New camera, first photo

[BAILEY]

Hi all,

I have just made the exciting jump from film to digital. Here is one of my first shots of my son. I am currently study photography and I believe the biggest part of learning is via feedback. Please leave any you may have..

Thanks for looking!

Canon 550d
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 33 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Flash: On, Fired

[Gaurav Prabhu]

First of all congrats on your new camera. Now coming to the picture, I would would have loved to see in the picture is his left eye in sharp focus. Increasing the aperture should work. Also since its a portrait you should have left some space on the left side, the side in which the subject is looking.

[BigFuzzy]

Hi Bailey, and welcome to DPS from a fellow newcomer.

Glad to see you've made the jump to digital.

While I recognize that this image probably has meaning to you (as his mother I assume?), so that's good and may be the only thing that matters in the end.

Having said that.. the first thing I noticed what the flash. I'm a bit of a stickler of flash, and as you'll see the more you study photography, it's typically (no rule is set in stone) considered a bad idea to blast someone with flash full-on. It flattens their features and often gives those tell-tale signs of flash such as the reflection on his nose and lips. Plus straight on flash flattens their features by getting rid of the shadows that allow for depth in an image. So, when you're ready, try thinking about getting your flash off-camera or, for this type of shot, using natural light if possible.

The small pop-up flash (I'm assuming that's what you used?) is also a small light source which makes it a harsh light.. if you had him in front of a larger light source (ie a window perhaps) you'd get that nice soft light that's very flattering.

As for composition.. it feels a bit centered and be careful with using autofocus as it appears his lips/teeth are the sharpest part of the image. I also, in this case, but not always, would have liked to see him looking into the camera.. him looking away makes it feel like a snap shot candid more than a true and through portrait..

In the end, it's a nice happy photo you'll be happy with.. but it feels a bit too candid and snap shot-ish for me. Still, good first jump into things. Keep it up.
I hope this helps and I didn't sound too harsh.

[BAILEY]

Thankyou so much your feedback, I really apprecaite not only your thoughts but your guidence on how to improve.

I completely agree with the flash right on the subjects face, makes sense when you explained so thankyou. I have been looking into off camera flashes and you have help me understand the benefits of having and using one.

In a portrait like this, should I be manually focusing to the subjects eyes? Rather then using the auto focus? Why would the auto focus, focus on his lips and teeth? Does the auto focus just choose the largest part of the subject.

My apologizes for all the questions, Just trying to learn as much as I can.

Thanks again

[BigFuzzy]

Hi Bailey,

First off, remember that this is all my opinion, one man. There will be differing ones out there so consider those as well. Also look at the work behind the words because no point listening to me if you hate what I do, right?

Glad you understand about the flash, it took me a while to feel comfy with flash because I was afraid of it because I knew so little. But with a little flash knowledge comes great flexibility to create a wider (and better I think) range of images.

you don't have to manual focus, but learn to use a single focus point and lock that on to the part you want in focus (in this case, and in my opinion, the eyes) It's fairly easy, your manual should tell you how to lock focus... though it's almost always half pressing the shutter with the focal point on the thing you want in focus.

I'm not knowledgeable enough to know what exactly the autofocus uses as criteria for choosing where to focus, so I can't answer that. But bottom line is you should not rely on it. As I said, choose your focal point, lock focus and then recompose to your liking. That's what I do and am pleased with my results.

Once you learn a bit more, and find out what your lighting needs are, you really may want to consider looking at strobist.com. It's all about lighting with those small strobes, but using them off camera. But that can wait for now.

I hope I helped a little more.. all I can say is shoot as much as you can! Get comfy with what you and your camera can do together.
good luck!

[jansen]

As far as how autofocus works, I recall that the manual for my Canon said the autofocus would use the closest point. So likely his nose in this case.