re: Official Photography Thread. ♥

Quoting 3LittleMonkeys:" Since all that went down in here lately, I wanted to take a moment to really, sincerely thank Cheryle ... [snip!] ... as well and as always, you were so helpful. I think we've all learned a lot from you. Thank you so much for contributing."

awww Thanks!  

Quoting Mrs.Dani:" <blockquote><b>Quoting awesomebrandi:</b>" It's very common for people to want to tilt ... [snip!] ... or like when she was laying in the grass I kept just getting her bangs and top of her head. She didn't want picturs of h face."

posing other is really hard (at least for me lol)
That is something that I've been working on for awhile and am planning on working more intensively on this year!

Quoting Mrs.Dani:" Oay I have a question. I know that cheryle was trying to explain it to me today. But I'm still having ... [snip!] ... using autofocus, and I'm pushing the button halfway down to let it focus, and it's still focusing on his toy and not his face."

Is the toy more brightly lit than his face? Lighting plays a big role in what your camera will try to focus on. In not the greatest lighting, I find back button focusing really works better to hold focus where you want it than pushing the shutter release.

Quoting awesomebrandi:" What's the lighting like?"

lol I see we are thinking the same direction again  

Quoting Mrs.Dani:" Not sure if I should post this in here... But I feel kind of bad for L(peace sign)J... I don't want to ... [snip!] ... out last night, and maybe just over-reacted. I always liked the advice she had given me. Kinda sad to see Herr gone now."

I have nothing against her and feel bad too that she took things so personal. But she did say some pretty mean things about people in the thread. It's up to her whether she's big enough to apologize for that if she even wants to come back to the group. I always feel sorry for people who see the negative things around them instead of the positive. She was obviously interpreting her post not being answered as a sign that people were purposely ignoring her or not wanting to help her instead of considering that maybe the post was over-seen, or no one knew the answer, or no one had time to give the answer. And she obviously didn't think of the times that people have taken the time to answer her question and given her support. The sad thing is that she will probably feel the same way in whichever group she goes to because the problem is her attitude and not the people around her.

I heard a story once many years ago and it is so true.

An old man was sitting on a bridge leading into a town. A young man came along and asked him what the town was like. Were the people friendly or mean. He asked the young man what the people were like from the town he just came from. The young man said they were so friendly and so much fun. He loved being with them and was going to miss them now that he was moving on. The old man told him he would find the people in this town to be the same.

Awhile later another young man came and asked the old man the same question. When asked how the people were in the town he just came from, he answered, "they were horrible! They were stingy and mean and never helped anyone!" The old man said he would find the people in this town to be the same.

Long story short, no matter where you go in life, if you have the attitude that you are unloved and people like others better than you and that they pick on you, you will experience this over and over and over again. No matter where you go.

If you have the attitude that you have what to offer others and that others like you and support you, you will find that over and over again. No matter where you go.

I really hope she will eventually see that and be able to change her attitude.

Quoting Cheryle [TOG]:" posing other is really hard (at least for me lol) That is something that I've been working on for awhile and am planning on working more intensively on this year!"

Yeah and I am a really shy person so I have trouble directing. I feel kind of awkward.  

Quoting Cheryle [TOG]:" Is the toy more brightly lit than his face? Lighting plays a big role in what your camera will try to ... [snip!] ... lighting, I find back button focusing really works better to hold focus where you want it than pushing the shutter release."

I don't think it was. The toy was next to his face so it wasn't really in a brighter area. I could show you a photo?

Quoting Mrs.Dani:" Yeah and I am a really shy person so I have trouble directing. I feel kind of awkward.  "

I'm the same way. But the more I learn about posing, the more confidence it gives me to direct a little at least.

Cheryle I have been messing around with that photo that I was messing around with last night. I probably won't keep it but I wanted to see what you think of the edits I have gotten so far.
Original:


1:


2:


3:


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5:


6:

Quoting Cheryle [TOG]:" I'm the same way. But the more I learn about posing, the more confidence it gives me to direct a little at least."

Yeah I don't know much yet. I brought my Ipad with me and had saved a bunch of pictures with poses so I could use that as a guide.

Quoting Mrs.Dani:" I don't think it was. The toy was next to his face so it wasn't really in a brighter area. I could show you a photo?"

Sure. The thing is, you can test focusing problems: http://photographylife.com/how-to-quickly-test-your-dslr-for-autofocus-issues
If your camera and lens are showing consistent problems when doing that test then the problem lays in your equipment.
Most of the time focusing problems lay with the user. Either not choosing the right settings for the light you have, movement, contrast problems etc. Sometimes it's as simple as closing your f-stop a bit and other times it's something totally different.

The best thing to do is experiment experiment and then experiment some more until you know what works for you to nail focus. When I first started taking pictures, it always seemed like focus was hit or miss. It really bothered me. I did tons of googling and tried so many different recommendations and methods out trying to find something that would give me consistent focus. Now it just comes naturally to me. I rarely miss focus and if I do, I know before even looking at the picture that focus was missed because I could feel it while taking the shot exactly what went wrong.

I don't mean to sound like I'm bragging or anything, I just want to point out that I probably won't be able to tell you exactly what your problem is because I didn't take the picture (if that makes sense). My best advice to you would be to do the focus test with your camera and lenses to make sure it's not anything to do with them. And then read and practice and read and practice and then read and practice some more.  

Quoting Cheryle [TOG]:" Sure. The thing is, you can test focusing problems: http://photographylife.com/how-to-quickly-test- ... [snip!] ... it's not anything to do with them. And then read and practice and read and practice and then read and practice some more.  "

Alright! I will definitely try that out. I have a feeling it is me. I think it may be because I am not used to this new body yet?

Quoting Mrs.Dani:" Cheryle I have been messing around with that photo that I was messing around with last night. I probably ... [snip!] ... won't keep it but I wanted to see what you think of the edits I have gotten so far. Original: 1: 2: 3: 4: 5: 6: "

lol I'm really not good at saying which edits I like the best. They each are a bit different and would depend on a person's tastes whether they prefer one over another. The BW and the last one are a tick too bright for my tastes but that's exactly it, I prefer pictures not to be super bright.

I also always look at pictures with an eye on how they're going to print since my goal is to give my clients prints. And I am somebody that almost always prefers a clean edit over a more artistic edit so to me the original one is the one I like best. Nr.s 2-5 I like equally the same, it's a matter of what you like the best. And like I said Nr. 1 and Nr. 6 are a bit too bright for my personal taste.

ETA. looking again, I take nr. 3 out of the list of what I like equally the same. There is something going on on her cheeks that I don't really like. Did you brighten just her cheek area in that one?

Quoting Cheryle [TOG]:" lol I'm really not good at saying which edits I like the best. They each are a bit different and would ... [snip!] ... the same, it's a matter of what you like the best. And like I said Nr. 1 and Nr. 6 are a bit too bright for my personal taste."

I actually just darkened the last one. I think my favorite is number 2. I just got some new actions so I am just playing around and messing with them.

I am actually kind of liking the tint to this: