Critiques/Starting Points

Hello all,

I am new to DSLR, have had an XT a little over a week. and its been a long time since I processed an image and would like some help with where to start. Any Critique will help. I am thinking in the first one noise needs to be reduced and maybe the edges softened:

first one....really, really bad.
second one: not that bad for lighting, but expression of the model is really, really...bad

I would say that you're correct about too much flash. You need some soft shadows on her face to bring out the facial contours and give the appearance of 3-dimensionality. The flash has pretty much wiped out what shadows would have been there.

In both pictures the tonal merger between her hair and the background is significant and should be corrected with controlled lighting of the background.

michelgauthierdesign wrote in post #8236689
first one....really, really bad.
second one: not that bad for lighting, but expression of the model is really, really...bad

Not the most helpful critique. The 1st one is underexposed, you could use some fill light to bring it back a bit, but it would be very noisy. The second one seems to have too much flash like you thought.

Ok, first, what is right, I think you had the right idea for the shot type, and for the framing, but tweaking your lighting is going to be key here.

First off, shot 1: I seewhat you are trying to do (I think), I think you wanted harsher shadows and kind of a "moody" look, the problem with that sort of shot, is that the light must be right on. If that is what you were going for, I can give you some timps on that.

Shot 2: Better, but yes, too much flash. Try the same shot, but diffuse the flash, that may help.

Can you share your settings for these shots?

Lastley, the model: She looks great, the only thing I would be careful of is distracting factors. The competing colors in her outfit, and the thing in her hair, while interesting, draw your eye away from her eyes, which seem to be the intended focal point in shot 2.

So try some new things and lets see the results!

Second one does have too much flash, but it's definitely not the most overexposed (by flash) picture I've seen on these forums. You're on the right track, and you'll only get better with more practice!

DarksideTi wrote in post #8239606
Ok, first, what is right, I think you had the right idea for the shot type, and for the framing, but tweaking your lighting is going to be key here.

First off, shot 1: I seewhat you are trying to do (I think), I think you wanted harsher shadows and kind of a "moody" look, the problem with that sort of shot, is that the light must be right on. If that is what you were going for, I can give you some timps on that.

Shot 2: Better, but yes, too much flash. Try the same shot, but diffuse the flash, that may help.

Can you share your settings for these shots?

Lastley, the model: She looks great, the only thing I would be careful of is distracting factors. The competing colors in her outfit, and the thing in her hair, while interesting, draw your eye away from her eyes, which seem to be the intended focal point in shot 2.

So try some new things and lets see the results!

Hey thank you for the helpful criticism. These were actually candid shots, I was not setting up. I was literally sitting on the floor taking shots on the 4th of July. For the first one I noticed the shadowing so I popped the shot off before she moved; next time I will tell her to freeze while I change some stuff!

I was using a 50 mark II, at 1.8 I believe. As far as ISO, it was 400 I believe, which in the first shot would account for the low light. I need to do a better job remembering my settings.

I had just gotten the flash, a 430 EX, earlier in the afternoon; I do not have a diffuser so I was bouncing it of walls to try and cut some of the flash.

Again thank you for the tips!

Jay-Bird wrote in post #8240710
Hey thank you for the helpful criticism. These were actually candid shots, I was not setting up. I was literally sitting on the floor taking shots on the 4th of July. For the first one I noticed the shadowing so I popped the shot off before she moved; next time I will tell her to freeze while I change some stuff!

I was using a 50 mark II, at 1.8 I believe. As far as ISO, it was 400 I believe, which in the first shot would account for the low light. I need to do a better job remembering my settings.

I had just gotten the flash, a 430 EX, earlier in the afternoon; I do not have a diffuser so I was bouncing it of walls to try and cut some of the flash.

Again thank you for the tips!

What is a 50 mark II? The EXIF says you were using a Rebel XT.

Robert_Lay wrote in post #8242656
What is a 50 mark II? The EXIF says you were using a Rebel XT.

I think he meant a 50mm 1.8 II

Yes that is what I meant.

OK - that makes more sense, but I guess I still not sure what the "II" portion stands for.

The lens is a 'Mark II" (second generation).

I agree with the previous reply that "really really bad" is not useful C&C.

The first shot was very under exposed but the model's expression was good and the comp was good too.