Any tips for ..

Mp4

Mp4

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I have a Canon 400D with the kit lens & a Sigma 70-300MM & tripod.

I am 100% noob - still don't get settings etc mainly use auto - preset settings i know its fail.

Anyway, my dad want's me to take photos of my niece (7 months old) on the beach today its sunny here today (very bright along the seaside)

If anyone has any tips for shooting just for today ill be happy

I would love to get a shot like this below

Rubie - Rose I did not do this photo

ruby.jpg
 
Select aperture mode, choose the lowest figure for your aperture (will change depending on how much u zoom). Compose your picture, select the single focus point closest to the childs face, try and get directly over it (you could also try focusing manually). Then fire away. Keep ISO to 100, metering mode to default (there are a few modes but if you are a noobie they can be very daunting). Dont be scared to experiment though, you wont run out of film :). You shoudlnt need a tripod.

Thats how I would do it. In the picture you have posted there is a bit of post processing which gives the washed out effect and darkened corners.
 
by post processing im guessing you mean photoshop? or lightroom?
 
Use AV mode, and try some different apertures. I'm assuming you only have a pop-up flash, which you may want to use to give some fill for the shadows. If too bright reduce the output using flash exposure compensation, you will find this by pressing the ISO/+/-
button. Set ISO to 100
 
Mp4 said:
by post processing im guessing you mean photoshop? or lightroom?
Click to expand...

Yeah both are capable of giving the effect, photoshop more if you are actually wanting to alter the image (take bits out add things). Lightroom is more like developing the image (alterign exposure ect). Both programs overlap quite a bit.

Oh and try and get the sun behind you or coming in from the side, depending what way you want any shadows, NOT in front of you.
 
Thanks for the info guys!

Switched to Av now
F5.6 / Iso 100
Apature is right in the middle atm

Shall i just use the kit lens for the shots?
& any tutorials on getting that affect in photoshop? i have a trial of CS3

& is it 100% that a flash gun is good for anything? If so i can spend around £100/£150 on a flashgun
 
No use your Zoom too. Stand back and zoom in for some shots, use largest aperture (smallest number) possible and focus on the eyes. Hopefully you will get some nice blurred backgrounds.

EDIT: Remember too to get down to the childs level, be it on yer knees or belly.
 
Your aperture is the F5.6 figure, physically it is the size of the hole in your the lens which the light comes in.

I think when you say u have selected the middle you are refering to the Auto Focus point? Do you know how to change the AF point you are using?

Take a look on the tutorial section on the forums there are loads of different techniques you can try.

I agree with above use your ZOOM ZOOM :).
 
sorry for the total noob answers and questions :)

by the middle i meant the exposure level indicator

and my af points are set to auto
 
Mp4 said:
sorry for the total noob answers and questions :)

by the middle i meant the exposure level indicator

and my af points are set to auto
Click to expand...

Right, keep it in the middle and shoot, if you review and think its a bit to bright or a bit to dark you can adjust the exposure with the up or down.

I wouldn't use AUTO AF points, selevt the sigle one that is over the childs face, because you are outside in brigh conditions you should be able to get AF lock with any of the AF points individually selected.

Trust me none of your questions are stupid, its all about learning and then passing on what you know. Anything else just ask, its Friday and I am in work bored :).
 
Donki said:
Right, keep it in the middle and shoot, if you review and think its a bit to bright or a bit to dark you can adjust the exposure with the up or down.

I wouldn't use AUTO AF points, selevt the sigle one that is over the childs face, because you are outside in brigh conditions you should be able to get AF lock with any of the AF points individually selected.

Trust me none of your questions are stupid, its all about learning and then passign on what you know. Anythign else just ask, its Friday and I am in work bored :).
Click to expand...

Thanks for your advice! :) and the friendly comment about the not stupid questions :)

Why only use the zoom lens? ill make sure ill use my Tripod too :P
 
No problems, set up something now and give it a go. The lower the aperture i.e the F number you have seen, the smaller the depth of field (area in focus). You see the blurry effect in the stones of the forground in the photograph you posted, that is out of focus due to the the photographer focusing on the child using a small aperture.

It's all very confusing at first but it becomes a lot easier, with practise and actually seeing how different settings give different results. Post up the pictures you take in the C&C portrait thread, or even in here and people will let you know what they think.
 
Use both lenses for variety, but be careful when changing on a beach...sand is your enemy.
If it is a bright day should get faster enough shutter speeds handheld.
 
