First post, see if I have it or not, photorgraphy noob

[japjoe7]

This is post composite.



Camera: Canon EOS Rebel XS (Borrowed from my employer to test)
Lens: 75-300mm Stock Auto

I'm not sure if this is correct but when I have it in Lightroom it tells me,
ISO 400
80mm
f/5.6
1/160sec

I wasn't keeping track when I was taking the photo.

[Hill Country Hack]

Please read the "how to post". You will get a better response. Not a bad photo.

[John Hendry]

Nice shoot would be improved by cloning out the person behinds neck and sholder they are a bit distracting.

All the best

[japjoe7]

Originally Posted by Hill Country Hack

Please read the "how to post". You will get a better response. Not a bad photo.

Thanks. Appreciated.

[slugger]

Very cute! Although it is out of focus. It seems like you were focused on her arm or part of her dress right near her arm.

[BigFuzzy]

A: You're never going to be able if you've "got it" from one post, so don't let one image be a judge of that because we all manage to get one good or one sh!tty image randomly which isn't a full reflection of whether we've "got it".

As for the image, it has nice color tones and very good exposure, but in the end, a portrait (to me) is about the eyes, and as noted above, you missed the focus. As a newb, I would recommend you do one of two things: Learn to "focus lock and recompose" technique or use Manual focus as your autofocus here didn't help you.

I'd crop (or clone) out the neck of the person in the background so that it cleans up the background a bit.

[docxnoel]

Agree with all above comments, but one thing that I noticed, The hair over her left shoulders is distracting, if you will observe it carefully, it divides and lined her neck which gives an impression that her neck is very thin and not proportion with her head, next time that you will shoot be careful with the posing and all the elements that included in your frame.

[japjoe7]

Originally Posted by slugger

Very cute! Although it is out of focus. It seems like you were focused on her arm or part of her dress right near her arm.

Now that you say that I can see that it is off focus.

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

A: You're never going to be able if you've "got it" from one post, so don't let one image be a judge of that because we all manage to get one good or one sh!tty image randomly which isn't a full reflection of whether we've "got it".

As for the image, it has nice color tones and very good exposure, but in the end, a portrait (to me) is about the eyes, and as noted above, you missed the focus. As a newb, I would recommend you do one of two things: Learn to "focus lock and recompose" technique or use Manual focus as your autofocus here didn't help you.

I'd crop (or clone) out the neck of the person in the background so that it cleans up the background a bit.

I totally understand what you are saying. After a bit of lurking and researching I'll delve move into manual photo taking, I'm just not there yet. I'll also crop the neck out, I think that would be easier than cloning it out.

Originally Posted by docxnoel

Agree with all above comments, but one thing that I noticed, The hair over her left shoulders is distracting, if you will observe it carefully, it divides and lined her neck which gives an impression that her neck is very thin and not proportion with her head, next time that you will shoot be careful with the posing and all the elements that included in your frame.

I can see that as well now but it wasn't a posed shot I just happened to catch her looking at me and took the shot. I'll note that though for future portrait shots.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

Learn to "focus lock and recompose" technique or use Manual focus as your autofocus here didn't help you.

Also look into toggling your focus points, as with focusing and recomposing, it's still easy to miss focus. Manual focus can be very tricky with fast-moving kids. Another option is back-button focusing, although I'm not entirely sure that's available on the XS.