Why are these so #@Q%T?

[ababysean]

I took these this morning for a friend and I'm even embarrassed to post them here!

35mm
8am
It was so dark and cloudy outside, that I did use my sb-600 but on 1/64th power, just for a little fill. They are so grainy! I can't blame it on facebook because they are like that in photoshop as well.

Is it because like a newbie I am, I had it set for A priority and i had it on 1.8 ughhhhhhhhhh

 

[ann]

they aren't that bad, a bit contrasty for my taste and i would rather not see that tree growing out the back of the lady's head.

 

[TiCoyote]

They don't look all that grainy to me. But I wouldn't have cropped the crown of the man's head.

 

[Robin Usagani]

the PP of 3 and 4 are little weird.

 

[ababysean]

OH MY GOODNESS!
I just pulled out my camera and it was on MANUAL focus! WTF??? I am so glad I'm shooting on friends and for free!

Only I would do something so stupid!

 

[misstwinklytoes]

Happens to everyone! But hey! Just think. They don't look so bad!

 

[Derrel]

OH MY GOODNESS!
I just pulled out my camera and it was on MANUAL focus! WTF??? I am so glad I'm shooting on friends and for free!

Only I would do something so stupid!

WTF indeed!!!

The images you've posted look like they are suffering from some serious compression artifacts...the shot of the boy in Shot #1 has some horrific jaggies on his legs!

 

[misstwinklytoes]

I didn't notice his leg, only his cheek/chin.

 

[ababysean]

Probably are compression because these are from facebook. I am talking more about the grainyness. oh well

 

[whiplash23]

What I have found that works best for me with respect to fill flash is this (I use a SB-600 btw):
- Put flash in fill mode, not manual.
- Use TTL mode to let the camera figure out how much to use.
- If I am close (say filling the frame w/ a 50mm-100mm), use flash comp to knock it down a stop (-1).
- If I am far away (say filling the frame at 200mm), leave the flash comp alone (0).

 

[arios23]

Why you did not let the kid pee in your last shoot?, I think you do not like the photos because of the poses, you had a good scenario and the lighting it is not bad, in the first picture based on my little experience with kids I think it is better to take kids pictures at their height not above them, but I am a newbie too so listen to me with caution. Good luck next time.