Newbie photos for C&C

[biggoron]

Hi all, just posting a couple pictures I took with my D3000. I want to know what I could do to improve next time. The picture of my daughter, I just couldn't get the lighting right and really am upset with the shadows behind her in all my pics.

I am a limo driver and drive the car pictured for weddings. I decided to snap a few pics of it.

Any advice? comments? Thanks

 

[bazooka]

#1 Splotchy sunlight is tough to deal with... the shade can be underexposed while the sunlit areas overexposed. If you correctly expose one, then the other is even more under or overexposed. The environment looks to fit the car, but I don't think I'm seeing enough car, and too much of the background is 'bleh'. The foreground (pavement) isn't particularly exciting, but you may be able to use those two parallel lines to enhance the composition. So, get even lighting on the subject, and either zoom in or get closer to the car, depending on what look you are going for. Both are very different from each other.

#2 It's a hood ornament, not particularly stunning. Significant parts of it are overexposed, losing all detail. It's also competing with the white hood behind it and the deeply saturated grass at the top. And try getting down to eyelevel or lower to make it "impressive".

#3 The shadows will be there until you either move the light away from the camera, or remove the background. And I don't recommend using a background that is stronger than the subject. Red is one of the strongest colors and using it as a background, especially when the outfit doesn't match, is overwhelming.

 

[biggoron]

#1 Splotchy sunlight is tough to deal with... the shade can be underexposed while the sunlit areas overexposed. If you correctly expose one, then the other is even more under or overexposed. The environment looks to fit the car, but I don't think I'm seeing enough car, and too much of the background is 'bleh'. The foreground (pavement) isn't particularly exciting, but you may be able to use those two parallel lines to enhance the composition. So, get even lighting on the subject, and either zoom in or get closer to the car, depending on what look you are going for. Both are very different from each other.

#2 It's a hood ornament, not particularly stunning. Significant parts of it are overexposed, losing all detail. It's also competing with the white hood behind it and the deeply saturated grass at the top. And try getting down to eyelevel or lower to make it "impressive".

#3 The shadows will be there until you either move the light away from the camera, or remove the background. And I don't recommend using a background that is stronger than the subject. Red is one of the strongest colors and using it as a background, especially when the outfit doesn't match, is overwhelming.

#1 The photographer actually positioned the car there, and after the bride and groom left, i took some pics. I guess he know how to edit it better than me. I didnt edit anything yet.

#3 The background was actually pink seamless paper. dark pink/pink. I took this pic about 2 days after I got the camera. Since then I learned about moving further away to reduce shadows. I was in my dining room, so space was limited a bit. But if you think the shadow is the worst part of the pic then im happy.

Thanks for the input

 

[bennielou]

Hi!

The first one is too far away, and not the best angle. Shoot closer, and go to the right on this photo to show more of the car.

The second: it's overexposed and I don't like the little sign in the background left. Lower the curves and patch out the sign.

The third: Lot of problems on this one. The white balance is too red. The little girl is too close to the background. The light is on camera instead of off. She's not looking at you. The most prominent point of the photo is the soles of her shoes. This is a total reshoot.

Keep shooting, and I hope that you take the CC in the spirit it was given.

 

[biggoron]

Thanks for the input. I took a few pics last night of my newborn. Is this a little better than the last time?

 

[MissCream]

Your lighting is way too harsh and there is a distracting shadow on her face. What kind of flash are you using?

 

[biggoron]

Your lighting is way too harsh and there is a distracting shadow on her face. What kind of flash are you using?

i did it quickly, i was just using the pop up flash. the speedlight i have says not to use on young kids. so i didnt want to chance it.

 

[MissCream]

Your lighting is way too harsh and there is a distracting shadow on her face. What kind of flash are you using?

i did it quickly, i was just using the pop up flash. the speedlight i have says not to use on young kids. so i didnt want to chance it.

What you should do is use your speedlight but bounce it off the ceiling, it's not as hard on the little one's eyes and can help prevent shadows

 

[HomelessBoy]

Put a few sheets of white paper in front of the pop up flash to remove harsh lightings.

 

[biggoron]

Your lighting is way too harsh and there is a distracting shadow on her face. What kind of flash are you using?

i did it quickly, i was just using the pop up flash. the speedlight i have says not to use on young kids. so i didnt want to chance it.

What you should do is use your speedlight but bounce it off the ceiling, it's not as hard on the little one's eyes and can help prevent shadows

I tried that once before during a shoot with my oldest (pic above) and wasnt getting much light. The room has a cathedral ceiling and seemed to get lost. Would a bounce card be a good option?

 

[cgipson1]

Bounce doesn't work well with high ceilings... maybe rig up something like this (not saying to buy one.. just make something similar... or buy one, up to you! ):

from Demb Flash Products - Flip-it! the variable-angle flash reflector


there are a lot of tutorials on the internet on how to make something similar if you google bounce card, flash bounce, etc....