My son skating. C&C requested

UFLGator · Feb 12, 2012

Out skating and brought the camera. This one was one of the better ones I got that day. Seemed a bit soft, and I'm not sure where to crop it?

editDSC_0609 by UFLGator, on Flickr

Postman158 · Feb 12, 2012

I would have liked to have seen his feet not cut off =/

mishele · Feb 12, 2012

Yep....less big tree...more feet.

manaheim · Feb 12, 2012

It's a nice shot of your son. You should enjoy it as a nice memory and keep it.

WhiskeyTango · Feb 12, 2012

Action shots are difficult to frame, specifically because of the action... That said: try to frame the image so that the "empty" or non-subject space is in front of the subject (direction of motion). In other words, if he's skating head on towards you, as in this shot, the open space should be at the bottom of the image. If he's skating left to right, the open space should be on the right side.

UFLGator · Feb 12, 2012

WhiskeyTango said:
Action shots are difficult to frame, specifically because of the action... That said: try to frame the image so that the "empty" or non-subject space is in front of the subject (direction of motion). In other words, if he's skating head on towards you, as in this shot, the open space should be at the bottom of the image. If he's skating left to right, the open space should be on the right side.

Thank you for the critiques. This was the best focused, but the bottom of the skates were cut off because it was the closest in this shot. I'm just not getting real sharp photos with my kit lens, which i dont suppose should come as a surprise.

I know its not a great photo, but quality critiques like this will help me change things for the better.

UFLGator

Bossy · Feb 12, 2012

Can you post your settings? Kit lens suck but they work well enough outside with sunlight.

WhiskeyTango · Feb 13, 2012

UFLGator said:
WhiskeyTango said:

Action shots are difficult to frame, specifically because of the action... That said: try to frame the image so that the "empty" or non-subject space is in front of the subject (direction of motion). In other words, if he's skating head on towards you, as in this shot, the open space should be at the bottom of the image. If he's skating left to right, the open space should be on the right side.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the critiques. This was the best focused, but the bottom of the skates were cut off because it was the closest in this shot. I'm just not getting real sharp photos with my kit lens, which i dont suppose should come as a surprise.

I know its not a great photo, but quality critiques like this will help me change things for the better.

UFLGator

As Bossy said, I wouldn't think the kit lens would be a major problem in good light.

The EXIF data all looks fairly reasonable to me. You were in aperture priority mode and shooting a few stops above wide open. Your shutter speed was 1/320, with ISO of 200. None of that's out of line.

I'd probably shoot this in shutter priority or manual with ISO at 400, but in all honesty, I don't think that would have changed "this" shot.

Play around with your AF modes. For action, especially sports with erratic motion, I like to shoot in AF-C with dynamic AF. Force the focus point so that it'll typically be on your subject's chest or eyes.

Edsport · Feb 13, 2012

Geaux · Feb 13, 2012

he also has a flag coming out of his head.

If you're going to do fake DOF, at least cut him out correctly. There are pieces around him "not in focus"

Bossy · Feb 13, 2012

Geaux said:
he also has a flag coming out of his head.

If you're going to do fake DOF, at least cut him out correctly. There are pieces around him "not in focus"

I imagine it was just a quick play to show her what it could be, rather than a professional edit.

Edsport · Feb 13, 2012

Geaux said:
he also has a flag coming out of his head.

If you're going to do fake DOF, at least cut him out correctly. There are pieces around him "not in focus"

What's not in focus?

TMBPhotography · Feb 13, 2012

I like all the pads on the kid but wheres the helmet?

Trever1t · Feb 13, 2012

Most kit lenses do not suck, contrary they're pretty damn good for what they are but are rather limiting. Your problem here isn't the kit lens, more likely it's your focus on a moving subject.

Bossy · Feb 13, 2012

Trever1t said:
Most kit lenses do not suck, contrary they're pretty damn good for what they are but are rather limiting. Your problem here isn't the kit lens, more likely it's your focus on a moving subject.

I'm sorry, totally inappropriate thread jack, but This pops in my head every time you post

And I agree