First Critique - Be Gentle :)

[d_monger81]

Hi All,

Just joined up after doing lots of reading. I have been an amateur photographer for about a year, I think my skills are ok. So now i'm just after some critique to make it better.

This was at a Birthday, Hand held and semi squatting as i'm tall lol. Canon 1000D, 50mm Lense, f/2, 1/50sec, ISO-500.
I used Auto WB in light room and a sharpen preset.

Thanks for any feedback.

[graciousness]

Personally, I think this photo would be better if cropped portrait style. The background is a little distracting. But I guess you wanted to give some context to this photo to show where she was at?

What a great smile, though

I wish it was focused a little bit better - maybe you weren't quite stable when you were squatting to take the photo?

My problem when I take photos is that I'm short. So yes, I can spe******e in nostril shots but I don't think people aren't into that So I'd rather have your problem than mine

[mikerob2334]

Overall I like this shot and the DOF. The few things I notice are the composition with her in the center. I would try cropping on the left up to the left edge of the balloons. Also the area above her left eye seems overexposed, I would try to fix this in post. And I'll probably get shot for suggesting this with all the color in the photo, but have you tried it in black and white? I think there are some good textures and contrast that would work well in BW.

[graciousness]

Originally Posted by mikerob2334

Overall I like this shot and the DOF. The few things I notice are the composition with her in the center. I would try cropping on the left up to the left edge of the balloons. Also the area above her left eye seems overexposed, I would try to fix this in post. And I'll probably get shot for suggesting this with all the color in the photo, but have you tried it in black and white? I think there are some good textures and contrast that would work well in BW.

I was thinking the same thing about black and white! I thought it would work better!

[d_monger81]

Thanks for the feedback so far.
@ graciousness - Yes i was kinda unstable as it was a pretty awkward position to be in when the joke went off. I was considering cropping but wanted feedback first as I had the same thought as to weather I leave the detail behind to tell the story of a party.

@ mikerob2334 - Havent thought about the BW yet, but will be trying it, and i did notice a little over exposure which ill attempt to correct(still finding my feet in post production).

[Rentham]

Originally Posted by d_monger81

Thanks for the feedback so far.
@ graciousness - Yes i was kinda unstable as it was a pretty awkward position to be in when the joke went off. I was considering cropping but wanted feedback first as I had the same thought as to weather I leave the detail behind to tell the story of a party.

I like the fact that you included the environment to give context, and I especially like the interplay of lights on the roof in the top right part of the frame.

[d_monger81]

So here is a cropped and BW attempt.

[kristenh]

in my view, its a tough one- you want the context, but you also want a nice portrait of the birthday gal. i like the color and b/w versions equally well, helpful right?

i think my favorite crop would be a compromise- take out the water bottle at the bottom and the woman on the far right- but leave in the man and the balloons. then it looks neater but you still know you're at a party. jmho.

but i really like the shot. you maybe could have done with a bit lower iso- she's a little overexposed on the right.

[LoveDSLR]

Image for illustration purpose only:



- Straighten (Attention to details)
- Warmer WB (warmer skin tone)
- Cropped (Rule of Thirds). Removing most of the foreground distraction. (Review your image and crop if necessary to improve composition. Eliminate distractions and pay attention to the background since it is just as important as the subject.)

[d_monger81]

Thanks for the advice kristenh, i left it on Auto ISO, I'll start looking at setting that myself from now on. I was difficult as there was a really bright fluro above the bar(where she is sitting) then the rest of the lights where a mix of color and normal bulbs.

@LoveDSLR thanks for showing me some basic fixes which I'll pay attention to. I'll have another run at it in lightroom after work.