Give me some constructive feedback on my shots please

[GoingUp]

http://www.cheddarcheesemedia.com/40D/

Took a walk in a marshy area today. Birds were too far away to get good shots, so I tried to take pics of plants. The wind made it tough, but I'd welcome some feedback. Scroll down to the last set of pics please.

 

[jamesbond007]

I'll bite.

The photos are alright, but you need to work on adjusting the white balance and sharpness during post-process. If you use Photoshop, try Filter > Sharpen > Unsharpen Mask. Play around with the settings in there, but I typically hover ~50% for starters and 1.1 to 1.2 pixels and 0 for threshold. There are many tastes and preferences as well as purposes for sharpening, but I think that'd give your pictures a little more pizzazz.

Adjusting the levels and saturation will also greatly improve photo quality in terms of presentation. Bringing out clear details will make an interesting photo really pop.

The one I liked the best from your set is this one:
http://www.cheddarcheesemedia.com/40D/IMG_1206.jpg

I also enjoyed the very last image with the berries. I think a lot of your photos look underexposed and possibly mis-focused. If you could post the EXIF data for the last image, it would help me help you more.

Good start and keep shooting!
~Travis

 

[GoingUp]

Things might look out of focus b/c I had the aperature at F2.8 and the wind was blowing and moving the branches around a bit. I had the autofocus set to centerpoint only, instead of the regular matrix of 9.


Manufacturer: Canon
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Firmware: Firmware Version 1.0.3
Date: 04.11.2007 03:49:46
Aperture: f 2.8
ISO: 100
Shutter speed: 1/1250 s
EV ±0,00 EV
Program: A - Aperture-priority auto
Metering mode: Multisegment
Flash: Not fired, Compulsory flash light
White balance: Auto
Zoom: 200.0 mm Real
Resolution: 3888 x 2592 Pixel (Large)
Picture density: 72 x 72 dpi
Macro mode: Normal/Off
File size: 2105819 Bytes
Flash:: Not fired, Compulsory flash light
Orientation: 0° / Z:Top S:left
Date last Modification: 04.11.2007 03:49:46
YCbCr Positioning: Zero point
EXIF Version: V 2.21
Date Digitized: 04.11.2007 03:49:46
FlashPix Version: V 1.00
CCD Resolution: 4438 x 4446 dpi
Comment:
Custom rendered: Normal process
Exposure mode I: Auto exposure
White balance I: Auto white balance
Scene capture type: Standard
Macro Mode II: Normal/Off
Selftimer in sec: None
Compression rate: Fine
Flash Mode: No flash
Continious Drive Mode: Single shot or timer
Focus Mode: Single shot
Image Size: Large
Easy Shooting Mode: Manual
Contrast II: Normal
Saturation II: Normal
Sharpness II: Low
ISO Setting II: -- (255)
Metering Mode II: Normal
AF Point selected: -- (0)
Exposure Mode II: Aperture-priority auto
Long Focal Length: 200.0 mm
Short Focal Length: 70.0 mm
Focus Mode II: Single
White Balance II: Auto
Sequence Number:
Flash Bias: ±0,00 EV
Subject Distance II: 0.000 m / 0.00 m
Image Type: Canon EOS 40D
Firmware Version: Firmware Version 1.0.3
Camera Serial: 1F0164910 / 520224142
Owner Name:
Digital Zoom: Off

 

[yllus]

All of the photos were pretty unremarkable in themselves, which is not especially a bad thing.

I think a lot of people who get their hands on a lens that allows them to take shallow depth of field shots tend to go a little overboard on their first couple of outings. I think in all of the photos you took, each would have benefited from less bokeh - the last photo especially. Nothing wrong from letting us see the entire plant. It just looks misfocused as-is.

Have you tried a copy of Adobe Lightroom? Fun little program... I'd jack up the colour vibrance and saturation to add a more "unreal" look to the photos for kicks.

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
Things might look out of focus b/c I had the aperature at F2.8 and the wind was blowing and moving the branches around a bit. I had the autofocus set to centerpoint only, instead of the regular matrix of 9.

Things should not look OOF at f/2.8. I could maybe understand if you were shooting the 85 f/1.2L, but not a 2.8 zoom lens. If the lens continues to shoot 'soft' like this, it may need to be sent in for calibration. The shutter speed at 1/1250s would have stopped or negated any kind of wind or motion on your behalf as well as the berry in the tree. However, if the berry was moving slightly, I could understand then for the reason for the appearance of misfocus. I also typically recommend shooting with the center-point focus only or at least moving the focus point around in the matrix manually if you are going to compose shots like this. It gives you more control of the composure and framing of the shot, which should be thought out before you release the shutter.

 

[Zenmervolt]

One tip, don't use "Save for Web" in Photoshop. That strips out the EXIF information and means we cannot look at the images to see what the settings were.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: jamesbond007

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
Things might look out of focus b/c I had the aperature at F2.8 and the wind was blowing and moving the branches around a bit. I had the autofocus set to centerpoint only, instead of the regular matrix of 9.

Things should not look OOF at f/2.8. I could maybe understand if you were shooting the 85 f/1.2L, but not a 2.8 zoom lens. If the lens continues to shoot 'soft' like this, it may need to be sent in for calibration. The shutter speed at 1/1250s would have stopped or negated any kind of wind or motion on your behalf as well as the berry in the tree. However, if the berry was moving slightly, I could understand then for the reason for the appearance of misfocus. I also typically recommend shooting with the center-point focus only or at least moving the focus point around in the matrix manually if you are going to compose shots like this. It gives you more control of the composure and framing of the shot, which should be thought out before you release the shutter.

