More senior pictures

MT-

Thank you for the critique. There were a couple in there that I tried to use manual focus on and found that to be very difficult with the XT. I also messed up the lighting (single camera mounted flash) on the dock pictures and I could not get the exposure right. That is something I need to practice a lot on. This is the reason why I come to this forum. The best I have found. Thanks again.

Those are very nice, specially love the first. The last is a bit underexposed but that should easily be fixed in photoshop

nice shots! #1 is my fav

It would appear that you shot primarily manual. Have you played with setting the camera in AV (or TV) mode with -2stop exposure compensation and a small amount of fec (1/3 stop) either over or under (typically under)? (Result should be dramatic darker backgrounds and correctly exposed subjects)

Under normal situations I usually dial in -1/3 to -1/2 of FEC when using it for "fill". The goal being enough to lighten shadows but not enough that it looks like flash.

It was getting fairly dark when I took most of these and I was trying to get the shutter speed up. The only way I was able to figure it out was to use manual and then let the flash expose the subject a little. That is definitely an area I need a lot of practice in. I will have to try the setting that you mentioned MT and see what is does for me.

i like the third one, interesting framing.

Thanks for sharing,
Henry