Sweet Spring Smiles

[Marie Hass]

This weekend my cousin and her daughter were here for a visit. After the awesome discussion in my recent post, Joy, a weekend of watching videos and reading and working with my mentor, I am now shooting AI Servo, using backbutton focus, using two dial adjustments and switching focus points depending on camera orientation! Phew!

1.

2.

3.

4.

Please c&c.

P.S. I did find that early AM and later PM light create some white balance issues.

Marie

[Digital]

Marie, nice images.



Bruce

[Shadowman]

2nd is the best of the bunch, not sure if any of these would print without causing issues, the shadows dominate the exposures.

[Marie Hass]

Thank you, Bruce for your encouragement.

Marie

[Mike Buckley]

These photos demonstrate that you seem to have very quickly learned the functions of your camera. You made a lot of changes regarding your use of the camera in a very short period of time.

[Marie Hass]

Dear Mike,

I confess that I am a visual learner - I actually have trouble comprehending written instructions. (For example, putting together a simple bookshelf is a several hour chore). My thanks to you, Richard C., Manfred and everyone I did not mention, for in-depth explanations and suggestions. Understanding the "why" of doing something certain ways and seeing how things are done through videos has really allowed me to progress.

Marie

[Mike Buckley]

I actually have trouble comprehending written instructions.

We all learn in different ways. I have a good friend who also has the same issue. That's despite that she spent many years as a newspaper editor and reporter.

[terrib]

Marie, I am not a "people" photographer but I can say that I like these shots very much. I especially like the first two of them - very sweet. Love the cut of the eyes in the second. The third seems a bit contrived for some reason. Nice job!

[DEAN01]

Marie,
All are very nice shots; however, I find number 2 to be especially charming. The lighting gives good sculpting to the face and the impish expression is great. As Shadowman said, the shadows may cause problems with printing, but I feel it would not be difficult to overcome. A slight amount of fill flash may soften the shadows. Good work and post more.

[bnnrcn]

All very nice shots Marie. No technical comments from me as I don't shoot portraits but at least I can say that I don't see anything very distracting in the images and I like the DOF . You don't have distracting, big blown out parts in the BGs and they look good too

[Marie Hass]

Dear John (Shadowman),

Interesting thought. I am not sure, how these will print, either, but just as an exercise, I will give it a try.

Marie

[Marie Hass]

Dear Mike,

I have a good friend who also has the same issue. That's despite that she spent many years as a newspaper editor and reporter.

This I understand totally. My brain visually "maps" things. So, when I need to proofread my work, it is easier to skim and see what is structurally wrong or missing (a word not spelled correctly is structurally wrong). Or, when I am writing documents, I end up writing volumes so that others can "see" what I mean.

Let me ask you this question - when a person asks you a question, and you need to compose something, do you typically draw a diagram or do you write words? I draw diagrams. If you tried to "tell me" how to do something, I am doomed.

No answer is right or wrong.

Thanks for your support.

Marie

[Mike Buckley]

when a person asks you a question, and you need to compose something, do you typically draw a diagram or do you write words?

I so rarely know the answer to a question that I don't get that far.

[terrib]

I so rarely know the answer to a question that I don't get that far.

My laugh for the evening. That was good, Mike.

[Marie Hass]

Dear Terri,

I do not regard myself as a people photographer either, but when the opportunity presents itself, I cannot resist some shots.

My neice posed for me in November, and again this trip. The #3 was her own idea. She slowly raised the branch to her face and gave me the "why don't you take this shot" up and down eyebrows - so I did. She is such a goofball!

Did I mention that she is only eleven years old?

Thank you for commenting.

Marie

[Marie Hass]

Dear Dean,

Thank you for spending the time to look and comment.

Marie

[Marie Hass]

Dear Binnur,

I was remiss in responding to your kind comments and for that I am sorry.

I have a very tough time shooting portraits and I tend to agonize over them. I shoot only as an exercise. Not because I like it, but in this case, i do like the results. I just wish I felt more comfortable.

For my first 2 years of taking pictures, I never took a picture of a person. i did flowers, landscapes, sunrises and sunsets. The first pictures of people that I shot were of my mom and dad in 2011.

I do not know about the laws where you are. Why do you not shoot portraits?

Thinking of you,

Marie

[William W]

I want to mainly discuss and comment on Image 01.

Preface:

I refer to your previous thread: Joy.

