New to Portraits. ALWAYS appreciate C&C.

[TKD]

Thank you. I see what you mean. Forgot to say class assignment was to leave ISO on 200. But you are right, don't have any idea why I chose 7.1. Thanks. Doppled light was the lighting on her. Great suggestions. Thank you.

Not quite sure this class did you a service; why in the world would you only shoot at 200 iso? I could see that in a studio...

But that's such an arbitrary limitation.

Totally understand what you are saying. This was a VERY basic class and in 8 weeks it was all she could do to get the exposure triangle and numbers placed in the newbies brains so they could apply it. Then leaving ISO and other things brings them back to the intermediate class. I've got the mechanics of the camera and do everything in manual but I need to learn to apply everything all at once. I've become more disciplined with her class but I need to get a few kicks from you folks to make me apply what I've learned effectively. Really appreciate the time you spent!

 

[TKD]

Dappled light is challenging to use, but I thought the group shot was actually pretty well-done, considering just how VERY tricky it can be to take people pics in such light. What I liked about it is the bright, yellow leaves as a massive amount of "location"...very much it says "fall". The older brother is standing, in a very dynamic pose, with one foot UP on the tree. Little bro is hanging on to a forked branch. Mom's in the back, visually supporting the two kids. The mom's face is in a light patch, as are little brother's jeans, and big bro's hand...it's **almost** like a classic painting, in the way each person has a part of his or her person in the shafts of light. I see a lot of what looks like noise reduction when I view the full-sized image, but I think if the file is sound at the fundamental level, that a very skilled Photoshop massaging of the group shot could make an almost-excellent photo out of it. Again, yeah...dappled light...generally looked at askance by most people, but even if it is accidental, I see something that could be mistaken for real,true artistry of the highest order, in the way the figures are placed in this pose.

I think you are my favorite! Thank you. It is so easy to look at your shot the first time and say, "wow, you really caught that!" But after a few times staring at it you know it is only a possible and really not quite there. I appreciate your positives! Thank you.