Candid shot of a friend

[ekoulak]

We were having a smoke and I decided to snap a few photos, i really like how this turned out but perhaps it could be better?

Camera Nikon D90
Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture f/4.0
Focal Length 70 mm
ISO Speed 200

Nikon SB 24 turned 60 degrees to the right, 45 degrees up and a white card. At 1/8 power.


DSC_0005 by eikphoto, on Flickr

[BigFuzzy]

In the end, this is what it is, which is a well exposed, fairly well lit, and decently composed candid snap shot.

Very little wrong with it except that it doesn't really do anything for me. Clearly he was about to (or actually was) blowing out smoke, but it's not something that adds to the image, it's just a funny mouth position.

It's pretty centrally composed which is neither good nor that bad.

Lots of potential here in that the technical aspects of lighting and focus and exposure are nice, but this particular image just comes across as a snap shot to me. Had he been looking into the camera, it might have done more for me.

Now lets see you use this set-up to get some nice, planned portraits!

[zona5101]

Al makes some excellent comments. I'd like to add that Iove the lighting. It is perfectly suited for this strong male shot. Nice catchlights in the eyes and the face is in focus. Put Steve McQueen in the shot and it's on the cover of a magazine. (Well, Steve McQueen might not be real photogenic by now, but you get my drift.)

[roostabunny]

Agreed. Very well lit, great sharpness (particularly great eyes), awkward facial expression, and no connection. It's that combination that makes it look like a candid shot that desperately wanted to be a portrait.

I say next smoke break, find that spot and take a few more shots both with eye contact and without. If you can replicate this execution with a better expression I think you'll have a winner.

[ekoulak]

First and foremost thank you or all the great feedback! It encourages me to go out there and try again. I'm going to try that same shot again but instead of making it a candid snapshot I'll try to achieve a portrait by having some connection with the subject. The only thing I'm struggling with is that I have an SB 24 and I can only use it in manual mode because TTL is not supported with this flash on the D90. That's actually ok because I'll get to learn through trial and error on how to properly use the flash.

I do agree about the awkward facial expression and eyes looking away, but it took me approximately 20 shots to get one properly exposed and he happened to look away. But hey, I now have a baseline to start with and that in it self is success!

(pardon for any grammar or spelling mistakes, I typed this on my phone)

[zona5101]

Use can also use the sb24 in auto mode. Its not ttl but it is handy when you need to shoot quickly and don't have time to monkey with manual. That's just an fyi 'casue it sounds like the next time you set this shot up you;ll have plenty of time to manually set your power on the SB24...

[ekoulak]

Originally Posted by zona5101

Use can also use the sb24 in auto mode. Its not ttl but it is handy when you need to shoot quickly and don't have time to monkey with manual. That's just an fyi 'casue it sounds like the next time you set this shot up you;ll have plenty of time to manually set your power on the SB24...

Seems when I did use auto mode it doesn't expose properly, mostly over exposed. Unless I'm doing something wrong. I just found the manual for it this morning so I'm going to do some reading.

[ekoulak]

More shots up for discussion



photo.JPG by eikphoto, on Flickr


photo.JPG by eikphoto, on Flickr