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jamesD90
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p.1 #1 · Tell me what you think

Took this picture of this young man at a friends wedding. I didn't take my time really because it was more of a shot of opportunity than anything else. C&C welcome as always!

2008 © jamesD90

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Date	2009:06:27 21:47:31
Original date	2009:06:26 21:40:16

Jun 28, 2009 at 11:54 PM

pilles
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p.1 #2 · Tell me what you think

jamesD90 wrote:
Took this picture of this young man at a friends wedding. I didn't take my time really because it was more of a shot of opportunity than anything else. C&C welcome as always!

You got the shot. What do you want to know? How to shoot it over again?

Jun 29, 2009 at 12:34 AM

jamesD90
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p.1 #3 · Tell me what you think

i guess i just don't know if my post processing was done ok?

Jun 29, 2009 at 12:36 AM

charlesk
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p.1 #4 · Tell me what you think

First of all, ignore pilles -- he's the proverbial "grumpy old man" around here.

As you say, the image was opportunistic rather than planned, so it has a "snapshot" feel to it. The processing is okay, though it seems a bit too contrasty and perhaps a little underexposed. The white balance is quite warm.

IMO the best way to improve this shot would be to crop off most of the left half of the image, to get rid of the extraneous elements that pull the eye away from the young man. --c

Jun 29, 2009 at 02:38 AM

Cableaddict
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p.1 #5 · Tell me what you think

James,

First off: Anyone who posts on these forums, and puts "Tell me what you think" in the title, deserves the utmost respect. It's a tough crowd around here, and you sir have cast iron cajones!

As for the pic. Well, yeah just a fast-composed snapshot, basically, so it's not fair to jump on it.

BUT:

First, you should use a little less DOF. Some folks always go with the widest aperture they have, and that can also be a mistake, but you have WAY too much detail in this very busy background.

2: It looks like you don't have a very good lens. You are in focus, but it's still quite soft, and the colors are rather lackluster. (I just checked your profile. Egads, if I had to use that Siggy I'd quit photography.) Folks are fond of saying "it's not the equipment, it's the photographer" - but those same folks always have really nice equipment! Consider a decent prime bewtween 50 & 100 mm. You don't need the best. Almost ANY prime will probably slay that Sigma zoom.

3: You might benefit from better lighting, though this pic isn't bad. I Speedlight bounced off the cieling (with a white card or simple diffusor that send some of the light forward) would make things "pop" a bit more. Also, that would give you some catchlights in his eyes, which would make a huge difference. Also I would have gone one click slower on the shutter. The pic is a hair dark, overall.

Last, as Charles says, with this one DEFINITELY crop off the left side, and make it a vertical pic instead.

PS - Don't let Pilles get to you. He's just, well, Pilles.

Jun 29, 2009 at 04:12 AM

pilles
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p.1 #6 · Tell me what you think

jamesD90 wrote:
i guess i just don't know if my post processing was done ok?

So why didn't you say it in the beginning?

Jul 03, 2009 at 02:14 AM

pilles
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p.1 #7 · Tell me what you think

Cableaddict wrote:
James,

First off: Anyone who posts on these forums, and puts "Tell me what you think" in the title, deserves the utmost respect. It's a tough crowd around here, and you sir have cast iron cajones!

As for the pic. Well, yeah just a fast-composed snapshot, basically, so it's not fair to jump on it.

BUT:

First, you should use a little less DOF. Some folks always go with the widest aperture they have, and that can also be a mistake, but you have WAY too much detail in this very busy background.

2: It looks like you don't have a very good lens. You are in focus, but it's still quite soft, and the colors are rather lackluster. (I just checked your profile. Egads, if I had to use that Siggy I'd quit photography.) Folks are fond of saying "it's not the equipment, it's the photographer" - but those same folks always have really nice equipment! Consider a decent prime bewtween 50 & 100 mm. You don't need the best. Almost ANY prime will probably slay that Sigma zoom.

3: You might benefit from better lighting, though this pic isn't bad. I Speedlight bounced off the cieling (with a white card or simple diffusor that send some of the light forward) would make things "pop" a bit more. Also, that would give you some catchlights in his eyes, which would make a huge difference. Also I would have gone one click slower on the shutter. The pic is a hair dark, overall.

Last, as Charles says, with this one DEFINITELY crop off the left side, and make it a vertical pic instead.

PS - Don't let Pilles get to you. He's just, well, Pilles.

Too late to change now!
pilles

Jul 03, 2009 at 02:15 AM

TrojanHorse
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p.1 #8 · Tell me what you think

pilles wrote:
Too late to change now!
pilles

Him, or you.

Jul 03, 2009 at 03:18 AM

pilles
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p.1 #9 · Tell me what you think

TrojanHorse wrote:
pilles wrote:
Too late to change now!
pilles

Him, or you.

Me, of course.

