpness that can be regained using photoshop and the Unsharp Mask Filter.

Thank you for the response. These were shot in JPEG and had some adjustments (USM, levels, contrast) in PS.

Here is a 100% crop of the eyes with a USM 60-1-0. Should I be getting sharper?

Really? Not to threadjack but why is that?

Which version of Photoshop do you have? I was able to reveal quite a bit more detail with Smart Sharpen (PS CS2) ...

I have PS7. I usually do USM at 60-1-0, should I be doing it differently?

I'd post what I did but since you don't have Image Editing Ok selected I'm not going to out of respect. Can't remember if 7 has Smart Sharpen right above USM or not...

Were you shooting in the afternoon? Afternoon sun is very unforgiving especially in open areas.

As for USM I use 150/1.0/0 as starting point for photo w/ people as subject.

As for CC other then composition the color is not poppng for me because of the Afternoon sun color tends to become washout. I would show what I mean but you don't have the edit ok turn on.

No smart sharpening came out w/ CS2

At least in Canon, RAW is as is from the sensor no adjustment is made b the in camera processor as far as sharpenng and color outside of WB

Thank you for all of your responses. I am okay with image editing, anything to help me learn and I would be thrilled to see what you were able to come up with! I will turn that on in my cp right now.

Thank you lostdoggy for the tip on sharpening. I will try those numbers.

Should I have used my flash for fill and/or to help the color pop? Do you think I have a problem with focus? I really want to learn. Thanks again.

RAW images are not processed they come out naturally less sharp and less saturated that a JPG equivalent. You can if you have a 1D set some custom settings to make sure in RAW it does sharpen and saturate, but the USM Is very essential for RAW processing IMO.

Try this USM

Pass 1 = 160,1,0
Pass 2 = 15,100,0
Pass 3 = 15,100,0

Then bump the levels up (center value) from 1 to 1.1 or 1.2. Leave contrast alone as the USM will usually bump the contrast look for you.

I find this shaprens quite nicely...

I've learned tons from these tutorials ( http://www.zenadsl5251​.zen.co.uk/photos/tuto​rials.html ). You may want to take a look at them - there's one on sharpening near the bottom of the list.

Holy moley, what a difference that makes. Thank you, thank you, thank cosworth! I am going to check out that link stlscape. Wow! This place rocks. I am really grateful for your help.