Thread: CC Group

Shadow, the first one is just too busy and the lighting isn't quite right to do anything for me. But the others are very cute! I like the directional light, and her sweet smile. The last one is definitely the best, IMO, because there's wonderful eye contact and you can see what she's holding. I think it would've been better with her head turned slightly more towards the sun, though.

In terms of focus, all of these look sharp to me on my screen. I can't look larger on Flickr, so I don't know what you're seeing, but I've read that it's not good to 'pixel peep', i.e. look at the image at 100%, as rarely will it look tack sharp at 100%. I know that my images are often softer than I like if I 'pixel peep'. Is that what's happening? Or are you seeing degrading sharpness compared to what you used to see even at smaller sizes?

I'm with Tracy on #1. I bit too much background clutter, and the lighting is backwards. You got the lighting better in the second 2.

The smiles in #2 and #3 are too much! You'd never know that she didn't want to pose for you! #2 looks a bit underexposed. You could have used more light in her eyes, since they're showing up too dark. I think that could have been solved by being slightly above her. She's looking down, which does nothing for the eyes in a setting like this.

Exposure is better in #3. You do have shadowing going on, but it's pretty strong. Maybe you could add a bit of fill light. I don't think the blacks are clipped, but they're pretty close. But great job on getting that directional light! It really adds so much depth to a photo, doesn't it?

I agree that #1 is too cluttered, but I do think your photos are pretty sharp.

I really think that your lighting has a lot to do with it on #2 & #3. I personally can't seem to get a decent photo with that kind of strong light. I don't know if it's something I am doing wrong or what, but I struggle with it. I did some tonight and wasn't happy with it.

Thanks ladies. Steph, the SOOCs of the second two are below (I didn't bother with the first as I am running low on upload space and it wasn't very good).

Tracy, I don't pixel peep as I know the inherent dangers of that. I feel like I am not getting anything sharp when I look at it, when I was previously. Maybe I am just getting harder on myself but it does feel like I am backsliding.

Sadie, I find it hard to 'see' the light. Plus, with the weather here lately is has mostly been grey, dull days. Then we might get a nice day but the clouds came in again in the afternoon. The 'golden hour' has been almost non existent so I find I am often shooting in dull or bright light. Plus, both kids are super sensitive to light which makes it harder to find pose them unless they are backlit.

Personally, I think these images look pretty sharp. Maybe you can do a search for testing your lens/camera if you feel like it's not working correctly.

I don't see anything wrong with backlighting the kids most of the time! I have to do that with Carson since he's so super sensitive to sunlight as well. It's still possible to get directional light while backlighting. You just need to make sure that you're at the edge of the shade. You might want to check out this thread: Open shade and directional light I'm not sure if the ILP link will still work or not, but I used the open shade to create directional light on him. OR, you could use a reflector to get more light on one side while backlighting.

Tracy, I definitely prefer the second posted image of your kids. Seems much more natural. I like #2, but I might crop it just a bit tighter. Those weeds on the left side are a bit busy. #3, just isn't doing anything for me, sorry #4 is cute still seems a bit bright. And, I actually think I would like to see more water. It seems just a bit too cropped.

Stephanie, #1 seems cropped a bit too much. His hand is too close to the edge of the frame. Otherwise great focus! #2 is adorable, but also too tightly cropped. Love how you got those huge dandelion seeds!!

Shadow, direct sun is hard to work with. You either get squented eyes or dark shadows. I think I would have back lit #1 and turned her more to the left of the frame. That way you would get some nice light. Right now you have that light on the side of her face and the other in shadow. #2 and 3 are the same. Either put in full sun or out. But cute captures all the same

Ok, so here are mine for today. I'm trying to learn to work with the light in my sunroom. It's really hard because I'm not used to SO much light. It's hard to figure what direction to place my subject...



This is something completely different processing wise for me...

Jennifer- LOVE the little face in #1! I really don't have any CC to add here.
#2- for the fun clothes that she's wearing, I think it works. It's a bit yellow, but I still like it!

Gonna go ahead and post mine for tomorrow....hope that's ok! I am up and have nothing else to do! It's hard to narrow mine down this week. I got some good ones, hopefully not just mommy goggles, but who knows! All shot with my 85 mm, 1.8. I am back-button-focusing and I really think it has helped me a lot with nailing focus. Especially b/c I was able to go with 2.8 and get them in focus! Whoop whoop! I have so many more to share! AHHHHH!


1. Hoping this isn't mommy goggles. Had to go b&w b/c the blanket was too much.
f/3.2, ISO-800, 1/160

DSC_1254_filtered_web by sadieruth, on Flickr

2.
ISO- 2000, 1/640, f/2.5

DSC_1283_filtered_web by sadieruth, on Flickr

3.
f/3.2, ISO-2000, 1/320

DSC_1262_filtered_web by sadieruth, on Flickr

4.
f/2.5, 1/640, ISO-2000

DSC_1280_filtered4x6_web by sadieruth, on Flickr

Jennifer, #1 is very cute, great conversion.

#2 is really fun and I like the processing. But it does seem too yellow to me, and just given the way it's composed, I think I would crop it a bit to get the curtains on either side equal.

Sadie, #1 is a great moment! I think the conversion seems a bit too gray, though. Maybe just add some contrast?

#2 is my favourite. It's so cute, and the exposure on these is just bang-on. In #2, I really like her positioning with the trees behind, extending from halfway up her torso. This one feels like you just caught such a genuine, fun moment!

#3 is also really well positioned with the trailing path extending behind her. Really cute pose and expression.

#4 is so cute with the gun and boots. His expression makes me think he wasn't much into it, so it detracts a little, and I think positioning yourself lower would've gotten more trees behind his upper body too... but then, he's younger and therefore shorter! (Though having said that, I have some trouble getting really low sometimes, with my dumb arthritis!)

The colour looks pretty good in all of these too, but just a bit washed out.