Poker night fun, but....

[RAWcop]

I was in no way ready to be taking staged shots, but at a James Bond themed party I was able to get this shot (after a few trys) of my friend. What could have been changed? I have edited the picture a few ways, but it seems too dark. the other seems too light. maybe the lighting isn't the right mood. Any suggestions on how I can change it next time or if there is a Photoshop technique I should try? note: I have the picture in RAW format still for future fixings.

[MrJones]

read the rules... you may post only one photo and you need to post your EXIF.
main problem? you used the on camera flash with full power.

[RAWcop]

Originally Posted by MrJones

read the rules... you may post only one photo and you need to post your EXIF.
main problem? you used the on camera flash with full power.

Sorry...I missed that. just trying to give an example of both. thanks.

[Nicole]

I just popped this over to comparison critique, so it's fine to have the 2 shots, but yep, if you can add some of the technical details that would be helpful for suggestions (especially about the lighting in this case).

I think the lighting is too harsh and too direct on both of them. I think changing your lighting would help immensely. But at the moment I'm not quite certain how I would change it. Maybe I'll think of something later.

The other thing is that my thought is that you took the time to set this shot up. But, in setting the shot up you didn't clean up the miscellaneous stuff around the table like the soda can and stuff in the right corner. If you're taking the time to set up a shot make sure that everything in the photo contributes to it. Remove things that don't, add things that will. Like since this is a James Bond theme, if you'd had a martini glass (even if it were filled with the soda from that can), that would contribute.

It's not all bad though. I mean, you did a good job capturing the card in midair. And I quite like the pose. So you've got those things as a good starting place. Keep trying things like this.

[lbaranyai973]

Originally Posted by MrJones

read the rules... you may post only one photo and you need to post your EXIF.
main problem? you used the on camera flash with full power.

This part of the forum is used to compare photos. The only place you can submit two images.

[IABoomer]

Nicole's suggestions about cleaning up the shot of clutter are good. Something you might want to try is lengthen the time the shutter is open, which will decrease the aperture, then use the slow-sync/ rear-sync/ second-curtain sync for the flash (different companies call it different things). This might get you the effect of a trail of the card path, but the sync at the end of the exposure could freeze it in the air to show the detail as well.

A nice side effect of the smaller aperture will be a deeper depth of field so you might be able to better discern the detail of the card.

[RAWcop]

Originally Posted by lbaranyai973

This part of the forum is used to compare photos. The only place you can submit two images.

Technically it is the same picture, just different exposure setting in post-production.

The card has been shopped to make it seem like it is closer (hence the distortion).

But thanks for the advice. I will play around with it some more. I will try to get rid of the soda can and maybe add a martini glass.

[statichash]

Fun idea for a shot! I really like Nicole's advice for adding the martini glass, it give's it that added touch to make it flow with the theme. I prefer the look of the first in comparison to the second, but just like you said it's a bit too light.

[wal]

I like the editing done.. Just that the cuffs seems to be blown out due to over expose.. Striking picture.!!

[RAWcop]

Originally Posted by statichash

Fun idea for a shot! I really like Nicole's advice for adding the martini glass, it give's it that added touch to make it flow with the theme. I prefer the look of the first in comparison to the second, but just like you said it's a bit too light.

Here is the edited picture with the martini glass. I toned it down just a little too.



Thanks all for the input!