What’s Your Preference?

Ambrosia76 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-13-2011, 02:58 AM

Ok this was my first go at doing engagement portraits. And as seems to be my luck I got stuck doing them at a horrible time of day. I would appreciate any advice as to how I could have made them better. I am here to learn not be babied. The whole set is available on flicker, but I will post one of my favorites here. How did I do as far as using the available light,focus,catching 'the moment' ?

Taken on June 12, 2011 at 12.38pm EDT (edit)
Posted to Flickr June 12, 2011 at 4.56PM EDT (edit)
Exif data

Camera Canon EOS 60D
Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/4.0
Focal Length 75 mm
ISO Speed 100

scootermcq · #2 (**permalink**) 06-13-2011, 08:34 PM

OK, I'll take the bullet.

Lighting is OK, nothing lost by clipping or blowing, so fine there. Little boring, nothing exciting about it, but safe and effective lighting.

What kills the image for me is composition. First off, the gentleman gets lost in the tree with his dark complection. There is a big ass limb growing out of his head and really no separation between them and the background.

You were probably limited by how much shade you had because of the time of day, but if you had moved them about 15-20 feet from that tree line, then you would have defoucused the background and gotten some good separation. The other thing is having them centered in the image is fairly boring, so think along the rules of thirds to get a more interesting image.

Bottom line is it is not a bad snap shot, but needs a bit to become a portrait.

Ambrosia76 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-13-2011, 11:58 PM

Thank you! These are the type of things I need people to tell me so I know what to look for and what to do when I am doing things like this.

Yes there was limited shade. I have a question in this situation if they are standing in the shade but I am not do to having to back up far enough to get the shot How does that effect my exposure? It seems when that happens my shots come out a little darker than I like.

I like to think I am improving some what I have always had issues taking pictures of the 2 of them because Either he is too dark or she is completely blown out I think I managed to find a decent balance between the two this time.

I would greatly appreciate if you have the time to check out some of the other shots on Flickr and let me know what you think.

Ginger Pixie · #4 (**permalink**) 06-14-2011, 06:06 AM

I think my issue with this image is that it is taken as if it is a natural shot, rather than a posed shot - but it doesn't quite look natural and the pose isn't strong enough for it to be posed... (does that make sense?!)

I can't see enough of their faces to connect with the image and the couple don't seem to be connecting with each other massively in this shot.

I can't see any eyeball at all, which doesn't help.

scootermcq · #5 (**permalink**) 06-14-2011, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ambrosia76

Yes there was limited shade. I have a question in this situation if they are standing in the shade but I am not do to having to back up far enough to get the shot How does that effect my exposure? It seems when that happens my shots come out a little darker than I like.

I like to think I am improving some what I have always had issues taking pictures of the 2 of them because Either he is too dark or she is completely blown out I think I managed to find a decent balance between the two this time.

I would greatly appreciate if you have the time to check out some of the other shots on Flickr and let me know what you think.

First thing is unless someone has a gun to your head, never take a picture between 10am to 6pm (unless you have a huge spot of open shade to work in) Nothing good ever comes of this.

One way to do an inter-racial couple is to expose for the highlight (in this case her) and bring his details up with flash or bounced light. You could also bracket the shots and merge like an HDR. Otherwise, you will just about always blow the highlights or loose detail in his face

In this example, I realize that they are not inter-racial, but her dress would be a white blob or there would be no details in their faces if I did not introduce light into the image. For this, I exposed for her dress and brought up their faces with a speedlight

BigFuzzy · #6 (**permalink**) 06-14-2011, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scootermcq

What kills the image for me is composition.

+1 on everything Scott said!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ambrosia76

Yes there was limited shade. I have a question in this situation if they are standing in the shade but I am not do to having to back up far enough to get the shot How does that effect my exposure? It seems when that happens my shots come out a little darker than I like.

I like to think I am improving some what I have always had issues taking pictures of the 2 of them because Either he is too dark or she is completely blown out I think I managed to find a decent balance between the two this time.

Unless the sun is pointed into your lens, you standing in the sun shouldn't make a difference seeing as your camera will be composed (exposing) on the scene, not where you're standing. I imagine the issue of your images being darker is because you've somehow included a bright part of the sky/background into your image and that's why it darkens part of it. Do you have an example of this?

You will usually find a nice balanced light in good open shade, so your issues of him/her too dark/light is likely in a situation of harsh direct sunlight, am I right?

I'll check out the other flickr images asap.

BigFuzzy · #7 (**permalink**) 06-14-2011, 11:21 AM

yeah, checked out your flickr and (as usual) I was right. (I'm channeling Max right now, hence the arrogance! haha j/k!)

Every single image that has an exposure issue with the subjects has everything to do with you shooting in direct harsh sunlight where it's blowing out parts of her skin and creating lots of contrast on him. Sorry but there's only two ways to fix this, flash or getting them the hell out of direct midday sun! This will happen every single time if you don't do one of those two things. (well, reflectors might help, but not ideal).

Also, I noticed quite a few of the ones in open shade had blur/focus issues because of your shutter speed. Several had less than 1/60th of a second shutter speed. It's because you kept the camera on ISO100 whereas you could have bumped it up to 200iso or 400 and had much better shutterspeed and prevented those blur issues.

In the end, you have to stress to the couple(s) you'll be shooting the importance of NOT shooting in those crappy light conditions as I see that as your single largest issue (plus some pretty standard/boring centered composition) with this set. So, get out of that light, and think creative composition (or cropping after the fact!).

Ambrosia76 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-14-2011, 09:01 PM

Thank you that is very helpful. Actually this time it was my fault we were suppose to shoot late evening but when I woke up and checked the weather report it said it was supposed to pour down rain beginning a 4 pm. So I am the one who bumped it up as we needed to have the image to the printer for the invitations by Mon. Of course it was my daughters idea to rush and get married in less than 2 mths, Child never did have any patience.

As far as the exposure difference between him and her I have had the issue while shooting them indoors as well.

Thanks for the advice about the ISO issues. I was upset with the focus issues but daughter liked them so I left the shots in. I was shooting in Aperture Priority and had the ISO set to auto, so I guess I should have over ruled what the camera thought and bumped it up.

I am hoping to get all this great stuff to sink in my brain by the time the wedding comes around.

As far as my pics always being centered you will just have to shoot me I can't seem to over ride my OCD,mathematical, everything always has to be centered and asymmetrical brain I am working on it perhaps I should just shoot wide enough the I can crop it to not look centered afterwards...LOL