New- Lots of questions

Here's a picture, that I shot yesterday around 5pm. I'm just starting out and would love a list of what's wrong.

Settings: 1/3200, f/4.5 800

I would lower your ISO to 100 (usually sue as low of ISO as to properly expose) and just lower that shutter speed to 1/400 sec.

As for light, it looks ok to me. Not everything should be fully lit. I the future, maybe a reflector on the left would bounce some light back to that part of her face.

Is is salvageable, sure, did you shoot RAW or jpeg? (as RAW is always easier to salvage)

I took some others at ISO 400. And they seem to have a truer green, less yellow, is that related to the ISO being too high?

In this one, the focus seems soft, but I don't know what I did that caused it.

Setting: 400 f1/.8 1/2500

I think the color difference between the two is that the first one appears to be a bit overexposed, and its obvious that it was taken more directly in the setting sun which will change the colors a bit compared to open shade. Shooting in hard sun is tough. In the first one you can see how hard the shadow is. One option is to turn the subject so the sun is behind them, then use your flash to fill in the shadows that fall on their face. The other is just avoid the hard light, which can be tough this time of year in north America.

gonzogolf wrote in post #11370951
I think the color difference between the two is that the first one appears to be a bit overexposed, and its obvious that it was taken more directly in the setting sun which will change the colors a bit compared to open shade. Shooting in hard sun is tough. In the first one you can see how hard the shadow is. One option is to turn the subject so the sun is behind them, then use your flash to fill in the shadows that fall on their face. The other is just avoid the hard light, which can be tough this time of year in north America.

You're right, I have to hurry home to work to salvage just a little bit of daylight. But it's sounding like I should wait just a few more minutes and get the less harsh light. There's about 15 minutes time difference between the shots.

I didn't shoot in RAW, but that's good to know that would help pp. Like I said I'm not so much interested in saving these pictures. I'm going to reshoot tonight.

Any other suggestions for attempt number 2?

So far I've got:
Try shooting with a lower ISO
Avoid the harsh light
Don't chop off limbs
Keep the horizontal line between grass the shrubs straight

Play with fill flash some.

Thanks!! Any suggestions for the soft focus?

Just to use one shot focus mode, pick a single focal point and go from there. I tend to focus/recompose I use the focus point closest to the subject that I want (almost always the eye on a portrait) lock the focus in and adjust slightly for framing.

gonzogolf is a really experienced shooter and after you try his advice, you might even want to put the camera in AI Servo as your adroable little model probably doesn't sit still for a split second! If you use single shot, it's going to focus at that particular point in time. If she moves slightly, you'll see an OOF shot.

My suggestion: Put camera in AI Servo, assign focus duty to the * button at back of camera to keep continuous focus and shoot a burst of 3 shots when taking pics of the baby. This way, you'll likely see one or more in perfect focus.

Also, in those shooting conditions, ISO of 100 or 200 tops should be enough to get decent enough shutter speed to produce a sharp shot.

dave

snyderman wrote in post #11375820
gonzogolf is a really experienced shooter and after you try his advice, you might even want to put the camera in AI Servo as your adroable little model probably doesn't sit still for a split second! If you use single shot, it's going to focus at that particular point in time. If she moves slightly, you'll see an OOF shot.

My suggestion: Put camera in AI Servo, assign focus duty to the * button at back of camera to keep continuous focus and shoot a burst of 3 shots when taking pics of the baby. This way, you'll likely see one or more in perfect focus.

Also, in those shooting conditions, ISO of 100 or 200 tops should be enough to get decent enough shutter speed to produce a sharp shot.

dave

Good points, I forget that shooting little ones isnt like shooting adults.

Thanks! I'll try that. Last nights attempt was not good. The only good thing that happened was I caught my daughter standing for the first time. I quickly had to turn to AUTO so I didn't screw up the pictures too bad :P.

One thing I did notice when I was out of daylight that my white balance was set to flash. I think that was probably messing with the color.

Here's my favorite
Settings: 1/320 f2.0 100

You should try shooting in raw rather than .jpg. It adds a tiny bit of time on the back end to process to .jpg from raw. But the ability precisely control your white balance and tweak the exposure, sharpness, and saturation make it more than worth the effort. The new images are nice, I think most parents would be happy with those.

The more you shoot and just get use to the camera and the setting the more you will improve! Are you using the 50 1.8? If so try using it around 2.5 and on. Find your sweet spot and you will be loving the results Definitely recommend shooting in raw format, then you can play more with your photos. Also use your histogram. That was the best piece of advice that I got when I started out. Have fun!!! Cute girl btw

Absolutely use ISO 100 in sun light. You might be able to salvage the original shot by using recovery and fill light (Lightroom terms).

indeed, not sure why your ISO keep fluctuating soo much.. it really shouldnt change unless you arent getting the shutter speed you need in low light.. with the shutter speeds you are getting, i dont see a need to change you ISO, at least thats one thing thats a constant

I keep mine at 100, maybe 400 indoors

as far as the color its def your WB settings, i dont know if its me or canon, but i never get consistent WB on AWB, i would suggest a grey card or an expodisc type device..