Noob C&C

[Carnesd]

Just got my first camera yesterday a T1i. Always loved photography but never got into it so heres my chance. Took a couple pics of the family christmas and a few setup shots.
Tell me what you think. Don't be easy on me I can take it.

Used a lamp to light up the left side and a black jacket to block out the background light. I think it turned out pretty good for my first day.

These two were at the christmas party, didn't have much control over light or anything so I just tried to find a good area to do it in, seemed to work ok.

 

[Carnesd]

And BTW, MERRY CHRISTMAS Too All!!

 

[tirediron]

Welcome! Very nice work on #1;there are some technical issues which could be improved (lighting, focus), but given your level of experience and equipment, that's an excellent shot. It demonstrates a good,l understanding of composition and actually reminds of something painted by one of the old masters. The other two, well, images at parties, are, well... images at parties.

 

[Gruen Photo 7 Design]

a fill flash would help

 

[sobolik]

#2 is ALMOST awesome.
Crop off the left edge to get rid of the dark thing bottom left corner
and try cropping ALL of the non tree space on the left and the top ornament off. Maintaining the same ratio will end up cropping off top, left and bottom.
Then it will be awesome.

 

[Carnesd]

Tirediron- Thanks for the welcome. Are there any specifics you can say about the first so I will know what to work on when I do get some more gear? I'm thinking an off camera flash with a deeper dof would be a little better as well as using a tripod.

Gruen- For which ones?

Sobolik- I think you are referring to the last one correct? I guess I should number them. I will try your suggestions and see how it comes out, Thanks.

 

[starcluster]

The first one needs a little bit of lighting but the composition are nice, and for the second and the third shot, the tree behind is distracting..

 

[kundalini]

When shooting indoors under 'normal' house lighting, set your white balance to incandescent (~3000 Kelvin) to reduce the yellow cast.

Shooting highly reflective material, such as glass, is tricky to say the least. A good understanding of the family of angles is needed. One of the best books I've read on the subject is Amazon.com: Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting (9780240808192): Fil Hunter, Steven Biver, Paul Fuqua: Books

 

[o2baladyvol]

Nice, I had same issues with my "new to me" camera at parties yesterday.

 

[tirediron]

The main issue I see is DoF, as far as the lighting goes, I like it as-is, however I think it could definitely be improved through experimentation. Nothing specific, rather just trial and error.

 

[sobolik]

Tirediron- Thanks for the welcome. Are there any specifics you can say about the first so I will know what to work on when I do get some more gear? I'm thinking an off camera flash with a deeper dof would be a little better as well as using a tripod.

Gruen- For which ones?

Sobolik- I think you are referring to the last one correct? I guess I should number them. I will try your suggestions and see how it comes out, Thanks.

oops, #3 not #2

 

[MohaimenK]

I'd have done something like this w the first image.

 

[sovietdoc]

better lighting on the first one would of made a good studio shot

 

[Carnesd]

Looking back and forth at the RAW files and the .jpg's I notice that theres a huge quality difference in them. Is there anyway to preserve this when converting to .jpg? I'm converting using the Photo Pro software that came with the camera.

 

[cdino88]

First one needs a white balance fix it seems like.

Second needs more of the girl on the right in the frame.

Third one applies to the second as well.