Jul 04, 2009 at 01:47 AM

pilles
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p.1 #10 · Tell me what you think

charlesk wrote:
First of all, ignore pilles -- he's the proverbial "grumpy old man" around here.

As you say, the image was opportunistic rather than planned, so it has a "snapshot" feel to it. The processing is okay, though it seems a bit too contrasty and perhaps a little underexposed. The white balance is quite warm.

IMO the best way to improve this shot would be to crop off most of the left half of the image, to get rid of the extraneous elements that pull the eye away from the young man. --c

Not just grumpy, realistic!

Jul 04, 2009 at 01:51 AM

Pandacat
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p.1 #11 · Tell me what you think

Everybody is realistic about you Paul. You're just a grumpy old fart. Fun sometimes. But still grumpy.

Jul 04, 2009 at 02:03 AM

TrojanHorse
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p.1 #12 · Tell me what you think

I think I've dogged you in more than one thread in the last few weeks, pilles... but I appreciate a sense of humor.

There's something to be said for consistency as well...

Jul 04, 2009 at 02:29 AM

pilles
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p.1 #13 · Tell me what you think

Pandacat wrote:
Everybody is realistic about you Paul. You're just a grumpy old fart. Fun sometimes. But still grumpy.

That's mighty peculiar. He quoted me when I said underexposed, and I"M the grumpy one? What kind of reasoning are you using? The Duh kind?

Jul 05, 2009 at 02:13 AM

Pandacat
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p.1 #14 · Tell me what you think

Paul, nowhere in this thread have you said anything about the picture being underexposed.

I think you need to take your pill and go lay down now.

Jul 05, 2009 at 03:10 AM

pilles
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p.1 #15 · Tell me what you think

Pandacat wrote:
Paul, nowhere in this thread have you said anything about the picture being underexposed.

I think you need to take your pill and go lay down now.

Well. If you're going to get into it. Be more specific. What do you want me to lay down? Or did you mean I should lie down? Hah!

Jul 05, 2009 at 11:53 AM

pilles
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p.1 #16 · Tell me what you think

Jul 05, 2009 at 11:56 AM

jamesD90
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p.1 #17 · Tell me what you think

You guys are very funny, and I take comments with a grain of salt. I expect nothing but what I "should" have done and judging by some of your reputations I am just happy that someone with such a background would even take the time to give me the proper beat down. Anyways, I got a prime, 50mm to be exact and will post up two pictures that I did take my time on...and Pilles I almost expect your comments. Thanks all hopefully I only get better, you don't get ahead in life by people being nice all the time.

Jul 05, 2009 at 10:36 PM

pilles
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p.1 #18 · Tell me what you think

jamesD90 wrote:
You guys are very funny, and I take comments with a grain of salt. I expect nothing but what I "should" have done and judging by some of your reputations I am just happy that someone with such a background would even take the time to give me the proper beat down. Anyways, I got a prime, 50mm to be exact and will post up two pictures that I did take my time on...and Pilles I almost expect your comments. Thanks all hopefully I only get better, you don't get ahead in life by people being nice all the time.

Goddamn!! There;s a real, sensible human being on this board, after all. Oh I like you.

Jul 06, 2009 at 01:46 AM

jamesD90
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p.1 #19 · Tell me what you think

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/790196

pics from the prime as promised

Jul 06, 2009 at 01:55 AM

Pandacat
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p.1 #20 · Tell me what you think

Paul, just for your edification... Webster's..

lay.. 1_To cause to come down... as from an erect position.. 2_Place or put so as to be in a resting or recumbent position.

lie.. 1_a) To make a statement that one knows is false, b) To make such statements habitually.

Maybe you need to take two pills and go lay down.

Jul 06, 2009 at 03:06 AM

filmchaser
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p.1 #21 · Tell me what you think

It does seem a little overexposed and yellow cast. There are alot of things you "could" have done. but if you simply want to improve what you "did" get. I would say cropping the left and a simple vignette will pull the child into the focal point. It is a wedding pic after all...

Jul 06, 2009 at 03:22 AM

jamesD90
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p.1 #22 · Tell me what you think

good idea...i have a lot of work to do.

Jul 06, 2009 at 04:57 PM

pilles
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p.1 #23 · Tell me what you think

Pandacat wrote:
Paul, just for your edification... Webster's..

lay.. 1_To cause to come down... as from an erect position.. 2_Place or put so as to be in a resting or recumbent position.

lie.. 1_a) To make a statement that one knows is false, b) To make such statements habitually.

Maybe you need to take two pills and go lay down.

Look in any grammar primer, and you will see that the proper use is lie down. Lay is to put down. But of course you probably never studied that.

Jul 08, 2009 at 05:55 AM

Pfiltz
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p.1 #24 · Tell me what you think

It is what it is...

Jul 08, 2009 at 11:40 AM

Pandacat
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p.1 #25 · Tell me what you think

Jul 08, 2009 at 06:41 PM


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