Children's session

[Margie22]

I did a shoot today and I'm not particularly happy with the results... I shot in manual with ISO 200 on a overcast day in the shade--I realize now, I should have switched to A mode and allowed the ISO to be bumped up for more sharpness. I don't have a flash or reflector so I was working on minimal gear. The raw pics were dark.. the background was underexposed while the subject was over so when I tried to fix it up, the pic started to look a little waxy. Besides that, would still like thoughts (the white balance might be a lil off?) or if you think I'm off in my own critique...



Camera Nikon D90
Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 48 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash No Flash

[NicolaB]

Hi Margie

I think you have gone too far the other way as he looks very underexposed now.

Unless you could have opened up your aperture, you settings look good to me. Personally I would rather keep my ss over 100 (although my subjects are a little younger). Manual is good unless you light source is changing a lot (eg sun going in and out).

It will be easier to see when you change his exposure, but he is looking green on my screen.

I started metering off the grass yesterday and my exposure has been spot on for the first time.

hth :-)

ps I now see from your flickr stream that this will be a suck eggs post - your images are amazing!

[NicolaB]

Just going through your Flickr stream. Have you thought about watermarking your images? Some are good enough (imo) for stock images and can (and will) just be lifted. Just a thought.

[Margie22]

Originally Posted by NicolaB

Just going through your Flickr stream. Have you thought about watermarking your images? Some are good enough (imo) for stock images and can (and will) just be lifted. Just a thought.

Hiya! I have thought about it but wasn't sure I was good enough... I also don't know how to do it in a way that doesn't ruin my jpegs and force me to create a separate folder of watermarked images.... i wish flickr would just do it for me, haha. But thank you SO much for that compliment!!! It means a lot!

As for the children's session, it was an overcast day with lots of shady spots we shot in so we were going in and out of overcast light... I have been wondering what is a good SS for making sure i get sharp images with kids. You would suggest 1/100? I might be working with them again on Saturday and will try to do A or S priority or at least keep the SS faster than 1/100 in M... thanks!

[NicolaB]

Well I guess you may know these guide lines any way, but always keep your ss over the length of your lens, not slower than 1/60 for hand held, but yes I keep it over 100 where ever I can as them little ones just don't keep still for long ;-)

Are you in Ely? If so we are over in you part of the worldish this weekend :-)

[kevingeary]

Yeah, the little man is green and because he's underexposed he competes for attention with the background. Fix those two issues and I like the shot.

[Tzetsin]

that shot is easy enough to fix in post, do you have some aversion to lightroom or PS? Mask the lil feller out an bring up the exposure a bit. I assume you shoot in RAW?

[Tzetsin]

After looking at your flicker sets, I dont really think you need much critique your quite good.

[Margie22]

Thanks everyone! I use PSE 8 to edit so I can't do much masking, just erasing and such. But I didn't think to try layering different exposures for this to bring out the cathedral more. Great idea!! I didn't see him as very green--the clothes yes but not the skin-so I'm worried maybe my monitor needs to be re-calibrated.

Here's one from the same set... He's a bit blurred but I tried to make the skin color natural despite the shade and underexposure....

[Margie22]

Originally Posted by NicolaB

Well I guess you may know these guide lines any way, but always keep your ss over the length of your lens, not slower than 1/60 for hand held, but yes I keep it over 100 where ever I can as them little ones just don't keep still for long ;-)

Are you in Ely? If so we are over in you part of the worldish this weekend :-)

Yes, I'm in Ely! Are you from the UK? I'll be shooting in Jubilee gardens this weekend for the same family, actually. I hope the weather cooperates!

As for that rule, I always forget it... It's not one of the rules that sticks well in my head but I should practice it more.