Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register ☰
Photo Analysis
Homecoming Portrait -- what happens when you don't know what you're doing
Page <<first <prev 4 of 4
Oct 20, 2014 21:50:44   #
Pockets Loc: Dallas Metro
 
rpavich wrote:
Getting both of them in focus is a matter of two things:

1.) Distance to subject

2.) Aperture size.


Adjusting both will get you where you need to be.

Imagine a flat plane that moves out from the lens of the camera floating in space...and it moves away from you...and it's "thickness" represents the amount that's in focus.

When it's close to you and the aperture is large (like it was in your shot) it's very thin. The farther it goes...the thicker it gets, and the smaller your aperture the thicker it gets.

When it "hits" your subjects, if you've done your job...it will be thick enough to have them both in focus.

So keeping your subjects parallel to that plane is important; you want that plane to hit their face first...not their knee or elbow or whatever.

So your vantage point that was below them, means that the imaginary plane hit the rail first...then their arms...and their faces last...not what you want.

make sense?


More of a concern is that it appears that you used "on board" flash...aka "pop up flash" or something similar.

Definitely not flattering light for them. The shadows get harsh and you still seem to have camera shake issues.



Next time, try to either use the room light in a flattering way or get the flash off camera or at least bounce it to the side so that it hits them from an angle.
Getting both of them in focus is a matter of two t... (show quote)


Thanks, rpavich! This is very good information. Dee

Reply
Oct 20, 2014 21:52:06   #
Pockets Loc: Dallas Metro
 
Dan L wrote:
How about taking pictures of the subject or subject props before the big day, so you can run test at different camera and lighting settings. Review, retest another day, etc. That should get you in the ballpark of how you want the take picture (s), oh, don't forget to try different locations during the practice sessions. Plus, lunch will work for all the helpers hard work:)


I'm laughing! Originally, my nephew told me I'd be shooting outside, in the sun, in front of the house. Need I say more... LOL!!! :-D :-D :-D

Reply
Oct 20, 2014 21:54:53   #
Pockets Loc: Dallas Metro
 
rpavich wrote:
By the way; I see that you shot this at the following settings:


1/20 shutter speed

ISO 100

f/2.8


You could have really helped yourself a LOT by shooting at a much higher ISO.

Let's see what you could have done.


ISO 100 > 200 > 400 > 800 > 1600

That's a total of 4 stops between 100 and 1600.

So your shutter speed of 1/20 could have been:

1/20 > 1/40 > 1/80 > 1/160 (that's 3 stops)

And you could have used f/4 (for the 4th stop)


And had the equivalent exposure with a deeper depth of field and less camera shake.
By the way; I see that you shot this at the follow... (show quote)


You know, I'm going to try this. My sister and her friend asked me to shoot them for Halloween. It won't be quite the same, but I can test this. This type of shooting is really new for me. I really appreciate all of the suggestions! Thanks!! Dee

Reply
 
 
Oct 20, 2014 21:55:46   #
Pockets Loc: Dallas Metro
 
jimmya wrote:
I have to agree with the first comment about more DOF.
This is often a problem in low light conditions. The only way to get more DOF is to increase your light and get your aperture smaller.

The other way, that I see, is to position the kids more the same distance from the camera. It appears from the shot that he is standing a bit behind her. With a very short DOF he will be out if you focused on her.


Thanks, Jim! Dee

Reply
Oct 20, 2014 21:56:25   #
Pockets Loc: Dallas Metro
 
Penny MG wrote:
I think it looks really nice. I see a bit or red tint....but white balance can fix that. I bet anyone without a "trained" eye to look for these things would think it is a wonderful picture! :thumbup: :thumbup:


Thanks, Penny!! Dee

Reply
Oct 20, 2014 21:58:21   #
Pockets Loc: Dallas Metro
 
This is why I continue to read posts daily. The Hogger community is EXCELLENT! I will print out and review comments, try different settings, and figure out the WB issue to tone down the red.

Y'all are GREAT! Thank you so much. Hugs, Dee (Pockets)

Reply
Oct 21, 2014 12:57:32   #
R.G. Loc: Scotland
 
Haven't read all the posts up till now, but just in case nobody's mentioned it, 120mm is a fair focal length for a shot where you don't have to be far from the subject. If you'd gotten a bit closer with a wider angle, you'd have had more DOF, and the f/2.8 might have been OK.

In any case you could have upped the ISO to give a faster shutter speed.

Reply
 
 
Oct 21, 2014 22:52:05   #
Pockets Loc: Dallas Metro
 
R.G. wrote:
Haven't read all the posts up till now, but just in case nobody's mentioned it, 120mm is a fair focal length for a shot where you don't have to be far from the subject. If you'd gotten a bit closer with a wider angle, you'd have had more DOF, and the f/2.8 might have been OK.

In any case you could have upped the ISO to give a faster shutter speed.

Thanks, R.G. Good info! Dee (pockets)

Reply
Oct 22, 2014 00:25:41   #
ImageCreator Loc: Northern California
 
Here are some suggestions.
1. reverse their standing position
2. or better, have them sit on the stairs.
3. use f/8 on all your portraits unless you are needing to blur something.
4. always, ALWAYS, focus on the eyes of the first person closest to the camera--the f/8 DOF will take care of the ones in the rear.
5. keep your lens mm in the 50-85 range.
6. take the flash off-camera and diffuse it, if possible
7. use a tripod, zoom in and focus on the eyes manually, then zoom out and compose.
8. watch the background. you don't want something growing out of someone's head.