An F/2.8 zoom can has exactly the same DOF as an F/2.8 prime when the two are equivalent focal lengths. My own F/2.8 "normal" zoom will focus to 13 inches at full telephoto (70mm). That gives me a focus plane that is only 0.08 inches deep. Definitely small enough for the wind to blow something far enough towards or away from the camera that it leaves the focus plane as I shoot.

Now, granted, he's using a lens with a minimum focus distance of 4.9 feet instead of 13 inches, but he's still going to have a very thin plane of focus. At 70mm he's dealing with a plane of focus that is 1.8 inches deep, but at 200mm it's only 0.24 inches deep. Even if he isn't maxing out the zoom, he's still dealing with a very narrow plane of focus and if there's a stiff breeze it's not at all uncommon to see the tips of grasses moving a couple of inches in the wind.

ZV

 

[dug777]

I would, but I'm not waiting for your 11ty billion shots to load just so I can see the last ones. Learn to use thumbnails

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: jamesbond007

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
Things might look out of focus b/c I had the aperature at F2.8 and the wind was blowing and moving the branches around a bit. I had the autofocus set to centerpoint only, instead of the regular matrix of 9.

Things should not look OOF at f/2.8. I could maybe understand if you were shooting the 85 f/1.2L, but not a 2.8 zoom lens. If the lens continues to shoot 'soft' like this, it may need to be sent in for calibration. The shutter speed at 1/1250s would have stopped or negated any kind of wind or motion on your behalf as well as the berry in the tree. However, if the berry was moving slightly, I could understand then for the reason for the appearance of misfocus. I also typically recommend shooting with the center-point focus only or at least moving the focus point around in the matrix manually if you are going to compose shots like this. It gives you more control of the composure and framing of the shot, which should be thought out before you release the shutter.

An F/2.8 zoom can has exactly the same DOF as an F/2.8 prime when the two are equivalent focal lengths. My own F/2.8 "normal" zoom will focus to 13 inches at full telephoto (70mm). That gives me a focus plane that is only 0.08 inches deep. Definitely small enough for the wind to blow something far enough towards or away from the camera that it leaves the focus plane as I shoot.

Now, granted, he's using a lens with a minimum focus distance of 4.9 feet instead of 13 inches, but he's still going to have a very thin plane of focus. At 70mm he's dealing with a plane of focus that is 1.8 inches deep, but at 200mm it's only 0.24 inches deep. Even if he isn't maxing out the zoom, he's still dealing with a very narrow plane of focus and if there's a stiff breeze it's not at all uncommon to see the tips of grasses moving a couple of inches in the wind.

ZV

And I was about 5 feet away when I took the photos and zoomed in at 200mm.

 

[randomlinh]

i'd also suggest making different pages for your different outtings. At first click, I was thinking "I've seen these before."

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: jamesbond007

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
Things might look out of focus b/c I had the aperature at F2.8 and the wind was blowing and moving the branches around a bit. I had the autofocus set to centerpoint only, instead of the regular matrix of 9.

Things should not look OOF at f/2.8. I could maybe understand if you were shooting the 85 f/1.2L, but not a 2.8 zoom lens. If the lens continues to shoot 'soft' like this, it may need to be sent in for calibration. The shutter speed at 1/1250s would have stopped or negated any kind of wind or motion on your behalf as well as the berry in the tree. However, if the berry was moving slightly, I could understand then for the reason for the appearance of misfocus. I also typically recommend shooting with the center-point focus only or at least moving the focus point around in the matrix manually if you are going to compose shots like this. It gives you more control of the composure and framing of the shot, which should be thought out before you release the shutter.

An F/2.8 zoom can has exactly the same DOF as an F/2.8 prime when the two are equivalent focal lengths. My own F/2.8 "normal" zoom will focus to 13 inches at full telephoto (70mm). That gives me a focus plane that is only 0.08 inches deep. Definitely small enough for the wind to blow something far enough towards or away from the camera that it leaves the focus plane as I shoot.

Now, granted, he's using a lens with a minimum focus distance of 4.9 feet instead of 13 inches, but he's still going to have a very thin plane of focus. At 70mm he's dealing with a plane of focus that is 1.8 inches deep, but at 200mm it's only 0.24 inches deep. Even if he isn't maxing out the zoom, he's still dealing with a very narrow plane of focus and if there's a stiff breeze it's not at all uncommon to see the tips of grasses moving a couple of inches in the wind.

ZV

ZV,

I agree that the DOF should be the same between a prime and a zoom...I'm not sure where you came to the conclusion that I was saying otherwise. I brought the 85L into the picture because of the insanely narrow DOF that f/1.2 can produce and that it can be hard to use that aperture. I also stated that if indeed the berry was moving, that would attribute to the chance of it being OOF.

~Travis

 

[GoingUp]

Thanks for the feedback and tips everyone. I think I am heading to the zoo tommorrow, so maybe I'll have some more pics to show

 

[troytime]

the zoo is a good place to practice, a lot of interesting subjects, and a lot of challenging shots

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: jamesbond007
ZV,

I agree that the DOF should be the same between a prime and a zoom...I'm not sure where you came to the conclusion that I was saying otherwise. I brought the 85L into the picture because of the insanely narrow DOF that f/1.2 can produce and that it can be hard to use that aperture. I also stated that if indeed the berry was moving, that would attribute to the chance of it being OOF.

~Travis

My mis-understanding. However, the overall implication from your first post was that an F/2.8 lens did not have a shallow enough DOF for there to be a problem, and your comments about movement were immediately after a comment about shutter speed freezing motion, so they did not appear connected to your DOF comments but rather to be implying that you thought there might have been motion blur even with the high shutter speed. It was not at all clear that you were talking about motion in and out of the focus plane.

ZV