Let me try this again, Photo Critique please

webbing

« on: May 30, 2011, 12:40 »

#link

Opinions on these please.

#1
http://www.ltsw.com/public/Interstatesigndesertlandscape.jpg

#2
http://www.ltsw.com/public/Route66sign.jpg

#3
http://www.ltsw.com/public/Girlreadingbook.jpg


« Last Edit: May 30, 2011, 13:03 by webbing »	Ignore \| Logged

steheap

« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2011, 12:52 »

#link

The first one with the interstate sign is not sharp - looks like there was some camera motion which shows up as ghosts around the letters on the sign. The second one of Route 66 is much better - there are some sensor spots in the blue sky above the sign. Not sure about the girl picture. The movement of the hair is a little distracting to me, but that is an artistic choice rather than a technical one.

Steve


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click_click

« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2011, 13:06 »

#link

They ALL are not properly focused!

The first one is majorly out of focus/blurred. This won't get accepted anywhere.
It's also off-horizon, it's tilted to the right. You have to level the horizon otherwise it looks off. (The image was removed before I could read the EXIF).

The second one has an exposure time of 1/50 of a second. If you shot this handheld it explains the softness. Also don't shoot at f22 but rather f11 or preferably where your lens' "sweet spot" (best performance in terms of sharpness relative to the aperture) is.

Third one same thing. Aperture f22 in rapture priority mode. Who told you to use that aperture? Still exposure time is 1/50.
The only thing that's good is the ISO setting...

I don't want to sound rude but you need to look at your pictures closely before posting them here. Those pictures are not sharp/focused.

If you don't have a tripod (yet), get one (now). If you cannot afford a tripod find something to rest the camera on (wall, tree... anything that doesn't move). Then you can shoot at 1/50 but if you shoot handheld without a lot of training just pick a shorter exposure time like 1/150 or 1/200 to avoid motion blur/softness.

EDIT:

Now I see you switched out the first image.

Still not great in terms of focus, still a bit soft. You have some chromatic aberration (a bit of red/purple fringing) going on in the upper left corner of the sign.

Also I can see some sensor dust.

And now you are at 1/25 of a second in broad daylight... Again at f22.
You're making your life harder than it is.

Step down to f13 or f11 and get at least 1/200 of a second exposure time.

I thought you signed up with Lynda.com. Spend some more time on the basics. Then try again.
And at this point don't think of applying to iStock. It will just push you further and further away to finally get in.


« Last Edit: May 30, 2011, 13:12 by click_click »	Ignore \| Logged

luissantos84

« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2011, 13:15 »

#link

can you find other subjects beside signs? I like the #2 but I do see some noise there and perhaps a little underexposed (but the sign itself if almost going white on "letters")

the #3 is nice but it is out of focus and her eyes and almost closed, we wanted to see some of them, I get sometimes rejections when eyes aren´t wide open.. look also for a clean background, like the rock at her left.. think clean and shoot clean!

like some said before watch your exposure and don´t shoot below the 50 etc unless on a tripod, I can handeld quite low but to be sure you have your pics tack sharp shoot above 150 bumping you iso a little of openning the F to a small number, F22 isn´t needed unless you really want to have all subject in focus, I tend to shoot around F9 to F11 on landmarks.. studio I go a little higher, shoot and see the difference

check the link below regarding sweet F of your lens:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?FLI=0&API=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0&LensComp=0&CameraComp=0&Lens=404


« Last Edit: May 30, 2011, 13:16 by luissantos84 »	Ignore \| Logged

webbing

« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2011, 13:17 »

#link

Quote from: click_click on May 30, 2011, 13:06

I don't get it, #1 and #2 were both shot on a tripod


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Anyka

Premium Member

« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2011, 13:32 »

#link

Did you shoot in jpg or in raw mode. And if your answer is RAW mode, then my next question is : how did you convert to jpg, and what method of sharpening did you use. Did you sharpen during conversion to jpg, or at a later phase in post processing ...


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webbing

« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2011, 13:35 »

#link

Quote from: Anyka on May 30, 2011, 13:32

Shot in raw, the only post processing done was /image/autocontrast, /image/resize to 2400x11600, save to jpg with Qulaity 12 format baseline.


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click_click

« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2011, 13:36 »

#link

Quote from: webbing on May 30, 2011, 13:17

I don't get it, #1 and #2 were both shot on a tripod

With or without tripod you should not shoot at 1/50 of a second. The longer your exposure is the more likely you will experience softness unless you build your camera into a concrete block so it won't move.

The fact of using a tripod doesn't necessarily mean that it automatically will be sharp...

It depends on the quality of the tripod.
It depends on the ground you put it on (gravel, grass, concrete, wooden planks etc.) Some grounds are moving and you don't even notice it.
Exposure times - the longer the exposure time the more likely it will get soft, especially if your tripod is extended all the way.

You, know, again I don't want to be rude, just because someone shoots with a D-SLR and owns a tripod and has a $1000 lens doesn't mean that the images will be automatically good (or good enough for iStock).

Practice, practice, practice. That will get you there.


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Lagereek

« Reply #8 on: May 30, 2011, 13:37 »

#link

Throw it in the dustbin.


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thesentinel

« Reply #9 on: May 30, 2011, 13:41 »

#link

Quote from: webbing on May 30, 2011, 13:17

I don't get it, #1 and #2 were both shot on a tripod

At those shutter speeds, which are so low because you used f22 needlessly, the vibration caused by the mirror slapping and your manual activation of the shutter could be enough to cause blur. When slow shutter speeds are needed by necessity due to low light mirror lock up and a cable release would be used to minimise blur from camera shake.


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webbing

« Reply #10 on: May 30, 2011, 13:47 »

#link

Better?

http://www.ltsw.com/public/Interstatesigndesertlandscapenew.jpg


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Anyka

Premium Member

« Reply #11 on: May 30, 2011, 14:35 »

#link

It's a little better yes, but this is what you should do to make your next shot pinsharp :

- never go beyond f16, unless you need more depth of field. f22 does not make sharper, it adds depth of field, which you did not need in this case. On the contrary, f22 takes away some sharpness.
- shoot at 1/100s or faster. if you use a tripod, use your timer (the 2 second one if you have it)
- sharpen at the end of your processing. If you don't use photoshop, sharpen in your raw conversion program. If you do use photoshop, then sharpen at the end. RAW alsways needs some sharpening for final use (but don't exaggerate).
- if after sharpening during raw conversion you find some purple fringe (chromatic aberration) like you have now, try to correct this (Lightroom has this, but I don't know about the other programs).


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« Reply #12 on: May 30, 2011, 14:56 »

#link

Frankly speaking - I'm almost sure that even if you get rid of all the chromatic aberration, noise and softness problems it won't approved by iS anyway because of poor composition and because on this kind of shot you cannot show how good photographer you are. But I may be mistaken.


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aeonf

« Reply #13 on: May 30, 2011, 15:28 »

#link

Ignoring the technical problems with your images, I think you should concentrate more on trying to impress them. Would you be impressed with your photos ??


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click_click

« Reply #14 on: May 30, 2011, 15:55 »

#link

Right now there are too many fires to put out.

On the one hand you have to get the technical requirements under control.

Once you can do that, you have to demonstrate that your images convey a strong concept. The better you can bring your point across with an image the higher the chances that they will sell.

It's not just necessary to create images that will make it past the inspection but they should also be very high in commercial value so you can actually earn something!


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