CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The site ADMIN isn't keeping the various FAQs up to date. Obviously, there's no need to store a full-resolution image when unneeded, but for now more than year, the site gives thumbnails around 1200-pixels wide, even though none of the documentation say this. To your 'critic' request, the files need to be stored for relevant and actionable feedback from the community.

I pulled the images into Nikon's NX capture, to see the AF points, the camera / lens settings (EXIF), and the pixel-level details. Of the two I looked at, neither has an active AF point on the subject's eyes. As mentioned earlier, the thumbnails seemed soft; access to the pixel-level details confirmed.

So, there are actionable development points:

1, Learn and practice how to select and move the AF points to the eye(s) of the primary subject.

2, Learn and practice flash exposure compensation for these situations to add 'just the right amount' of fill-flash.

3, Learn and practice the editing needed to brighten the shadows of an image where fill-flash was missing.

4, Consider continuous AF instead of single-shot so your camera / lens is always focusing and adjusting to the situation.

BurghByrd Loc: Pittsburgh

I don't think they look awful at all. A bit of fill flash might have helped on a couple of them but some minor post processing shoule be enough to take care of those few back lit shots. All in all she's a beautiful young woman and it comes through in your pictures.

alphadog

Nice snapshots IF that was your goal. Most have a LOT of distracting backgrounds which add nothing to the beautiful lady & handsome young man, you are wanting to feature. Family snaps quality imo. good luck

nathanweddings

When I was a young photographer I got great advice from a pro. His name was Phil Phlash.

alphadog

great advice, IF he is realing for that...

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Your photographs were made to record an event. They seem to have succeeded well in doing that. The Mona Lisa has imperfections and so do some of your shots. Treasures are not perfect. Memories are. Over time these photographs will be but reminders of those memories, to cherish, imperfections will fade away. Enjoy the memories.

stant52 Loc: Williamsport, Pa.

MFTVGirl Loc: Baltimore, MD

I think by “awful,” they are being unnecessarily critical of their own appearance rather than the photos themselves. The last 6 look like images a pro would take - the one with the flowers framing the couple could have benefited by closer cropping, as another respondant indicated with an example. I’d be proud to have those!

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

stant52 please give your Grand Daughter my sincere congratulations on her graduating from Nursing School.
That is an absolutely awesome achievement! And she has chosen a most noble calling indeed...

It's oft said... "What do you call someone who saves a life? You call them a Hero!"
However "What do you call someone who saves hundreds of lives? You call them a Registered Nurse"

Has your Grand Daughter passed her NCLEX-RN Exam? I helped tutor one of my colleague through that ordeal... It is by far one of the most challenging certification exams I've ever encountered.

Below is a image of my colleague who is now a Registered Nurse in her local Hospital's ICU (Intensive Care Unit) where critical decisions are often made endlessly throughout a 12 tour of duty...

btw stant52 that image was made with a Nikon D7200 in Aperture Priority Mode, Auto White Balance, with On-Camera Flash in iTTL mode (Flash compensation and Exposure Compensation were dialed in to emphasize my friend). Note: I've used that configuration for location events i.e. Weddings, Graduations, Save the Date etc. effectively many many times. Oh, I used a Sigma AF 50-150mm f/2.8 DC OS APO HSM Lens for this image.

Hope this helps stant52 on your photographic journey moving forward.
That said I'm going to highly recommend that your gift your Grand Daughter with a Stethoscope to commemorate her epic accomplishment. Why a Stethoscope? It is by far and away the most important professional tool she will be using throughout her career. She will likely carry it everywhere she goes in her professional capacity... Word!

I give my colleague a Littmann Classic III Stethoscope when she graduated her pre-nursing academic training in as she would need it to do her "clinicals" And please no worries if she already has a Stethoscope, a Registered Nurse can't have too many Stethoscopes (beside I give her one in Mauve)

Here's a link to a Littmann Classic III Stethoscope (please choose Personalized Engraving with her name on it)
https://www.littmann.com/3M/en_US/littmann-stethoscopes/advantages/promotions/graduation/
You may have to copy and paste this link in your browser stant52

Another option is the Littmann Cardiology IV Diagnostic Stethoscope however this is for use by those working in challenging environments such as the ED, ICU, Cardiac ICU, step-down units which aren't typically entry level except for those who have achieved excellence in their "clinicals" and have been hired to work in a critical care scenario.

Nikon D7200 in Aperture Priority Mode, Auto White Balance, with On-Camera Flash in iTTL mode (Flash compensation and Exposure Compensation were dialed in to emphasize this Registered Nurse))

(Download)

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

Hey! These are memories, and the shots you took will do great service to that purpose!
BUT - - other than the autofocus suggestions, I'd recommend you ALWAYS shoot RAW + JPG !!
You can correct a WORLD of exposure issues by working with the RAW files !!
In your case - brightening the 'shadows' would help.
-
Yeah well - I still do have my Littman Cardiology stethoscope - but my hearing isn't what it was 40 years ago.
IF I was still in clinical practice, I'd have to get one of the newer electronically amplified stethoscopes.
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Congrats to your Granddaughter !!
She has entered nursing at a challenging time.

Tinker

The subject of the exercise is very lovely young lady embarking on an honorable and necessary career serving others. She seems to be of no need of improvement at all. As for the pictures with all the background clutter: if you or someone you can trust has or can get PS they can be greatly improved. A bit more light on the faces, less in the background, etc. It is a good start and with a bit of work will provide her with images she can show her kids and grandkids years into the future.

Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

So these are the "LOOK AWFUL!" photos. OK, Now please post a few of the good ones. If you have no good ones, post some of the better ones.

angler Loc: StHelens England

Excellent set.

huntmj

They are not awful, and why didn't they take the pictures instead of you. I hate it when people make comments like that it's so ungracious. The pictures with the flowers are really nice but the others might be improved by some work in PS or another program.