C&C Please beach family shoot

[CorrieMichael]

Exact same settings for both images just a bit different post work....your thoughts on either would be greatly appreciated

1. 2.

 

[JOSHardson]

I'm impressed by the first photo. I usually hate beach photos. Light always looks so unnatural to me. Great job.

 

[Derrel]

The first photo is light enough that we can see the expressions on the faces of the children, but even very small, there is absolutely horrific noise in the shadows, and it looks like if the shot were seen even a bit larger that the noise would be beyond horrible. When shown dark, obviously, the lower tones are crushed, and the noise is obscured, but the photo is just a silhouette. To a third party, the loss of the faces is a big deal, but I suppose if the parents were there, watching the photos being made, they could mentally "fill in the blanks", and probably enjoy the second shot as a memory. So, that has to be kept in mind; what a FAMILY member will think of a photo is based MOSTLY on direct, personal emotional attachment to the PEOPLE who are in a photo; what photographers comment on has basically NOTHING to do with emotional attachment, since we have no feelings for the people, since we'll never see them, ever, and have never seen them, and so on.

 

[Trever1t]

First I think it's an awesome shot, the scene and subjects are cooperating beautifully. I might have exposed for the subjects and then try to recover the highlights rather than the shadows as you had. I think that as long as my subjects are crisp I am successful. That said it's very incredible how much shadow you were able to recover, what camera body did you use?

 

[CorrieMichael]

First I think it's an awesome shot, the scene and subjects are cooperating beautifully. I might have exposed for the subjects and then try to recover the highlights rather than the shadows as you had. I think that as long as my subjects are crisp I am successful. That said it's very incredible how much shadow you were able to recover, what camera body did you use?

I'm currently working with a 40d canon, lens is a 50mm 1.4, the sun was completely set to my backright. The sky was a tad pink so I got those colours on the water. I then completed a composite using a different sky that had some pink in it to add a bit more character to the sky. Thanks for your input!

 

[CorrieMichael]

The first photo is light enough that we can see the expressions on the faces of the children, but even very small, there is absolutely horrific noise in the shadows, and it looks like if the shot were seen even a bit larger that the noise would be beyond horrible. When shown dark, obviously, the lower tones are crushed, and the noise is obscured, but the photo is just a silhouette. To a third party, the loss of the faces is a big deal, but I suppose if the parents were there, watching the photos being made, they could mentally "fill in the blanks", and probably enjoy the second shot as a memory. So, that has to be kept in mind; what a FAMILY member will think of a photo is based MOSTLY on direct, personal emotional attachment to the PEOPLE who are in a photo; what photographers comment on has basically NOTHING to do with emotional attachment, since we have no feelings for the people, since we'll never see them, ever, and have never seen them, and so on.

Not to make excuses but it might be my facebook/web version of the photo making even more noise than what is actually there. possibly not horrific.....but yes maybe horrible! lol Thanks so much for your input! I really appreciate it!

 

[Granddad]

I like #1, the light/colours are impressive. Noise or no noise you done good.

#2 I also like, but the silhouettes bother me a little; I think If it was mine I'd try making them totally blacked out and see how that looks? Just a thought off the top of my head.

 

[krystalynnephoto]

I really like #1!

 

[CorrieMichael]

I like #1, the light/colours are impressive. Noise or no noise you done good.

#2 I also like, but the silhouettes bother me a little; I think If it was mine I'd try making them totally blacked out and see how that looks? Just a thought off the top of my head.

Thanks grandad

 

[amolitor]

I think somewhere between the two would be about right, possibly even some masking to blend the two concepts.

The sky and background are nicer in the darker one, I'd definitely be trying for that look in the sky throughout. The first one as Derrel has noted has some technical problems, but beyond that I feel like you've over-brightened the people. It feels like an excess of "digital fill" here -- where's the light coming from?

If you eased back on that to give us fully recognizable, fully lit figures which did not quite have that "what the heck is lighting them up?" feeling, together with the sky from #2, you'd have something pretty awesome.