Reply
Oct 22, 2014 09:32:21   #
Pockets Loc: Dallas Metro
 
denandannie wrote:
Here are some suggestions.
1. reverse their standing position
2. or better, have them sit on the stairs.
3. use f/8 on all your portraits unless you are needing to blur something.
4. always, ALWAYS, focus on the eyes of the first person closest to the camera--the f/8 DOF will take care of the ones in the rear.
5. keep your lens mm in the 50-85 range.
6. take the flash off-camera and diffuse it, if possible
7. use a tripod, zoom in and focus on the eyes manually, then zoom out and compose.
8. watch the background. you don't want something growing out of someone's head.
Here are some suggestions. br 1. reverse their sta... (show quote)


Thanks so much! Pockets :thumbup:

Reply
Nov 2, 2014 19:44:54   #
MtnMan Loc: ID
 
rmalarz wrote:
Actually, this works rather well, especially due to the stair railing. Otherwise, it would due to position the subjects on the stairs in such a manner as to equalize their heights. Or, at least diminish the difference between them.

The other possibility is to elevate the camera position, such as using a small step ladder. This is instead of photographing with the camera pointing upwards.

My other observation is the photo seems to be very red biased. I think a bit of white balance would help on the tonality side. But, going back to your initial question, I think the photo looks fine as is.

If possible a smaller f-stop to increase depth of field, but then I'm not familiar with the surroundings, room to locate the camera, etc.
--Bob
Actually, this works rather well, especially due t... (show quote)


I am sure he meant smaller aperture which means HIGHER f-stop.

Reply
 
 
Nov 2, 2014 21:34:26   #
Pockets Loc: Dallas Metro
 
Thanks!

MtnMan wrote:
I am sure he meant smaller aperture which means HIGHER f-stop.

Reply
Nov 6, 2014 18:22:54   #
jcboy3
 
Pockets wrote:
I took this pic of my nephew and his date on the stairway in my house. Getting enough light on them was a challenge without it being too harsh, but my other issue was getting them both in focus. I think my AV was too wide because my nephew was not focused, though his date was (more or less) :-).

Question -- how do you shoot a picture like this, especially where the subjects are not close in height?


According to the EXIF data, you shot this at 1/20sec, f/2.8, ISO 100, 120mm with Canon 5D Mk III. So it's a full resolution portrait shot.

Focus is very narrow, and it looks like critical focus is in her hair and the bottom of his vest or his belt. DOF is so narrow that neither face is in focus, especially his.

I would recommend a DOF that runs from her hand to his ears, so that both of their eyes appear to be clearly in focus. Part of the difficulty is that you are shooting up a bit, so they are angled with respect to the plane of focus. That means you need even more DOF to account for that. All in all, I would recommend at least 2 feet DOF, with critical focus on her eyes.

I estimate that this was shot at a distance of about 13 feet (a 120mm lens produces portrait height of about 4 feet at a distance of 13.5). The lens is a bit long for portrait, and produces a narrow DOF.

At 13 feet the DOF is only 7", way too narrow for this portrait. Your aperture should be f/9.6 to get a 2 foot DOF.

Key here is to make sure the focus is on her eyes. Use single point focus, preferably a focus point near her eyes so you don't need to move the camera (or use back button focus and focus independently of exposure).

You don't need to carry a DOF calculator with you, just remember to shoot in the range of f/5.6-f/8 for single portraits and f/8-f/11 for 2-3 people. And focus on the eyes; a lot can be forgiven if the eyes are in focus.

Reply
Nov 6, 2014 22:09:15   #
Pockets Loc: Dallas Metro
 
jcboy3 wrote:
According to the EXIF data, you shot this at 1/20sec, f/2.8, ISO 100, 120mm with Canon 5D Mk III. So it's a full resolution portrait shot.

Focus is very narrow, and it looks like critical focus is in her hair and the bottom of his vest or his belt. DOF is so narrow that neither face is in focus, especially his.

I would recommend a DOF that runs from her hand to his ears, so that both of their eyes appear to be clearly in focus. Part of the difficulty is that you are shooting up a bit, so they are angled with respect to the plane of focus. That means you need even more DOF to account for that. All in all, I would recommend at least 2 feet DOF, with critical focus on her eyes.

I estimate that this was shot at a distance of about 13 feet (a 120mm lens produces portrait height of about 4 feet at a distance of 13.5). The lens is a bit long for portrait, and produces a narrow DOF.

At 13 feet the DOF is only 7", way too narrow for this portrait. Your aperture should be f/9.6 to get a 2 foot DOF.

Key here is to make sure the focus is on her eyes. Use single point focus, preferably a focus point near her eyes so you don't need to move the camera (or use back button focus and focus independently of exposure).

You don't need to carry a DOF calculator with you, just remember to shoot in the range of f/5.6-f/8 for single portraits and f/8-f/11 for 2-3 people. And focus on the eyes; a lot can be forgiven if the eyes are in focus.
According to the EXIF data, you shot this at 1/20s... (show quote)


This is very helpful information! Thank you so much. Dee
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Reply
Page <<first <prev 4 of 4
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Photo Analysis
Home | Latest Digest | Back to Top | All Sections
Contact us | Privacy policy | Terms of use | DMCA
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.