Okay, I can't help it, but do I need help?

[Bruce A]

So I like shooting my wife

Anyway, There was very little pp for this shot. It was an overcast day and I turned up the exposure by about 1 EV, a little digital surgery and I cropped it keeping the rule of thirds in mind. One thing I know - I could have used a faster ss for a hand held shot. So what about the composition, colours etc - I know my darling is no young model - but other than that, does this shot cut it?


Waiting on a friend by banphotography, on Flickr


Camera Nikon D7000
Exposure 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture f/6.3
Focal Length 35 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off,
Exposure Program Manual

[docxnoel]

Hi Bruce, this is a good shot, colors and lighting are technically fine.

For the composition, I was thinking for a good use of negative space but for me the cropping is a little bit off.

I think it is much better that you don't crop her feet, showing the entire bench and leaving the negative space above.

For me, it is better if she directly looking at the camera, showing a great smile for a more candid look.

If you can separate her from the background a little will be much better.

Hope it helps.

[Bruce A]

Thanks Noel, you see I didn't think about her feet - I didn't crop pp but I did, obviously, in camera. I called this shot "Waiting on a Friend" so in that regard I don't know about looking at the camera - I guess I was trying to emulate an advertising shot or something. When you say separating her from the background I'm not sure I understand. Anyway, I appreciate your useful remarks, thank you.

[tyasa81]

Hi Bruce... again i think it would be better if you get the whole bench and feet in it... right now she feels very cramped at the corner... breathing space do a lot to a picture... hope you got it next time round

i also dont mind the looking away from camera... just the bottom area chopped off is the things that's distracting here...

i think what seperating from background meant that you blur the background... or get different lighting... however imho, this is not a problem with the image above... she's being outlined by the strong red, and none of her head/body is blending in with the bg and blurring the background isn't possible due to the bench leaning on the wall, and the fact that the background is also part of the subject... that's what i see from the picture... hope that helps...

[Bruce A]

Thanks Tony, I'll try this shot again another day with a different lens or at 28mm and recompose the shot. I agree also about not cutting off her legs and getting all of the bench in the shot. I thought that was what separating from the background might have meant and that's not what I was after in this shot, I think it needs to be in focus being such a colourful ad mural. Thanks for your helpful comments.

[Bruce A]

Okay, here's an alterative crop - still no legs as that's how I took the shot - but do you think it's looks better this way. To me the missing legs don't seem so critical in this view, but my guess is you'll all probably disagree. So what think you?

Waiting on a friend (2) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[larlyboi]

Originally Posted by Bruce A

One thing I know - I could have used a faster ss for a hand held shot.

Camera Nikon D7000
Exposure 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture f/6.3
Focal Length 35 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off,
Exposure Program Manual

Hi.

You probably already know this, but with Auto-ISO you can set your minimum shutter speed, so it automatically ups the ISO if it would otherwise drop below.

Ken Rockwell Settings Guide - Nikon D7000 User's Guide

Although I don't agree with his picture quality (basic jpeg) settings, the rest of his work perfectly on my D3100.

Andy.

[Bruce A]

Originally Posted by larlyboi

Hi.

You probably already know this, but with Auto-ISO you can set your minimum shutter speed, so it automatically ups the ISO if it would otherwise drop below.

Ken Rockwell Settings Guide - Nikon D7000 User's Guide

Although I don't agree with his picture quality (basic jpeg) settings, the rest of his work perfectly on my D3100.

Andy.

Thanks Andy I do know that, but for no real reason other than it's my preference, I usually shoot manual. I did, however, think I was shooting at 1/80th - that's my eyesight
Oh, and there's quite a lot I disagree with about what Ken Rockwell suggests.