Can I get a little feedback please?

[Ambrosia76]

Okay so I don't claim to be a pro, and I don't really want to be. I came to this site to learn and improve. I have been reluctant to post in here and started out posting some pics in SYS,but as I have made several posts there with no responses I figured I would post here and totally open myself up. So here is one of my favorite shots,the rest can be viewed through my flickr link. Yes I know a lot of them are of my granddaughter but she is the only one not old enough to argue with me about taking her picture. So Here goes tell me what you think, am I horrible,okay,halfway decent,what do I need to work on most?





Camera Canon EOS 60D
Exposure 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture f/4.5
Focal Length 29 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash On, Fired

Please look at more of my photos on Flickr

[autofocus]

Really cute, and look at those eyelashes Nice shot "proud Grandma," would love to see her eyes on your next post

[Ambrosia76]

There are several on my flickr that show her eyes, but for some reason my favorites are always the ones where I catch her looking at something besides the camera and catch the pure innocent look of awe and wonder you only find on a small child's face.

Yes I am very proud. And probably a little over obsessed. I put have put 17 yrs into raising 2 beautiful girls, whose mother couldn't be bothered, I like to think Granddaughter was my reward for that,she was born almost 2 years ago on our wedding anniversary.

[tyasa81]

congratulations on your grand daughter... she's lovely

So Here goes tell me what you think, am I horrible,okay,halfway decent,what do I need to work on most?

#1 since you asked... i think you're quite decent... exposure can be hit and miss especially in contrasting scenes... note that next time...

#2 a lot of similar shots... unless you are the mom/family/friends or someone who personally know your daughter, they are too similar to one another... try to post max 1-3 shots with the same background (same colour and everything) to keep others attention better (like us who want to give you a critique so you can learn)... i'm not saying post more than 1 here... but do that in your flickr account

#3 a lot of them are noticably at a downward angle... hence you are losing her eyes since the height disparity is significant between a small child and an adult especially when she's doing her thing and not directly looking at you... get down lower to join her and shoot "upwards" tend to change things around... if you are going as low as you can, but still not low enough, there's several accessories that helps, but they are costly... i use them but wont reccomend one unless i know they are ok with it..

#4.. this one is about your picture above, i think what autofocus meant is not change it to a posed/called her out shot... but shoot in a different angle that shows her eyes while playing... right now what we are treated with are eye-lids and lashes... pictures in general and including candids like the one above are much more enjoyable to see when we can see their eyes and it also helps point to the object of that is attracting their attention more... it's human nature in that way... you can do this with the help of #3 tips of shooting at her level or up so we can see the eyes and what they are looking at..

hopefully that helps... that's the genral critique i noticed by looking at your flickr stream... keep shooting... most of the improvement will be when you shoot more and refine to what you like or not...

she's a precious girl

[kristenh]

i think she's a lovely little girl. regarding the photo above, i'll echo what pps have said, but will add:

see if you can find ways to avoid using the flash on your camera- in this pic, she has shiny spots where the flash hit and it really ha s a negative impact on the photo as a whole. if you don't have any other flash equipment, that'll probably mean going outside or taking photos inside near windows and learning to mess with your iso.

try to get her hands all the way in the shot. i also love shots of toddlers absorbed in doing things- but you want to make sure that its clear exactly what she's doing. plus those chubby little hands are so cute.

pay attention to what's in the background and try to snap her when the background is clear of distractions and patchy light.

re your flickr stream, i love the ones that are tightly cropped where she is showing a lot of emotions. if you can get a nice clean background and then a series of face shots with a variety of expressions, that is great- makes a nice montage.

i wouldn't worry too much about the SYS experience - it happens to me, too, and i'm a brilliant photographer not really, but it can be variable and there seem to be tons of people on this site who look and don't post. tons.

[candidrachel]

You know what I like your photo! I took a similar shot of my daughter at a smilar age, in a similar pose, with eye lashes here:



Don't worry about not having many replies in SYS. Sometimes that's just the way the mop flops unfortuately and its nothing personal.

You are an awesome grandad and your little granddaugher will love looking back at her photos in the years to come.

[Ambrosia76]

Thanks, actually I am Grandma, my hubby is the girls dad. LOL

I know a lot of my pics aren't what other people like, I just want to make them technically correct as far as composure and lighting and such. I want to be able to take the best possible pics. I am addicted to B&W and Sepia but I know a lot of people don't care for them.

I really can't stand my on camera flash, I had no other choice with the pic above however cause my daughters apartment is very dark and it was all I had. I have learned since then how to bounce the flash,using a card I cut from photo paper,so that if I do have to use it it is not so in your face. I think my next purchase will definitely be a flash and equipment to use it off camera.

[candidrachel]

Oh I'm sorry! I didn't quite understand the family dynamics on your origial post - apologies.

You have a beautiful granddaughter. I think your right a flash will help.

[tyasa81]

Hi ambrosia,

From the sound of your last reply, i guess your confidence is a bit shaken.. If i said something to make you feel that way, i assure you thats not my goal.. I do like children shots, n i do like candids.. In fact i think your motivation to shoot is the same as mine.. Taking the best possible pictures of our kids.. Personally i like black and white.. If you look at the family photojournalist in the critique section, and the project sys you'll most probably see a lot in common and might interest you some..

If i recall correctly, 60d is the canon equivalent of d7000 which im using.. You used 400 iso in your pict above, while i think you can push that upwards to 1600 at least.. Flash is definitely helpful, but its not a cure all magic.. In fact it'll make you learn how to something new that is just as tough or even harder than just iso aperture n shutter speed...

I do wish you well, and hope you'll keep that confidence up.. Shoot lots.. Analyse but dont be too critical.. And most importantly, as long as you and your family likes the picts, they are good enough... If u want to take it to the next level, then enjoy the journey and dont try to please us internet-ers at your enjoyment expense.. Do post more.. Hope that helps

[Smolt]

I think this is a very nice shot of your grandbaby.

I would like to see a less flashy picture. For that I have 2 suggestions.

1. Buy a lightscoop - they are like $20, it will throw your flash back and it will come back and light your subject in a much more flattering manner. It is easy peasy - you clip on and go. - Personally I think this is your best option, but I do not know your knowledge of your cameras manual settings either. - oh one thing you may watch is wall color, because the flash will be coming back from the wall and you could get some color cast.. but thats another story

2. Up your ISO and ditch the flash. If the apartment is as dimly lit as you say, you may end up in the 800-1600 range - and I know your 60d will have grain at that level exp. if you are slightly underexposing.. (which my canon tends to do if I don't force it to do what it thinks is overexposing by a stop or 2).