General Critique my informal portraits please.

[JacaRanda]

Jaca,

I will definitely go into the vertical settings and switch it to single point.

I was for a while considering going to full auto AF to try and get sharper. I'll stick to the course!

Thanks again!

Definitely not full auto for portraits. It will choose the nearest object it can latch onto.

 

[astroNikon]

That last photo with the girl holding the book
Manual exposure, 1/100 sec, f/3.2, ISO 200

The Out Of Focus look may be due to using slightly too slow a shutter speed. Any hand movement while pushing the release button could cause softness/OOF.

The best thing in focus was the one pink heart on her left shoulder but it wasn't sharp at all.
You have to use a Single Focus point, proper aperture and proper shutter speed.
Don't be afraid to up your ISO in order to do that.

 

[Designer]

Thanks Designer,

I will check for a tutorial on resizing in LR/PS, exporting and storing and cloud sharing probably hAve thrown me for the biggest loop of all this. Switching from cpu to mac and adding PS same day is nonsensical lol.

By catchlights do you mean the shiny spots that are in all 3 photos, or are you looking for more light in the actual blues of the eye, retina or iris I cant remember what to call it.

Thanks you!
OG

I don't have LR, but my software upon exporting gives me options for format and size, so if I'm going to post a photo on here I set it to JPEG and to fit within a 1024 pixel size. I export it to my desktop so it's easy and fast to upload. (With a Mac you can just drag it in.)

Catchlights are those bright reflections of whatever your lighting source is reflected in your subject's eyes.

 

[Designer]

I was for a while considering going to full auto AF to try and get sharper.

Hit me with that one again.

Are you saying that you've been focusing manually? You are not letting your camera focus? Why izzat?

 

[OGsPhotography]

Designer,

No not manual focus ( although I Did State that elsewhere haha). What I was refering to in that context was setting the Camera to Auto Selection: 19 pt AF and AF operation to AI FOCUS, full auto lol. With manual control over aperture and F#. I was doing manual ISO as well but I think I'll let is on Auto with a 6400 limit while ai figure out this new flash.

Thank you everyone for your help this afternoon I think my hard works been rewarded my flash arrived a month early!!!! Happeh.

 

[OGsPhotography]

The Canon 270EX is a baby next to this beast.

 

[The_Traveler]

Note the composition,
Why, in the original is there so much space behind her?
That adds nothing

 

[OGsPhotography]

Travellor,

The composition was Meant pto put her up in the top left third its where I set the Single Focus I end up with a comp like that. Can only add light to the dark so the dark right half is aiding contrast. I will try with a tighter crop my next shoot!
Thanks
OG

PS my flash is synced to the TX transmitter! Going to grab my shoot thru umbrella that might help.

 

[The_Traveler]

Don't get misled by the 'thirds rule' which is a silly shorthand for a much more complex issue.
She is looking into a short space with lots of dark space behind her; that makes not much sense to teh viewer who tries to understand why you put her there.

 

[vintagesnaps]

I think you're right about needing to nail the settings and focus. That's why I'd suggest you practice that on an object to help you get better at it, so you will be able to get better pictures of her (since she looks like a cute busy little on the move subject! lol).

 

[OGsPhotography]

Vintage,
I do that! Its great advice; meet Mother Goose,

About the rule of thirds, you asked why I did it, and I don't necessarily agree that its silly per say. I love Pi.
Thanks! Keep the insight coming I learned a lot today!

Tried to sneak a " portrait" mag into the cart at wallmart while getting some rechargeabkes for the flash, wifey found it and lol not hapenin.

 

[OGsPhotography]

This is what I came up with in the first try with the new lighting. I think when I get a chance in front of the window with the YN560 for fill it will be better chances.

Can you see the EXIF on this?

 

[The_Traveler]

Nicely sharp, exif included

Note hot spots.
More diffusion needed, imo.

 

[OGsPhotography]

I think the hotspots are not actually blown. I haven't really edited this yet just going for sharpness and testing some technical aspects. Heres same shot with a few sliders moved. A bit yellow but that can be fixed. Useable pic anyway Im happy.

I used a large reflector on the right side but I think I want to just add another YN 560 lol. Or some ambient light maybe a bank of CF lights.

 

[OGsPhotography]

ISO 320
50mm
f4.5
1/100sec

YN 560 at about 1/4 power can't remember wish exif had it, does it??
I can work with this light.
Sun goes down really early up here in the Great White North.