comments on my picture please

Schizo · 27 Apr 2010 at 21:53

hi all,been messing about with my camera lately as the nice weather is getting here at last.

been changing some setting's on my fuji s9600 and would like some comment's from you lot as to what i need to improve on.

this is my daughter this morning in the garden.

Raymond Lin · 27 Apr 2010 at 22:01

Please don't take offence but i'll get straight to the point(s).

1 - wrong time of day, the shadows are all wrong. Try shooting nearer sunset or in the shadows.
2 - you can tell its too bright as the photo is really flat, she is squinting a bit too.
3 - it slightly out of focus
4 - you need see her eyes to make the photo pop really, you want to catch that light in her eye.
5 - I dunno what you are trying to do but that sunflower is distracting from your daughter who is the main subject.

Schizo · 27 Apr 2010 at 22:23

thanks raymond.

im not going to take offence for any comment's people want to give me what so ever.

i have taken your comment's on-board and your right.

as a new photographer i don't have a clue what a good picture look's like and with your comment's i will look harder as to the right condition's next time.

i needed to have a reply from a professional who take's photo's a lot more than me and have years of experience and have always liked your photo's raymond.

many thanks for your time to reply.

peterattheboro · 27 Apr 2010 at 22:28

As Raymond has said. It's a fun learning curve though. Just keeping shooting and check out what other people are doing and try and imitate those images that you like which in my opinion is one of the best ways to learn.

Schizo · 27 Apr 2010 at 22:30

peterattheboro said:
As Raymond has said. It's a fun learning curve though. Just keeping shooting and check out what other people are doing and try and imitate those images that you like which in my opinion is one of the best ways to learn.

your so right there,i do spend a lot of time in photography lately and im amazed as the quality of picture's some people take.

once a get a better camera i think the quality will get better.

Derek W · 27 Apr 2010 at 22:47

schizo220168 said:
thanks raymond.
as a new photographer i don't have a clue what a good picture look's like and with your comment's i will look harder as to the right condition's next time.

i needed to have a reply from a professional who take's photo's a lot more than me and have years of experience and have always liked your photo's raymond.

I find the first part that I've quoted a bit odd when i read the second part I quoted there.

You said you dont have a clue what a good picture looks like but followed it up with saying you're a bit of a fan of raymonds pics. Ask yourself why you like raymonds photos. I'm guessing you may be wanting to concentrate on portraiture so Raymonds wedding work will be useful to look at and try to get the thinking behind some of his shots and learn how to portray that feeling you get from his shots in your own work?

The forums here and other photography related webpages are a fantastic source to find areas of photography that you're interested in. I'm sure you'll find yourself trawling the net for tutorials and looking at other peoples work to see how you can improve your own shots but most of all, have fun with your photography and keep taking pics

PieEater · 27 Apr 2010 at 22:47

schizo220168 said:
once a get a better camera i think the quality will get better.

Assuming a better quality camera equates to better quality photographs is a common mistake. Raymonds suggestions are purely based on how you have composed and lit the shot, this is nothing to do with the camera you are using. The Fuji s9600 is a fine camera and is more than capable of taking some great photo's, I would suggest getting to grips with the camera you have and the basics of photography before considering splashing out a whole lot more money.

BruceLee · 28 Apr 2010 at 11:55

PieEater said:
Assuming a better quality camera equates to better quality photographs is a common mistake. Raymonds suggestions are purely based on how you have composed and lit the shot, this is nothing to do with the camera you are using. The Fuji s9600 is a fine camera and is more than capable of taking some great photo's, I would suggest getting to grips with the camera you have and the basics of photography before considering splashing out a whole lot more money.

Yep, I had a S9600 for 3 years and for what it is it produced some great pictures, sure it's high ISO capabilities are rubbish (I wouldn't use anything over ISO 200 unless desperate) but in good light it's a great camera, I've kept mine as a backup. I learnt a lot using it, it's got most of the controls of a DSLR, good focal length, RAW capability/bracketing plus other bits including decent SD video (CCD so no awful jelly wobble). The tiltable screen was useful, only slightly marred by the LCD viewfinder but I only really noticed that after going to the D90.

58mm filter thread so not expensive if you want to try those and AA batteries so just buy 2 sets of rechargables and that should be fine for you.

Had some great prints at larger than A3 from it as well.

Schizo · 30 Apr 2010 at 08:15

i think i must had written some of my reply's wrong guy's.

i like raymond's photo's not because of the quality but of the atmosphere he creates with them and how he pick's his shot's.

i know i will pick this up in time and i am looking forward to picking the right time and place for a good shot.

The_TailGunner · 30 Apr 2010 at 09:11

if you really do have to take a picture in harsh sunlight like that (sometimes its the only time you can get the image), try using a flash. it will help to fill in the shadows caused by the strong sunlight.

Schizo · 30 Apr 2010 at 09:14

The_TailGunner said:
if you really do have to take a picture in harsh sunlight like that (sometimes its the only time you can get the image), try using a flash. it will help to fill in the shadows caused by the strong sunlight.

nice tip,ill try that next time.

thanks.

The_TailGunner · 30 Apr 2010 at 09:17

schizo220168 said:
nice tip,ill try that next time.

thanks.

no problem. for more info, google 'fill flash'

3dcandy · 1 May 2010 at 11:49

sometimes it's not the technical stuff that impresses either. catching a moment can produce excellent results, but that will come. I like to catch what I've seen and hopefully keep some of the flaws as a result, some people prefer to process out these...each to their own. The more you practise and take photo's hopefully the more you'd learn and improve your photo's. Here's a photo of mine using fill flash for you to take a look at...

this_is_gav · 2 May 2010 at 09:58

The problem you often find with fill flash countering a harsh sun is that it looks like the subject has been photoshopped into another photo, due to the light looking completely unnatural - for example in the above shot. It's difficult finding the right balance between too much fill and harsh shadows.

A better solution where possible is to use some natural diffusion. Take a shot under a canopy of trees, or essentially anywhere away from the direct sun. Adding in fill flash can then be done much more subtly - just enough to lift the shadows a little - or better still use a reflector.

iSam · 2 May 2010 at 11:22

I use a reflector in strong sunlight to bounce natural light back into the face from whichever direction is best. I agree with this_is_gay that fill flash doesn't work and looks completely unnatural.

3dcandy · 2 May 2010 at 17:59

the picture was chosen to show how the fill in flash can go the other way. the pic was processed like that as I was asked to make it like that! I agree it can look false, but some of that was on the request of the person who I took the photo for...technically quite rubbish but she was very impressed. go figure!