Need help on this picture

[mark449]

Ok so last friday was my first wedding. I wasn't the main photographer i was helping my friend with the video, but when the wedding photographers showed up with point and shoots my roll changed. But this is a picture i took for my friend for the video i didnt have very much time to set up the shot. so can you guys help me out on if it good?


xposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
Exposure: 0.00
ISO Speed: 320
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

[t blanchard]

I would crop out the right side of the photo - it kind of muddies the composition. Then the focus is on the glass. Ideally you would have gone vertical and captured the entire glass (including stem) and the napkin, but I think cropping out the right will clean it up a bit.

Nice bokeh in the image!

[Cabe]

Originally Posted by mark449

when the wedding photographers showed up with point and shoots

I do hope you got their money too, that's rather tragic.

Back on topic, I love the way the eye is drawn all the way to the back, very nice. As t blanchard said I would have also taken a portrait and possibly pushed the exposure a little bit, then the blue in the background would really pop.

[dcclark]

If you're feeling a little adventurous, I would edit the glass slightly to lighten it (use the dodge tool in your favorite editor). That, and cropping off the right, would probably help keep my eye on the glass instead of being drawn around elsewhere.

[mark449]

Ill try that and post it up again

[PhotoNewt]

So I guess I'll provide the dissenting opinion here...

Don't get upset about my criticisim, there are some suggestions here to improve future shots.

1. The focal point of the picture, the glass/napkin, is cut-off on the top and bottom. I agree with others, a portrait orientation would have worked much better here. Close framing the glass to isolate it from the background would have produced a stronger image as well.

2. The overall focus is soft which could work well for other subjects but does not for this one. This is not a focusing problem but rather a consequence of using your prime wide open allowing spherical aberration to make the focus soft. Is better when using this lens, to set the camera on aperture priority mode with an aperture of at least f/2.8 to elevate the quality - if possible, go up to f/4. This will also increase contrast and color saturation on the final image.

3. The out-of-focus bokeh has many ring artifacts on the highlights that are quite distracting. By choosing a different angle/composition this can be minimized.

Hope this helps for your next time...

[mark449]

Thank ill keep that in mind for the next time i try something like that.