Lotsa questions!

[Sue5606]

I have taken a few community college classes but my new "school" is this forum. However, the more on I learn on here, the dumber I feel because I just realize how much I don't know how to do!
1. How do I blow out the background more? I lit it from behind by the sun but there were still dark spots so I used a lamp which still left some dark areas as well as a pink hue from the mixed light sources( I think)
2. 1st time shooting RAW and it took me days to find the cd from my camera, download the software, figure out how to the convert the files and save them then shrink it down enough to be able to email it...does it get easier/is there an easier way? I resorted to jpeg (gasp!) at my last shoot.
3. I have a canon rebel xs which I received as a gift a few years ago. I learned on this forum I should put the focus point when photographing people. I still don't feel like I get a sharp focus like so many of you do on this forum. Is it a limitation of my camera or the operator?
4. I have a laptop (which is not calibrated) and the pictures do not look like they do when viewing them on my camera as far as color and exposure but my iPad does. Is the iPad better as far as calibration, in general?
C/c please and thanks for your time and awesome photog brains!

 

[Sue5606]

Btw f/4.5 exposure 1/100 ISO 800 focal length 37mm

 

[DiskoJoe]

DONT CHOP PEOPLE AT THE KNEES. EVER!

 

[Sue5606]

Better?

 

[DiskoJoe]

Better?


View attachment 11208

MUCH Better, but you could probably crop it just a bit tight. I would do some layering and chop out the white sheet from background.

For really sharp focus try using f4.

 

[Sue5606]

Layers...I bet that's a ps thing which I don't know anything about. Should I be focusing more on that then learning more about the actual picture taking? Share with me your wisdom. Also, i have the ever popular kit lens (wink) and dont think it goes to f/4? was thinking about the 50mm 1.8. Would I have a better time with that?

 

[fjrabon]

Layers...I bet that's a ps thing which I don't know anything about. Should I be focusing more on that then learning more about the actual picture taking? Share with me your wisdom. Also, i have the ever popular kit lens (wink) and dont think it goes to f/4? was thinking about the 50mm 1.8. Would I have a better time with that?

View attachment 11210

you pretty much have to learn post processing and picture taking together. The two reinforce one another. The more you learn about PP, the more you know what to look for in your camera during the actual shoot, and the more you learn about shooting, the more quickly you know what to 'fix' in PP.

Do you have a mac or a PC? If you have a PC, start with Lightroom and then add photoshop in later if needed. Lightroom does 99% of the editing you need. Photoshop can be added on later if you really get into it, as it is better for really heavy lifting. If you don't want to spend any money right now on post processing software, Picasa from Google is decent, easy to use and free. But it's nowhere near as powerful as Lightroom or Aperture.

If you have a Mac, I really love Aperture. There's also a rumor that they will come out with an Aperture app for the iPad soon as well. I own photoshop for the occasional perspective or barrel distortion correction or other really specialized adjustment, but I'd say I use Aperture for pretty much 99.9% of my editing and library organization.

 

[Sue5606]

K I will work on learning PP. does anyone have any answers to my other questions? Bueller? Bueller? Maybe I should say I'm a PROFESSIONAL and I get paid BIG BUCKS for this to get y'all going! Don't worry, I wouldn't think of it

 

[tirediron]

1. If you're going to blow out the background, you need MORE LIGHT!!! Ideally 1 - 1 1/2 stops over subject (I prefer 2 stops, but even one will usually do it). The sun and household lamps will NOT provide enough light; you need strobes.

2. There are many easier ways, but they're not the best way. The $160 you spend on a copy of Lightroom 4 will be some of the best money you ever spent. Really!

3. The "sharp focus" question is very hard to answer. It may be equipment (Do you by any chance have a cheap UV filter on your lens?) It could be slight motion blur if your hands aren't steady, it could be your computer monitor, or, it could be that you've not sharpened it. Generally, digital images do need at least a little bit of sharpening.

4. Chances are that your iPad colour is better than your laptop. Most laptop screens are rather cold (blue) uncalibrated.

 

[Sue5606]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing your knowledge! I do not have a uv filter and did not know I should be sharpening...but I will be now!!

 

[Sue5606]

I just sharpened for the 1st time and it felt good seems to show more detail. Yes, These baby feet are wrinkly...they were in soggy socks.



these baby feet are wrinkly

 

[pickle788]

As for your 50mm f1.8 lens you where talking about its going to be hard to use indoors as it will be 1.6x zoom on a cropped camera also shooting at lower f stops like 2 - 1.8 you will have a very shallow DOF so you can find it hard to get the focus right. But they are a good low light lens to have if you are starting and don't have huge $$$$ to spend.

 

[amandamartin]

DONT CHOP PEOPLE AT THE KNEES. EVER!

Chopping at ANY bend is my pet peeve! I have trained many people on composition over the years and this is one thing that a lot of people don't get. Makes people look like Lt. Dan, after the war....if you know what I mean....