In that previous thread:

My biggest issue with my pictures today was trying to establish focus as she was running towards me. I was on AI Focus mode, low speed continuous. Out of 15 shots, my mentor and I found that only 1 -2 were marginally sharp. Very frustrating.

I did not read all that thread. However, I did read your opening post very carefully – and my first thought was that prior to investigating what was the actual cause of the blurring was in each of the un-sharp images was, you might have made an overall assumption that it must have always been not using AF correctly, that was the cause of the un-sharp images.

Anecdotally, I’ve noted from many interrogations of images: when using Modern Cameras with Auto-focus (even MISUSING Modern cameras with AF), that more often than not, the cause of un-sharp images is related to NOT using an adequately fast shutter-speed to arrest either Subject Motion or Camera Movement or Both.

Obviously there are sometimes other causes of Blur and sometimes multiple causes.

***

Comments on Image 01 - this thread.

Image 01 is soft, but only in areas of it.

The Flowers in the foreground Camera Left are sharper than the Face of the Subject.

There appears to be adequate Depth of Field.

EXIF reveals:
Model = Canon EOS 7D
Exposure Time = 1/160"
F Number = F16
Exposure Program = Manual
ISO Speed Ratings = 800
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Metering Mode = CenterWeightedAverage
Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 75mm
Exposure Mode = Manual exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance

I believe the Subject is moving backwards, away from the flowers and you have captured some Subject Movement.

My guess is you were using some version of the Canon 70 to 200 lenses and had with IS engaged?

But with or without IS, the Shutter Speed was too slow to arrest that slight movement of the Subject’s Head. IS does not contribute to arrest Subject Movement Blur (Caveat: only in one very special circumstance, when panning it might assist if Panning Mode is activated).


***

The next factor I wish to comment upon is your choice of Metering Mode.

Why did you choose CWA (Centre Weighted Average)?

I have been using Canon DSLR since 2004 and as a general comment across the (about) twenty different models that I have used, I cannot get my head around working out accurately the parameters and functionality of Canon’s CWA Metering – it seems to have a mind of its own and a function of ‘Changing the Rules about how I will average’.

I have not found a definitive description of the detailed functionality anywhere and that’s not for the want of trying.

Anyway that’s something you and Kodiak might chew on a bit.

I have found Canon’s “Evaluative” to be a far more consistent Metering Mode that allows for a more precise understanding and interpretation of what the meter is reading from scene to scene.

(For Kodiak’s info – Canon’s “Evaluative” is very, very similar to Nikon’s MATRIX – except that Nikon’s MATRIX seems to me to be a bit smarter and also a tad more consistent within a range of BACKLIT Subjects.)

*

Anyway, back to Image 01:

It’s quite flat light on her face and one method of Metering would have been to take a Spot Meter Reading on her skin (cheek that is lit and facing the camera) and adjust for that Skin Tone Reading.

I expect that her ‘peaches and cream’ complexion would require opening up about 1½ to 1⅔ Stops.

*

Regarding the actual exposure - I’d really like to see the original file, before Post Production.

***

The next comment is about the Post Production.

I think this image has good merit, but there needs to be more made of what little directional light that is coming front on, from camera right which is modelling the face and the back of the hair – and – I think we need to take out some distracting features such as the big brown leaf and the small area of Subject’s L. Arm.

The interpretation below is a very quick job and obviously was using the small file that you posted and that was already worked through a PP Program.

So the aim of the redo is NOT to provide a ‘finished image’ but rather to provide a guide as to the Vision of the finished image that I see in the shot.

Please note getting to a good finished image of my vision of the shot, would require two elements:

> Firstly - I know it is not there and that is a faster shutter speed

> the second I am unsure of, but suspect, that you are UNDERexpsoed for the correct rendition of the Subject’s skin-tones.

*

Here is an A/B comparison. I won’t be surprised if you at first glance find the interpretation a tad confronting and/or too impacting on the Viewer's Eye. The original is on top



WW

[William W]

Comparative Histograms FYI:



WW

[Marie Hass]

Dear William,

Per your request, here is the original file. I have made it 1800 on the long side so you have something to work on.



Regarding your question about center weighted average - this is usually considered to be the most consistent form of metering, as most photographic subjects are near the center of the frame and rarely fall into the outer four corners.

I would be interested to hear your comments.

Marie