Candid shot of Grandad dancing

[candidrachel]

Took this shot at a party. I messed around with different lighting effects in elements. What do you think?



Canon 40d
F3.5
0.8 sec
ISO 800
Focal length 28mm
Flash 430 ex speedlight

[candidrachel]

Well, it looks like I'm the only one who likes this photo. 78 views and no critique! I don't know why I bother to upload photos on this site. Seriously, I'm wasting my time.

[BryanC]

Hang in there, Rachel...it happens sometimes.

I think you captured a great moment. The gentleman looks like he is having the time of his life! I think that is what the focus of the photo is. I'm not sure about the lighting effect. My eye is drawn away from that great expression on his face to the right side where there's a somewhat harsh edge of light and dark. Just my humble opinion of course. Maybe try an opposite effect? A subtle vignette is a possibility you can try. Again, just one guy's opinion here. It is a great moment, though! Nice work in catching it.

[candidrachel]

Thank you Bryan for taking the trouble to reply that's really sweet of you and I appreciate your honesty. I'll take on board what you said and try what you suggest.

Thanks!

[BEGM83]

Its a lovely picture Rachel. Not so sure on the lighting though. I'd probably do something like this to it:

Hope you don't mind!

[BryanC]

No trouble and thanks for the kind words...if you do any changes, make sure to post!

[Sterling]

I agree with Bryan. It looks like a fine family snap. But the vignette-type thing doesn't work very well. I'm curious, what are the red laser-like markings on her shoulder, his collar, and in the top right?

[candidrachel]

Thanks for the replies! Yes I will repost. Those weird red laser markings are from the disco lights.

[MarkyLandon]

it's a nice candid moment for sure but there are a lot of things that could be improved. Frankly I don't like the lighting effect you've applied and the shot could have been made better at the time of shooting, Looking at your flickr stream and the exif data I see that you're shooting with a 40D (same camera as me !! ... it's a great peice of gear) Furthermore, it is shot was in AE mode at ISO 800 and +1 1/3 EV exposure compensation. You're in AE mode which is good... you're starting to take control of your camera (ie moving away from the green auto settings) but I don't understand the exposure compensation you've applied ? Was this an accident or intentional ? The effect this has had has been to lengthen the shutter speed... you are tellign the camera to let more light in.

If it were me I'd have used manual mode.... just becasue in flash situations it gives you more control over shutter speed. In Av the camera decides on shutter speed to exposse for the ambient light of the scene (in this case long 0.8 seconds) and the flash "fills" for the subject. in Manual mode YOU decide the shutter speed and the flash exposes for the suject. The watchout here though is using the on camera flash vs an external flash can do more harm than good. (read more about flash here Flash Photography with Canon EOS Cameras - Part II. ) (you can already see "hot spots" fromt he directional flash on grandad's cheeks and this would only get worse.

[candidrachel]

To be honest I just shot this shot from the hip and hoped for the best from what I remember! I cannot shoot manual. I've tried and it just doesn't work because everything just comes out either too over-exposed or too under exposed or too blurred or too anything else and I spend too much time "faffing" and not enough time "shooting" which is where AV and TV come into their own. I even use P sometimes too if I'm feeling particularly lazy!

My lens isn't the fastest only 3.5 which is not very good under low light conditions so that was why I used the external flash and I think I reduced the output so that the effect wasn't too bright.

I really need to practice with manual mode as I have been avoiding it.

Thanks for the link and I'm sure that that will help me loads and I haven't forgotten this thread and promise to upload an edited pic without the horrid lighting effect

I do appreciate the time you have spent posting tips and thank you!