You got my attention........

[punch]

I don't wear glasses and YES I was meaning to mention that these photos where take with MF but I have now started using my AF and using my points. Still getting used to adjusting them while I'm shooting but my focus is looking MUCH better now!

Ok, but have you moved the diopter wheel at all?

 

[MTVision]

um....... well yea other than I take take my eyes off the hand of this child looks as big as his head lol but I do understand what you are saying but I seriously was trying to capture her at this angle because I had tried at other angles and i couldn't see her face like I wanted to. Here's one with a better DOF

Well I hope the hand is huge - it was taken with a macro

 

[Elizabeth30]

that's SO much better. it looks a lot better with color and not faded out in my opinion. i think moving the frame would have made your point better... it's still hard to find the focus point with it up in the ceiling like that. also, the bunny is a really flat focus point... it's faded and has no real texture. a different stuffed animal would have worked better, i think.

This worries and you know why.... if everyone thinks this is OOF then I have some serious eye issues! I keep getting this feedback from you all and I don't see it. Why can't I see it? I look at the links I posted on Myfourhens photos and they are soft and I can't find a determined focal point...... is it my lack of knowledge and skill or are my eyes screwed?

Have you looked at Myfourhens portfolio on her webpage. I looked real quick and they are definitely crisp and in focus. Some of them she does use shallow DOF for different effects. I belong to a forum that Sarah goes too and she is an amazing photographer and not all her photos look like the couple you linked too.

Oh yes, I am a long time fan of Sarah's work! She is AMAZING! I was just pointing out some of her more drastic DOF Shots! What forum does she go to? I'd love to join? BTW have you entered her giveaway?

 

[Elizabeth30]

I don't wear glasses and YES I was meaning to mention that these photos where take with MF but I have now started using my AF and using my points. Still getting used to adjusting them while I'm shooting but my focus is looking MUCH better now!

Ok, but have you moved the diopter wheel at all?

um no I haven't. I just had to google it to see what it was. **Blushing**

 

[MTVision]

Clickinmoms.com

She has a lensbaby - crazy shots

I did enter her giveaway. Mcpactions is having the same one coming up (or similar) and you can choose Nikon or canon!

 

[Elizabeth30]

Clickinmoms.com

She has a lensbaby - crazy shots

I did enter her giveaway. Mcpactions is having the same one coming up (or similar) and you can choose Nikon or canon!

Oh yes, I knew about clickinmoms. I want to join just don't have the extra $ with my husband being laid off right now.

 

[Destin]

Thank you so much!! I have gotten a lot of good info coming here but I still want to maintain my own style.... you know? I don't want to do things the "technical" way. I know there is sooooo much I still need to learn and work on but some things are better when they are different.

This is an excuse I've seen time after time after time after time on this forum. Not wanting to do things the technical way because you want your own style.

Newsflash: You first have to master the technical side of photography before you can even THINK about developing a style. I totally agree that it's boring to be another cookie-cutter-all my photos look the same photographer. But that is NO excuse for poor composition, terrible lighting, improper DOF settings, etc.

I've been where you are. You just need to take a step back, and take time (months, maybe even years) to learn the technical side of photography. You say you don't want to be the "typical photographer" yet it's exactly what you are right now. Your photos are poorly lit, poorly composed, and have too thin a DOF. Just like EVERY other so called "facebook photographer" out there. If you want to stand out from the crowd, you need to be exceptional at the technical side of photography, and from that base, build your own personal style/brand.

The house build on the sand will soon collapse, but the house built on the rock will withstand the storm. Your photography, without technical knowledge, is the house on the sand. You need to build that rock foundation of fundamental technical skills before you can start putting an addition of style on your metaphorical house.

Edit: Yeah there's some tough love in here. I know. You can hate me for it. Really, go ahead. It won't bother me.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

I think my head just exploded.

 

[Elizabeth30]

Thank you so much!! I have gotten a lot of good info coming here but I still want to maintain my own style.... you know? I don't want to do things the "technical" way. I know there is sooooo much I still need to learn and work on but some things are better when they are different.

This is an excuse I've seen time after time after time after time on this forum. Not wanting to do things the technical way because you want your own style.

Newsflash: You first have to master the technical side of photography before you can even THINK about developing a style. I totally agree that it's boring to be another cookie-cutter-all my photos look the same photographer. But that is NO excuse for poor composition, terrible lighting, improper DOF settings, etc.

I've been where you are. You just need to take a step back, and take time (months, maybe even years) to learn the technical side of photography. You say you don't want to be the "typical photographer" yet it's exactly what you are right now. Your photos are poorly lit, poorly composed, and have too thin a DOF. Just like EVERY other so called "facebook photographer" out there. If you want to stand out from the crowd, you need to be exceptional at the technical side of photography, and from that base, build your own personal style/brand.

The house build on the sand will soon collapse, but the house built on the rock will withstand the storm. Your photography, without technical knowledge, is the house on the sand. You need to build that rock foundation of fundamental technical skills before you can start putting an addition of style on your metaphorical house.

Edit: Yeah there's some tough love in here. I know. You can hate me for it. Really, go ahead. It won't bother me.

No hate here!!! I completely agree with you!! I am learning the basics now and plan to keep learning. just saying I don't want to lose my style along the way.

 

[Destin]

A photography with 0 talent and a complete understanding of the technical side of photography will almost ALWAYS produce consistently better photos than a photographer with a ton of talent but no knowledge of technical matters.

