Candid Kid Shots - focus, shadows: I am a complete beginner with my Nikon D5100 and taking candid shots of my grand children is a focus as well as sports pictures. I took these on auto...

MLMH Loc: LaGrange, KY

I am a complete beginner with my Nikon D5100 and taking candid shots of my grand children is a focus as well as sports pictures. I took these on auto setting with Nikon 55-300 lens. The playground pictures were taken in continous shooting mode.

Looking for some tips/direction/how-to for better shots. Sharper focus. More practicing to come this weekend. I have thick skin and really want to get better so I am looking for honesty.

tealady

yor grandchildren are very sweet lovly photos

WildBill Loc: South West Florida

The second photo I think is amazing. Critique I will leave for the better capable but you are off to a very good start.

angler Loc: StHelens England

Very good set.

Archy Loc: Lake Hamilton, Florida

MLMH wrote:

I am a complete beginner with my Nikon D5100 and taking candid shots of my grand children is a focus as well as sports pictures. I took these on auto setting with Nikon 55-300 lens. The playground pictures were taken in continous shooting mode.

Looking for some tips/direction/how-to for better shots. Sharper focus. More practicing to come this weekend. I have thick skin and really want to get better so I am looking for honesty.

:thumbup:

Fla Walt Loc: Delray Beach, Florida

Love the last on. Pure joy is on her face and you cought it!

MLMH Loc: LaGrange, KY

Thanks everyone, looking forward to shooting, shooting, shooting. What is a tip for helping to eliminate shadows in these type of shots?

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

MLMH wrote:

Thanks everyone, looking forward to shooting, shooting, shooting. What is a tip for helping to eliminate shadows in these type of shots?

You can use a fill flash or reflector, or get the subject into the shade.

rlaugh Loc: Michigan & Florida

You are doing a great job of capturing the mood of these beautiful kids! I won't critique because I don't do much portrait work,but I'm sure others will!

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Pretty nice shots! The only way to make them better is a flash or reflector. Or move them to the shade. Which would kind of kill the candid look.:) Or take them all out on a cloudy day:) Were these cropped or PP'd?
Erv

colo43 Loc: Eastern Plains of Colorado

#3n for me.. the sun on her face captures her perfectly.

MLMH Loc: LaGrange, KY

Country Mama: thanks for the tips, I have a long list of things to acquire, including a reflector & reading up on fill flash - so many things to learn but I am so glad I've found my new hobby.

Erv: No cropping or PP. I don't have a post processing program yet, looking at LR4.

Thanks colo43!

Dadyassa Loc: Spain

I am the same as you, same camera etc, I find it great.
Did you know you can crop pics in the camera ?

MLMH wrote:

Country Mama: thanks for the tips, I have a long list of things to acquire, including a reflector & reading up on fill flash - so many things to learn but I am so glad I've found my new hobby.

Erv: No cropping or PP. I don't have a post processing program yet, looking at LR4.

Thanks colo43!

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

MLMH wrote:

Country Mama: thanks for the tips, I have a long list of things to acquire, including a reflector & reading up on fill flash - so many things to learn but I am so glad I've found my new hobby.

Thanks colo43!

You can use a large white sheet of poster board as a reflector, though that might not work while shooting candids. :-D
There are some threads for do it yourself projects on this forum, but this is the only one that applies to what we are talking about.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-6739-1.html

MLMH Loc: LaGrange, KY

Dadyassa - didn't know that you could crop in-camera. Thanks for the tip.

Thanks Country's Mama.