My Ball

[Peach]

As with my previous critique here, I'm trying to work on getting her eyes sharp which I am beginning to think is just NOT going to happen until I get my 35mm lens that will autofocus on my D40x body. Since she holds still for only a split second and I have no tripod (probably should get one soon), these shots are by handheld method.

This picture looked in focus on the camera (darn small screen!) but not so much in Photoshop.

I actually really like this picture. I know I cut her feet off and I didn't realize that until AFTER I had taken the picture AND she had moved. She wouldn't lay down like that and leave the ball alone no how afterwards. *sigh*

So, my questions are:

1 - Is the PPing REALLY bad?
2 - Should I go for a tighter crop b/c I cut off her toes or leave it as is?
3 - Is the ball REALLY distracting or does it add to the scene?
4 - Is the exposure ok?

Thanks.
I'm beginning to feel like my pictures are just going to suck for eternity.


Play Time by JustPeachee, on Flickr

Exif
Nikon D40x
Exposure: 1/60
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO speed: 400
Focal Length: 50 mm

[homank76]

1. Your PP is fine, at least for me it is.
2. Yes, right up to the ball.
3. To me the ball adds to the seen as she has the look in her eyes "what you waiting for, I'm here to play".
4. Exposure looks good.

[karen_s]

1. PPing looks good.
2. I like the crop. Too bad about the toes and I would rather see them, but the lack of them does not ruin the image for me at all. Might I suggest shooting with a little more "slop" in the future to allow for more cropping options? This is one thing I am really trying to do more of myself.
3. NO, the ball is perfect. It helps to tell me a little about your dog.
4. Exposure looks pretty good as I see quite a bit of good detail where it needs to be. (eyes, nose, ball ...)

And the sharpness looks pretty good to. The eyes are the sharpest and that really works in this image. It is a challenge to get a shot of a dog using manual focus but if you are doing this well with manual focus, just think what you will be able to do when you get auto focus.

Edit: If you are not familiar with the "high pass filter" in Photoshop, give it a Google. The technique won't save a blurry shot, but it can sharpen up a shot that's darn close.

[Steve_S]

I think everything looks fine, all things considered. I don't care for the clipped feet though. It's always good to leave a little room around the subject, anyway.

When focusing with a manual focus lens, try this. Press the shutter half way down and turn the focus ring to focus. Most cameras will still show the focus confirmation light in the view finder showing you have focus lock. When the light is lit up solid, you will have a good focus. If it's blinking, just move a little forward, or backwards to get the lock(much easier than turning the focus ring a small amount). Hope this helps.

[Peach]

Here is a cropped version (a la suggestion of homank76)


ball v. 2.0 by JustPeachee, on Flickr

Originally Posted by homank76

1. Your PP is fine, at least for me it is.
2. Yes, right up to the ball.
3. To me the ball adds to the seen as she has the look in her eyes "what you waiting for, I'm here to play".
4. Exposure looks good.

homank76, is that what you meant by right up to the ball"? I do think it looks better than the other one though I'm still annoyed I didn't get her toes

Originally Posted by karen_s

1. PPing looks good.
2. I like the crop. Too bad about the toes and I would rather see them, but the lack of them does not ruin the image for me at all. Might I suggest shooting with a little more "slop" in the future to allow for more cropping options? This is one thing I am really trying to do more of myself.
3. NO, the ball is perfect. It helps to tell me a little about your dog.
4. Exposure looks pretty good as I see quite a bit of good detail where it needs to be. (eyes, nose, ball ...)

And the sharpness looks pretty good to. The eyes are the sharpest and that really works in this image. It is a challenge to get a shot of a dog using manual focus but if you are doing this well with manual focus, just think what you will be able to do when you get auto focus.

Edit: If you are not familiar with the "high pass filter" in Photoshop, give it a Google. The technique won't save a blurry shot, but it can sharpen up a shot that's darn close.

I usually add a bit of "slop" - room to crop and whatnot and I thought I had with this picture until I looked at on the camera. I had a milkbone cookie dangling over my head (that's why she's looking up) and I was on my knees (with jeans) in wet grass trying to get her to leave the darn ball alone (retriever; loves having a ball or bumper in her mouth; or sock; or towel; or tissue paper; ..you get the idea lol). The original isn't as sharp as this - it's not TOTALLY blurry, but it wasn't bang on. But yes, I think once I get my autofocus lens (this 50mm does have autofocus, just not compatible with my camera) I think I'll be much much better.

I haven't heard of a 'high passt filter' before - but I'll give it a look-see! I was going to put a Topaz filter on this picture, but they tend to make it more cartoonish and more paint-like. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Thanks for the suggestion!

Originally Posted by Steve_S

I think everything looks fine, all things considered. I don't care for the clipped feet though. It's always good to leave a little room around the subject, anyway.

When focusing with a manual focus lens, try this. Press the shutter half way down and turn the focus ring to focus. Most cameras will still show the focus confirmation light in the view finder showing you have focus lock. When the light is lit up solid, you will have a good focus. If it's blinking, just move a little forward, or backwards to get the lock(much easier than turning the focus ring a small amount). Hope this helps.

Hi Steve! I usually remember to leave room and I thought I had, but turns out I hadn't. I think the other thing that would help immensely with this is if I had a handler who could stand behind me and hold the cookie while I fiddle with the focus. With my 50mm, I do get the green dot in the viewfinder but unless the camera remains absolutely still, the dot flickers. Even just breathing and slight normal movements causes it to flicker. I usually try to spread my weight out and hunker down, hold my breath, and then take the picture. That's mostly what I did here, but I was also one-handing it; one hand with the cookie above my head, the other holding the camera after I had got the focus where I thought it was perfect. Another reason why I want the 35mm DX lens.

Thanks everyone. I guess this picture isn't as bad as I thought it was. I will make a mental note next time to make SURE I have her toes in the picture(and her tail, b/c you know that'll be the next one that I cut off *sigh*) and hopefully I'll be getting the new lens soon and that should really make a difference!

[crockny]

Originally Posted by Steve_S

I think everything looks fine, all things considered. I don't care for the clipped feet though. It's always good to leave a little room around the subject, anyway.

When focusing with a manual focus lens, try this. Press the shutter half way down and turn the focus ring to focus. Most cameras will still show the focus confirmation light in the view finder showing you have focus lock. When the light is lit up solid, you will have a good focus. If it's blinking, just move a little forward, or backwards to get the lock(much easier than turning the focus ring a small amount). Hope this helps.

Does this work with an autofocus/manual focus lens as well? If so, this is huge for me! My eyesight is not the best and trying to use hyperfocal distance with autofocus while practically lying on the ground is difficult to say the least! I'm getting too old for this ...

[Peepers]

I don't think my opinion is very helpful because what I know would fit in a thimble but I love this photo especially what you've gotten there with the eyes. Beautiful eyes.