Nervous

[DocRaczkowski]

As this is my first post, please let me know if I do anything wrong/unusual

Just a simple portrait of my best friend.

Canon Rebel XTi
50mm f/1.4
(Don't remember the exact speed)
(Don't remember the exact ISO)
Slight post-processing in Lightroom

[MrJones]

very nice shot!
maybe try putting her more in the middle of the photo.
what kind of PP did you do? I like how it came out

[autofocus]

Where's hear no evil and speak no evil? Your photo begs the question why is she covering her eyes?
Now, onto the photo itself. You should be able to find the missing image data right on the file on your memory card.

Focus wise It looks like it's quite soft..so either your shutter was too slow, or you just mis-focused. Always try to focus off the subject's eyes (a little difficult here, but her hands would be the next best thing) It's also rather flat and monochromatic...skin matches the wall which matches her hair, which matches the curb, etc. All that can be fixed in post processing unless that is the look you were going for. (I played with the image myself) It does, however, have the potential of being a somewhat interesting photo as it leaves the viewer asking some questions about the subject...and that's a good thing in a photo. I also like the position of her feet.

Vince

[MrJones]

after reading Vince's post, I went to flickr to check the photo on a large scale and he is right, you do have camera shake problem which is caused by slow shutter speed.
I do like the tones and don't mind the similarity in colors.

[DocRaczkowski]

Minimal post-processing with Lightroom - just a bit of front lighting, and a teensy bit of clarity. Thanks for the comments guys - and yes, everytime I see it I think of the See No/Hear No/Speak No evil. It was a very overcast, crappy day in San Diego, which lent to the colors being how they are - which I like. I'm not pleased with the camera shake, but what can you do. Long days of walking around for miles, and by the time I finally convince her to sit for just a second in front of the camera, she covers her face. Again, thanks for the critiques so far everyone

[SusanH1970]

If you click on "Actions" on the Flickr page, then "View Exif", it brings it up. Copied and pasted for you:

Exposure 1/3200 sec
Aperture f/1.4
Focal Length 50 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire


At 1/3200 for a shutter speed, I doubt it was camera shake. Was the SOOC that soft in focus? Shooting wide open can be tricky, but the whole image is soft, which leads me to believe it might be an effect from the processing, perhaps? It doesn't even look like motion blur. Maybe if you post a SOOC we can figure out what went wrong with focus.

[DocRaczkowski]

There ya go, SOOC. Kinda just blurry overall, hence the touch of clarity added in LR I guess (should probably pay more attention to what I do there) My best guess? It's the f/1.4 that made the whole thing blurry, the focus is such a minimal spot with that, not surprised the rest of it turned out blurry?

Oh, and thanks Susan for the headsup on the EXIF data

[ednorm]

I love this shot, great job. This shot looks so real life I feel I could walk and she would say peek-a-boo.

ed

[MrJones]

Originally Posted by DocRaczkowski

There ya go, SOOC. Kinda just blurry overall, hence the touch of clarity added in LR I guess (should probably pay more attention to what I do there) My best guess? It's the f/1.4 that made the whole thing blurry, the focus is such a minimal spot with that, not surprised the rest of it turned out blurry?

Oh, and thanks Susan for the headsup on the EXIF data

you actually have better focus on the leaves before her legs, are you sure the focus was on her?

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by MrJones

you actually have better focus on the leaves before her legs, are you sure the focus was on her?

I agree, the focus looks like it fell in front and to the right of her (camera left). The reason she's soft is because she's in the shallow DOF from shooting at f/1.4. Focusing on her eyes obviously would have been difficult; I'd have focused on the bridge of her nose for this shot.

Glad to help with the Flickr EXIF. Thanks for posting a SOOC!