First pics with new lense - inspired by DPS

[lotteotte]

I was so inspired some days ago by these photos (First shoot with a new lens.) that...well, to be honest, my first impulse was to toss my camera and never take a photo in my life again, since I thought I would never be that good. But after some soul searching I decided that perhaps I just need this 50 mm lense, learn much more, and to do more PP. And that's what I did - I got the lense, read like crazy on this site, and I played around with the photo software on my Mac. Here is one of seven photos (this one with my old lense) I took today of my daughter and her friend, on the couch of my living room, with natural light coming in around noon on a cloudy day, in an apartment building in New York.

I would appreciate feedback of any kind - but I am especially unsure about how I changed the colors. In the link to Picasa you can see that I changed many of the pics to Sepia. The girls and I like it, and I guess it is a matter of personal taste, but I am sure there are things to be said from a technical standpoint. Thanks for your gentle critique.

From Lily and Sonya at 12

Nikon D 40
ISO: 400
Exposure: 1/50 sec
Aperture: 4.2
Focal Length: 30mm
Flash Used: No

[autofocus]

I'm sorry, but I'm not sure if I understand your question. You mention getting a new 50mm lens, but this photo is shot with your old lens?? And what is it about the colors??

[lotteotte]

Originally Posted by autofocus

I'm sorry, but I'm not sure if I understand your question. You mention getting a new 50mm lens, but this photo is shot with your old lens?? And what is it about the colors??

I apologize - you are totally right. I guess I was too excited....the photo I posted was taken with my old lense, but it was the one from the series that I thought might be the best. Here one with the new lense - and also one where I used (perhaps too much of ) the Sepia coloring.

From Lily and Sonya at 12

ISO: 640
Exposure: 1/30 sec
Aperture: 2.8
Focal Length: 50mm
Flash Used: No

[autofocus]

Is the question about the coloring??

[lotteotte]

Originally Posted by autofocus

Is the question about the coloring??

Yes, the coloring (in the link you see I tried several approaches, but I can post only one here).

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by lotteotte

Yes, the coloring (in the link you see I tried several approaches, but I can post only one here).

Well it's not a true sepia which is more of a toned B/W image. Did you just use the sepia filter over the original color version? What are you using for your editing S/W?

This would be more typical of a sepia toned B/W (if that's what you're asking)


sepia DPS by vmontalbano, on Flickr

[lotteotte]

Ah, ok, get it - yes, I applied the filter previously over the color picture. Thanks for your patience and showing me how real sepia looks. I just played around with the photo software my Apple computer came with. I am looking deeper into Photoshop and such now....and will read everything I can on PP on this site now. Thanks again!

[BigFuzzy]

The thing I noticed immediately as a difference between you and the other photographer's "first shoot" is the backgrounds of her images (whether intentionally or not).

Hers are much cleaner and less distracting. The first thing i noticed in your first image above was the wrinkles of the sheet and the wood in the bottom left. It's those little things that you do before shooting the photo that really make a difference at times.

Even the 2nd photo, the 'sepia' one. The dark triangle in the upper left corner shouldn't be there.

Just a thought.. and remember, those things had nothing to do with your lens or PP, but all to do with the preparation prior to shooting.

[lotteotte]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

The thing I noticed immediately as a difference between you and the other photographer's "first shoot" is the backgrounds of her images (whether intentionally or not).

Hers are much cleaner and less distracting. The first thing i noticed in your first image above was the wrinkles of the sheet and the wood in the bottom left. It's those little things that you do before shooting the photo that really make a difference at times.

Even the 2nd photo, the 'sepia' one. The dark triangle in the upper left corner shouldn't be there.

Just a thought.. and remember, those things had nothing to do with your lens or PP, but all to do with the preparation prior to shooting.

Your comment is much appreciated - thanks so much. I did pay no attention to it, but certainly will moving forward. BTW: I wished I would have had a big empty space like the other photographer, but had to make do with just the sofa. But I certainly could have removed the triangle - or the wrinkles and the wood. Thanks again!

[lotteotte]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

The thing I noticed immediately as a difference between you and the other photographer's "first shoot" is the backgrounds of her images (whether intentionally or not).

Hers are much cleaner and less distracting. The first thing i noticed in your first image above was the wrinkles of the sheet and the wood in the bottom left. It's those little things that you do before shooting the photo that really make a difference at times.

Even the 2nd photo, the 'sepia' one. The dark triangle in the upper left corner shouldn't be there.

Just a thought.. and remember, those things had nothing to do with your lens or PP, but all to do with the preparation prior to shooting.

Oops....I changed the photos in picasa according to this critique, and now the photos in this thread don't show anymore what BigFuzzy is referring to.....of course.....oh mei, so much to learn........