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[cmgar]

Modern dance routine being performed by the Scheherazade Dance Company.

April 2009 - Tahlequah, OK

1st test of my new Canon 70 - 200 IS L USM Lens...

Exif and Extra Info:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmgar/3489009282/meta/

Chris G

[ericw]

You need to read the critique forum rules and ask a specific question. If you were just looking for an overall opinion on your picture, I think it's bad.

[DanaD]

The idea and the composition are good but the exposure is off as well as the focus. IT will be fun to try and get more

[cmgar]

Originally Posted by ericw

You need to read the critique forum rules and ask a specific question. If you were just looking for an overall opinion on your picture, I think it's bad.

How very constructive of you.

According to the rules found here Critique Forum Rules , there is nothing stated about asking a specific question.

To me a critique is an opportunity to learn how to get better. "I think it's bad" offers absolutely no value to myself nor anyone else that reads it. If you feel you can elaborate on what's bad about it, that may be a bit more helpful.

The graininess is due to shoddy lighting in the gym I was shooting in, which forced me to bump up my ISO to 800. Perhaps there's a tip you could share about sharpening up the image at a higher ISO.

Because of the graininess I decided to play with the colors and contrast a bit to give it a different feel, perhaps you would have gone a different direction, I'm welcome to suggestions here.

I guess what I'm really trying to say is that you don't have to lose all sense of common courtesy to offer a critique.

Thanks for taking time to look at the picture though.

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Originally Posted by DanaD

The idea and the composition are good but the exposure is off as well as the focus. IT will be fun to try and get more

Yeah, it was hard to find a good balance with the ISO & aperture. I wanted the aperture big enough to get everyone in the shot without blurring the edges, but the light was so poor in there that keeping a shutter speed high enough to stop motion just wasn't happening on a lower ISO, which as you can see made it extremely grainy. As a visual, do you think cropping the person out at the left, where I just captured an arm & leg might help? They're the blurriest spot on the picture.

Thank you for your input.

Chris G

[ericw]

Originally Posted by cmgar

According to the rules found here Critique Forum Rules , there is nothing stated about asking a specific question.

From the rules you linked:
"5. Please include the following information, if possible, with your image: EXIF info, type of camera, specific questions (What do you think? is not a specific question). A meaningful title, NOT "Critique Please", will also get your post noticed in a crowded section."

Originally Posted by cmgar

If you feel you can elaborate on what's bad about it, that may be a bit more helpful.

It's badly tilted to the left. You've got half a person hanging out on the left edge of your image. You've got a person growing out of another person on the right side of your image. You've got part of a basketball hoop hanging out of the top right edge of your image, and something else funky right below it. That white thing in the corner is really distracting. The super-bright/saturated portion on the left is really distracting.

Originally Posted by cmgar

The graininess is due to shoddy lighting in the gym I was shooting in, which forced me to bump up my ISO to 800. Perhaps there's a tip you could share about sharpening up the image at a higher ISO.

I've gotten less noise out of my xsi at ISO 1600. I'm guessing it's this bad because your initial exposure was too dark and you adjusted it up in post processing and maybe added sharpening too since your shutter speed was too slow to stop the action. Solution: pop a flash or buy a faster lens. Speaking of processing, use a noise reduction tool! The one in DPP, which came with your camera, has been effective for me.

Originally Posted by cmgar

Because of the graininess I decided to play with the colors and contrast a bit to give it a different feel, perhaps you would have gone a different direction, I'm welcome to suggestions here.

I don't know this is pretty bad, better exposure could help. If this is the best you can get out of the colors I'd think about b+w.

[cmgar]

My bad eric, I apparently overlooked the end of the rule 5 and thank you for elaborating.

[DanaD]

I definately think cropping in tighter would add to the image, as well as some straightening, however in its current state the noise would be much more noticeable. I think going black and white could also help it out. Do you have an external flash? That would help considerably next time. You could also change your white balance for the flourescent lighting. Good luck

Yeah, it was hard to find a good balance with the ISO & aperture. I wanted the aperture big enough to get everyone in the shot without blurring the edges, but the light was so poor in there that keeping a shutter speed high enough to stop motion just wasn't happening on a lower ISO, which as you can see made it extremely grainy. As a visual, do you think cropping the person out at the left, where I just captured an arm & leg might help? They're the blurriest spot on the picture.

Thank you for your input.

Chris G

[Jim Bryant]

Besides all of above in the previous posts get their faces showing next time.