Newbie needs CC, please....

[mthr21]

Updated from P&S to Rebel XTi. Composition I think will come but I need cc on everything else to get photos right SOOC. Thanks in advance for cc, comments and advice. I need all the help I can get.

Jamie

85mm 1.8
1/200
f/6.3
ISO 100

[Major_Small]

Did you mean to include a photo there?

As for getting it spot-on in-camera, don't hurt yourself trying. Photography has never really been about getting a perfect print SOOC, with a few exceptions, such as polaroids and some slide shooting. You should record the information you need in the field as best you can, and tweak it to perfection in the darkroom if you're shooting film, or with The GIMP/Photoshop if you're shooting digital.

You show me what you think is a perfect shot SOOC, and I'll probably be able to find at least one way in which it can be improved. Besides, you should be shooting in RAW, which necessitates your input during post.

[Elmo]

Nice capture. So nice I felt I must comment. I generally come on rather blunt. It is not intended to offend but is related to the work I used to do. So here goes my bluntness.

Your choice of location was good in the open shade to reduce harsh lighting. But in this case it bit you. With the open sunlight in the background and open shade on the subject, the white balance is off making the lovely little lady sort of blue. This is easy to correct especally if as M-S suggested it was captured in RAW.

My next comment relates to exposure. I believe it is overexposed, the texture is gone out of the white dress (other areas seem a little hot also). This is where I must disagree with M-S get the exposure right in the camera. If you miss the exposure by half a stop you are going to loose half a stop of detail in either the highlights or shadows. Detail that cannot be recovered by any post processing. This capture is basically high-key so retention of highlight detail is most important.

One other thing is the overall sharpness, it is sort of soft and washed out.

First thing to note is the 30d has a very strong filter at the sensor that generally requires some post processing sharpening.

Second considering the capture approaches overexposure( in My Opinion) this could be flair from the bright background. Use of a lens hood and removal of any protective filters might help, if it is flair.

However I find the softness very flattering for the young lady, buy the eyes need to be sharp. Also I am not a big fan of cutting part of folks heads off.

Honestly nice capture.

[mthr21]

Thank you Major_Small and Elmo for your input. This was not shot in raw. I'm a little overwhelmed with all there is to learn about my new camera so when I get a little experience under my belt and can slow down some I'll figure out how to do that.

Elmo, I didn't even think about setting my white balance until you mentioned it. I totally forgot about it. It seems there are so-o-o-o-o many things to remember! I need to make a sticky and stick it to my camera!

I thought it a bit over-exposed and was disappointed that the eyes were not sharp also. Seems I've got a lot to work on but hopefully I'll look back a few months from now and see progress.

Thank you both for your comments and constructive criticism.