Thread: 2 for CC (snaps) :)

CC on white balance please and my b&w's! (i don't do them often because I don't like how they come out) Does he look ok color wise? I can't tell. I just lost my good lighting. Too much sun coming in here atm I shouldn't complain about that though. Sun during winter is rare here so gotta get off computer here in a bit to enjoy it.

I've been trying to practice a few things lately. First of all I'm using BBF (back button focus) and have changed the way I choose my focal points. I'm still getting used to it. It's weird. A bit easier now but weird. And also trying to practice focusing.

Question, does anyone know if AI Servo works with focus and recompose with the center focal point? I tried doing that but it kept focusing on the background which was annoying so I switched over to one shot since my kids weren't moving so much. anyway..

My son this morning eating his "Coco Cops" lol He can't say pops so it sounds like cops. I'm so scrapbooking this whenever I get back into it!
ISO 500, SS 1/160, f/4.0,

Coco "Cops" color by loidaeg, on Flickr

b&w...how is it? I finally found a decent, and easy, way of converting to b&w.

Coco "Cops" B&W by loidaeg, on Flickr

I feel like something is way off with this one. Color? Not bright enough? Too bright? I can't tell atm. This was last night.
ISO 500, SS 1/160, f/4.0

Jeanette Color by loidaeg, on Flickr

B&W

Jeanette B&W by loidaeg, on Flickr

So how's my WB, focus, and B&W's? Also practicing with my speedlite a lot these days. And I've got my mommy goggles on and absolutely love these shots. lol

TFL!

~L

I'm afraid I can't really cc on wb since I am at work on a cruddy monitor. However, I will offer up my $0.02 worth on your conversions and from here, they look really good.

I've said it before, but I'm a big fan of high contrast b&w when it's done well which it seems to be here! I love them both, but I keep coming back to the b&w of your sweet boy. B&W is perfect for this shot, imho. It's such a sweet moment. You got some nice catchlights and there is a good range of tones from bright to dark. I like it!

The conversion also works pretty well with Jeanette's photo too. It looks like her left cheek (camera right) is starting to blow, so be careful.

Mind sharing your process? I'm always on the lookout for a good, easy conversion!

Focus looks good across the board and judging by the catch lights, I'd say you're doing a pretty darn good job w/ that speedlight too.

TFS,
GiGi

I'm at work on an uncalibrated monitor, so I can't see to comment on color. I adore your B&W treatment on the first pic! His face looks a little bright in it, but that could just be my monitor. I still love it though

I prefer the second picture in color. I don't really think the conversion does much for the moment, if that makes any sense. I would probably do a vertical crop too, but that's my taste.

Gosh, I wish I knew about BBF. I really need to do some reading about it and try it out myself. Your focus looks great to me.

thanks for the CC! appreciate it! I think for the second one of my daughter, the speedlite was a bit too bright. Should have taken it down a notch I think that's why I tried it in b&w. And the color of my walls give my pictures a horrible color cast! I struggle with that so much.

Hmm process. I use curves for my b&w conversion. Actually, I open a gradient map layer first, set it to black and white. Then open a curves layer and adjust the b&w from there. It's really easy. I used to just use gradient maps for my B&W but they were always missing something. That's probably why I didn't do much b&w before.

And the more I look at it now, the speedlite was just too darn bright for the second one. The wall was like...right there. lol I'll have to play around some more.

And BBF...I do like it and have been using it for awhile now but I changed a few things and I'm still getting used to it. I used to use the AF ON button which I think I might start using it again. I'm currently using the * button and I hate it. It feels weird. lol

I think they both look good, as well as both conversions. You were using your speedlite? Great job! I'll be bugging you with questions one day if I ever get one. I wish my list wasn't so long! Anyways, I think these are great snaps of your kids, I would be super happy with these

I agree, these are so cute! I love the conversion of #1 especially, and the lighting there is great too. And your focus is always awesome

From what I've seen of your house it looks so neat

lol Amy. Thanks. I think if you saw it in person you would think of how poorly decorated it is. I suck at interior decorating and it doesn't help much that I didn't choose any of our furniture. DH had already bought lots of the big stuff (like our horrible table!) before I moved here 6 years ago and we've always been thinking of moving back to the USA so we never bought anything nice.

Lauren, bug away Do these almost look like they were taken with natural light? I use my speedlite so much I can't see it anymore. I just try to go for nice catchlights around 10 or 2 o'clock. Seems to look nice in that area.

LOL. I'm sure it's not that bad!!!

To me they look very much like natural light, not flashy whatsoever!

Originally Posted by Amy_&_Eva

To me they look very much like natural light, not flashy whatsoever!

Ditto!

GiGi

I wish these were a little bigger ... I always resize 400x600 for posting. I just think it's easier to give CC on photos that size. Just me giving my personal thoughts on that.

can't wait for you to get back into scrapbooking!!!! I think the shot of Mikael is adorable. color looks good to me, as does lighting. you might want to add a tiny bit of fill light to get more light into his hair though. I'm not a fan of the conversion, it's too bright on his face (and it just doesn't give the same impact as the color).

the bandaid on Jeanette is what's throwing me off. wondering if that's what's throwing you too? because of the bandaid, I actually prefer the b&w version. I think the brightness is just fine on her photo. her left cheek (our right) seems a little bright to me though.

focus and lighting look good to me on these. color looks pretty good too.

oh, and BBF rules!!!! I stopped using it for a while, after I upgraded my camera body. I was used to it on my Rebel, but not the 50D. I got back into it a couple months ago, and can't imagine shooting any other way. I don't focus and recompose at all, so I can't help you on that question.