Donki said:
Select aperture mode, choose the lowest figure for your aperture (will change depending on how much u zoom). Compose your picture, select the single focus point closest to the childs face, try and get directly over it (you could also try focusing manually). Then fire away. Keep ISO to 100, metering mode to default (there are a few modes but if you are a noobie they can be very daunting). Dont be scared to experiment though, you wont run out of film :). You shoudlnt need a tripod.

Thats how I would do it. In the picture you have posted there is a bit of post processing which gives the washed out effect and darkened corners.
Click to expand...

I agree with all the above, also try to keep the sun behind or above you and try not to cast a shadow over the subject, keep the metering to default and as donki says, experiment, have fun.
This will be a good experience for you.
If it doesn't look right, try again. That's the beauty of digital, you can keep trying until is is right.:)
 
Hi all,

These are a selected few that i took.
The time wasn't right she was very tired and moody today + my dad was being a total muppet with his camera phone and getting in the way of alot of shots and just a general pratt.

ruby1800.jpg


ruby2800.jpg


ruby3800.jpg


ruby4800.jpg
 
Now just tweak the levels and add a wee bit of sharpening. Would show the result but realised you don't have edit ticked.

Will make the pics sharper and give some contrast.
 
If you look under my avatar I have a tick next to the word edit. When I joined TP you get asked if you don't mind others editing any of your pics you post.
 
try now :) going to sound dumb , how can you tell if you over sharpen an image? or if an image (adding sharpen) is spot on
 
ruby4800.jpg


OK, this is just a basic tweak. The photo in your OP has been manipulated a lot more.
 
Thanks NigelPaul -

Did you use photoshop ?

What settings etc did you do roughly?
 
You need to try and focus on the eyes, your camera seems to have focused on other points putting the eyes out of focus.
 
Thanks Nigel!

Paul Male - yeah i know :( she spent most of the time looking at the stones , so when she had her head up was the only shots i could get. and ill need to move the AF point to the middle or just above i think :)
 
That's a nice edit, NigelPaul!

I think for a first time, those shots are really promising (it's a shame you cropped her feet in one of them), though they do need some PP work.

I like kids being kids and think that the OP captured that well - they are snotty little tykes at times, but the photos that reflect that are always the ones those who know them like and laugh at.

Given the task you set yourself this morning and the results, I'd say it was a day well spent! :)
 
Agree with Paul but you nailed it on #1

With the same teaking as before.

ruby1800.jpg
 
Thanks Sam. But as I say only a basic tweak, but helps an image without over manipulating.
 
Nigel

with the tut link that you gave me

http://www.ehow.com/how_2001031_adjust-levels-photoshop.html

on part 4

Now comes the tricky part. So that long black line to the right of the hills? (Yes I know those aren't the technical words for those but I don't know them. And really, hills are more fun than something like "points" 'cause it gives the idea that if you tried hard enough you could roll down the hill laughing in the sun and rolling over the flowers on your way down.) Now, do you see the little white thingy (yes that IS a technical term, ask anyone in tech support)? Good, I want you to drag that to the left until it's at the bottom of the hill. As you can see that made things much better! And it was easy!

What little white thing is he on about?

1) The black / Gray / White arrows? underneeth the hills (as such)
or the black and white arrows just underneeth the output levels?

Any photoshop tuts on youtube at all that you know of with this method?
 
Thanks Nigel



Looking at the main photo i was aiming for i now feel that it fades the life out of the photo. Skin pigment etc atm i've had Rubie on the beach but she is very moody the last 2 days so not had much luck atm.

An edit from someone else via another forum

rubie.jpg


I took some shots around an hour ago and managed to get 2x decent ones - i thought anyway

rubie2800.jpg


rubie3800.jpg
 
This looks like the quality work of Luke Woodford? He's a member on these forums if you wish to ask him anything.
 
Hybrid, Luke is a friend to the mother or brother of Rubie :) i've just found out anyway :)
 
Mp4 said:
I have a Canon 400D with the kit lens & a Sigma 70-300MM & tripod.

I am 100% noob - still don't get settings etc mainly use auto - preset settings i know its fail.

Anyway, my dad want's me to take photos of my niece (7 months old) on the beach today its sunny here today (very bright along the seaside)

If anyone has any tips for shooting just for today ill be happy

I would love to get a shot like this below

Rubie - Rose I did not do this photo

ruby.jpg
Click to expand...

that shot is a bit overexposed....and the foreground dominates the little person too much being oof...ouch!

since we all have digital its easy to set on manual after some exposure readings and go from there..my manual setting has a +/- scale on it giving taken to read settings
then there is the histogram which i now have discovered is a tremendous help...
failing all...take shots +/- 2 stops and sort out later
 
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