This isn't drawing or painting. It's photography, and it's somewhere around 60% science, 40% talent/artistic vision. You MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST have a complete understanding of technical matters in photography before you worry about your own personal style. Did I mention that you MUST know the technical matters better than the back of your hand?

You don't seem to be grasping the concept no matter how many people tell you. But hey, it's all personal preference. If you like your photos, that's really all that matters. Just don't expect to make any money as a photographer without years of experience learning, and re-learning the technical matters of photography.


To make a point, I have frequently, and still do, take photos of random stuffed animals around my house for practice. Trying new lighting techniques. Trying out new camera settings. Testing the effects of different Depths of field/focal lengths.

Try taking photos of the water coming out of a faucet at different shutter speeds to understand the relationship between shutter speed and freezing motion.

Read Books. Read Blogs. TAKE THE FREAKING ADVICE YOU GET ON HERE FROM EXPERIENCED PHOTOGRAPHERS.

These are all things that you have to do for YEARS to effectively learn photography. I've been at it for close to 4 years, taking every chance I get to read more books, or articles, or ask for C&C on here, and practicing more, and taking advice, and I am still an amateur.

 

[Destin]

Thank you so much!! I have gotten a lot of good info coming here but I still want to maintain my own style.... you know? I don't want to do things the "technical" way. I know there is sooooo much I still need to learn and work on but some things are better when they are different.

This is an excuse I've seen time after time after time after time on this forum. Not wanting to do things the technical way because you want your own style.

Newsflash: You first have to master the technical side of photography before you can even THINK about developing a style. I totally agree that it's boring to be another cookie-cutter-all my photos look the same photographer. But that is NO excuse for poor composition, terrible lighting, improper DOF settings, etc.

I've been where you are. You just need to take a step back, and take time (months, maybe even years) to learn the technical side of photography. You say you don't want to be the "typical photographer" yet it's exactly what you are right now. Your photos are poorly lit, poorly composed, and have too thin a DOF. Just like EVERY other so called "facebook photographer" out there. If you want to stand out from the crowd, you need to be exceptional at the technical side of photography, and from that base, build your own personal style/brand.

The house build on the sand will soon collapse, but the house built on the rock will withstand the storm. Your photography, without technical knowledge, is the house on the sand. You need to build that rock foundation of fundamental technical skills before you can start putting an addition of style on your metaphorical house.

Edit: Yeah there's some tough love in here. I know. You can hate me for it. Really, go ahead. It won't bother me.

No hate here!!! I completely agree with you!! I am learning the basics now and plan to keep learning. just saying I don't want to lose my style along the way.

You have to forget about style, at least for a while, and focus on the technical matters. Once you have a grasp on them, you can start applying your style.

I'll let you in on a little secret: You don't know enough about photography to have a style yet. Not trying to be a dick. I'm really not. But it's true. A style takes years to develop, and for most, is ever evolving. 6 months from now you'll look at these photos and be embarrassed that you thought they looked good. Even professionals who have been at it for decades have evolving styles. You get bored with one style so you move on and evolve to a new one, and the cycle keeps repeating

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Style=Photoshop actions.

 

[thereyougo!]

Here's my photo of the day. Experimenting with shutter speed and exposure. I figured snow was a good way to practice not over exposing my photos.

Sorry to be blunt, but why are you pretty much always shooting portraits in landscape orientation? Her eyes take me out of the shot. I'd rather look at what she is looking at than the background. Don't be obsessed with bokeh. It isn't bokeh that makes an image look professional.

 

[Elizabeth30]

Here's my photo of the day. Experimenting with shutter speed and exposure. I figured snow was a good way to practice not over exposing my photos.

Sorry to be blunt, but why are you pretty much always shooting portraits in landscape orientation? Her eyes take me out of the shot. I'd rather look at what she is looking at than the background. Don't be obsessed with bokeh. It isn't bokeh that makes an image look professional.

Because I don't have a studio...... ??

 

[Elizabeth30]

A photography with 0 talent and a complete understanding of the technical side of photography will almost ALWAYS produce consistently better photos than a photographer with a ton of talent but no knowledge of technical matters.

This isn't drawing or painting. It's photography, and it's somewhere around 60% science, 40% talent/artistic vision. You MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST have a complete understanding of technical matters in photography before you worry about your own personal style. Did I mention that you MUST know the technical matters better than the back of your hand?

You don't seem to be grasping the concept no matter how many people tell you. But hey, it's all personal preference. If you like your photos, that's really all that matters. Just don't expect to make any money as a photographer without years of experience learning, and re-learning the technical matters of photography.


To make a point, I have frequently, and still do, take photos of random stuffed animals around my house for practice. Trying new lighting techniques. Trying out new camera settings. Testing the effects of different Depths of field/focal lengths.

Try taking photos of the water coming out of a faucet at different shutter speeds to understand the relationship between shutter speed and freezing motion.

Read Books. Read Blogs. TAKE THE FREAKING ADVICE YOU GET ON HERE FROM EXPERIENCED PHOTOGRAPHERS.

These are all things that you have to do for YEARS to effectively learn photography. I've been at it for close to 4 years, taking every chance I get to read more books, or articles, or ask for C&C on here, and practicing more, and taking advice, and I am still an amateur.

I AM taking the advice. The first thing I did was read through my camera's manual and I should probably read through it 100 more times and I am reading articles and blogs, and whatever else. I KNOW it's going to take a ton of time to get to where I want to be. It's a continued learning process no matter how "good" I think I am. You are right, I probably will be embarrassed in few months but that's not going to stop me from posting photos and asking what you all see that I may not.