Hello =D Chocolate Critique?

[Clarissaaaa]

Hey photographers! I'm quite new to this photography thing and its seeming very fun right now (Just started like 2 weeks ago?). So I'm pretty much a beginner at it . It's becoming an obsession though, and I don't think it'll die off anytime soon.

Anyway, I just shot a new shot of the chocolates I stole from my cousin. It's a bit spoiled? (The chocolate reacted with water) Hehe.
Can you kind souls please chop it up and be as harsh on it as possible? Please?(again).


A friend said it looked like crap.... like.. you know. Yeah..
Oh well.

Its taken with a Canon IXUS 95 IS. I don't have a DSLR yet. Hopefully. Yet.

Thank you !!!

Edit Edit! btw, the info:

ISO: 100
Shutter speed: 1/5 why is it so slow?
ermm F thingy... F2.8 ... drats I forgot what it was! Aperture divided by something something? Sorry xD
Shot in Macro mode?
Exposure compensation +1/3 ?
Handheld?

well I don't know whats the point since I can't really control the settings.

And erm Questions:
Is it exposed correctly?
Focused enough?
Is the depth of field okay?
And erm everything else you can think of?
I don't know! Sorry sorry. xD

Thank you .

[Lightwriter]

I don't see any photo. Maybe the guidelines for posting images will help you fix that. Posting Pictures from Photo Sharing Sites (A visual guide)

[Clarissaaaa]

Okay corrected. Sorry again xD Thank you!

[Lightwriter]

All the basics (exposure, depth of field, etc) look fine. If you wanted to have more of the candies in focus you should use a larger f/number. f/8 is usually as high as point and shoot models can go. Your shutter speed is slow because you are shooting at 100 ISO in (what I assume to be) low light.
As far as you actual shot goes, it's OK. The red stripes in the background are distracting. And, well, your chocolates look more like potatoes. Unless you are trying for a grunge look you should always photograph your nicest samples. With your DoF so small you would really need 2 or 3 really nice candies with other more flawed ones out of focus to give illusion that they are all that nice.

[Clarissaaaa]

Thank you. xD I guess I'll find better subjects next time then ( unfortunately they are all flawed ).
And sorry, but what would you consider low light? and what is considered high light? ... is high light the right term? And what ISO levels should I stay in when I'm at high/low light? ... I'm not really sure about my point and shoot's aperture since I can't control it.

[bbtom10]

Hi Clarissa (if that is your real name?!),

I think you demonstrate a good eye for an arty shot - you need to think about how bright the view through your viewfinder is (or ''will be' once you are thinking about things in advance) and use your ISO accordingly.

Remember the magic triangle of exposure - the correct exposure is a combination of Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO. With your point and shoot you probably have little control over these, but if you can control one then you can change them all (to a degree).

If you are shooting in bright or direct sunlight, then ISO 100 is the setting to use as it is the least 'sensitive'. If you are shooting indoors in a dimly lit room, or outside at night, then you want to use your highest ISO (400? 800?) as this increases the sensitivity of your camera. The camera will compensate by choosing the right Aperture (size of the hole in your lens) and Shutter speed to ensure it gets the exposure right.

You can help it along by telling it the kind of shot you want, so for example if you choose a sport mode (man running), it will try and fix the shutter speed as high as possible, so will select a low Aperture (low aperture number = a big hole because it is a proportion of your focal length). And at that point I stop before I overwhelm you as I don't know what your level is yet!

Tom

[Lightwriter]

Originally Posted by Clarissaaaa

Thank you. xD I guess I'll find better subjects next time then ( unfortunately they are all flawed ).
And sorry, but what would you consider low light? and what is considered high light? ... is high light the right term? And what ISO levels should I stay in when I'm at high/low light? ... I'm not really sure about my point and shoot's aperture since I can't control it.

In this instance I was talking about general indoor lighting. It's not really ideal for photograhy. Seeing as how you are just starting out and likely have no extra lights or off-camera flash units, I would take yourself and your subject out side. The light of the sun will allow you to shoot on ISO 100 (or 80 if your camera permits it) at a faster shutter speed. A piece of white or colored paper will give you a nice background for small objects.
Here are some links to help you out Macro Photography Tips for Point and Shoot Digital Cameras ....I can't seem to find the other link I wanted to share. If I locate it again I'll post it for you.

Edit: I found the other link: http://www.diyphotography.net/homest...ighting-needed

[Clarissaaaa]

Originally Posted by bbtom10

Hi Clarissa (if that is your real name?!),

I think you demonstrate a good eye for an arty shot - you need to think about how bright the view through your viewfinder is (or ''will be' once you are thinking about things in advance) and use your ISO accordingly.

Remember the magic triangle of exposure - the correct exposure is a combination of Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO. With your point and shoot you probably have little control over these, but if you can control one then you can change them all (to a degree).

If you are shooting in bright or direct sunlight, then ISO 100 is the setting to use as it is the least 'sensitive'. If you are shooting indoors in a dimly lit room, or outside at night, then you want to use your highest ISO (400? 800?) as this increases the sensitivity of your camera. The camera will compensate by choosing the right Aperture (size of the hole in your lens) and Shutter speed to ensure it gets the exposure right.

You can help it along by telling it the kind of shot you want, so for example if you choose a sport mode (man running), it will try and fix the shutter speed as high as possible, so will select a low Aperture (low aperture number = a big hole because it is a proportion of your focal length). And at that point I stop before I overwhelm you as I don't know what your level is yet!

Tom

Yes Clarissa is my real name ^^, and no I'm not being overwhelmed haha. I'll go try to shoot more interesting stuffs once my exams are over (I'm being overwhelmed by them), but I brightly lit my room and got some pretty high shutter speeds (1/400) Woohoo! Thank you ^^. It kinda didn't cross my mind. I just went, "dumb camera = =" Haha. (I know I shouldn't be doing but but whoops? Dumb me instead?)

[Clarissaaaa]

Thank you for helping me find the links! and also the advice too (of course) and yes it worked! the ISO thing...
When I saw the studio link I was like. Oh no... do I need a gigantic space?! and then I was like... phew, just a table and a paper, I can do that. I'll try it out sometime ^^.
And I think I broke the "brightly lit room" rule in the other link... (I shot it at night) Whoops!
Sorry for making you point out the obvious >