Camera Labs

I am quite new to photography, got my first SLR a few months ago.

Took a pic of my Son the other day,

i dont use pc editing software yet, (as i dont own any)

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Nikon D3100
Nikon 55mm-200mm - F/4.0-5.6
Nikon 18mm-55mm - F/3.5-5.6
Sigma 120-400mm f4.5-5.6 APO DG OS HSM

If, by chance, I'm in a situation where I don't have my desktop/laptop with me to edit images, PIXLR.COM is a free online image editor that you could use. O'course, not as sophisticated as Photoshop, but it can get some simple tasks done. Good 'playground' to practice in.

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MrKman | website
Canon EOS 5D II + PowerShot G12
Samyang 14 f/2.8 + Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 + Samyang 35 f/1.4 + Sigma 70-200 f/2.8
Yungnuo YN560 + YN560ii (x2) + Cactus V4

WISHLIST: 300 f/2.8
FORMER: Canon 5D + 40D + 450D + 18-55mm + 28-135mm + 50 f/1.4 + 100 f/2.0

A good free alternative to PS is Gimp, the free software has many features of Photoshop. GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program
I like the portrait however IMO the vertial bar at the right side distracts slightly

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EOS 400D+BG-E3 Grip --- EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 --- EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM --- EF-S 50mm f/1.8 --- Zeikos 0.40x fisheye adapter

My Flickr

thx for the input guys,

i'll give the free editing software a go, i think this pic would benefit from a little crop to remove the bike handlebars and the garage to the right.

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Nikon D3100
Nikon 55mm-200mm - F/4.0-5.6
Nikon 18mm-55mm - F/3.5-5.6
Sigma 120-400mm f4.5-5.6 APO DG OS HSM

The image lacks depth and is extremely soft. You could try shooting on Manual to get more desirable results that would expose the subjects face properly which may require you in the beginning to shoot only in shaded areas. Try to stay out of sunlight unless completely necessary.

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I have a variety of gadgets that capture and create light... people tell me their cameras, lenses, strobes, and speedlights...who knows

I see you shot this on A priority f4.5 & 1/400s, perhaps around f8 for a sharper shot may remove some of the softness look, if you are concerned with camera shake, try increasing the ISO so you can obtain the speed you want.

Light and shade on the subject makes it difficult for the camera to determin the best setting. I agree with your crop suggestion which would make this a different photo.


Cheers

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Nikon D7000, D40X, Nikkor 18- 200 VR II, f3.5-5.6, 70-300 AF non VR, Kit Lenses.

Thx guys, ill try that.

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Nikon D3100
Nikon 55mm-200mm - F/4.0-5.6
Nikon 18mm-55mm - F/3.5-5.6
Sigma 120-400mm f4.5-5.6 APO DG OS HSM

This is not by any means a "soft" image. I like the shallow dof you chose to use for the photo, I feel if you shot this af f/8 the shrubs in the background would become more distinguishable thus distracting.

Here's what you did good:
Great moment, caught him exploring the backyard, I love it.
Good subject/background contrast.
nice dof, focus
good exposure (when shooting in sunlight like that you really can't shoot brighter or you'll lose to much detail in his hair)
crop on the boddy (you didn't crop on a joint or an unpleasant area of the body)
good equal perspective, one of the biggest mistakes I see when people photographing children is shooting standing up.


Here's what I think could be better:
yellow handle bar, gone
possibly a vertical crop rather than horizontal
as someone said earlier try to avoid having direct sunlight in the image, though this can be difficult when shooting candid shots such as this.
place him on the offset on the frame, bullseye is another common mistake. Look into the "rule of thirds"

Overall though I think you have a great start, and a cute kid.

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Canon 40D + 70-200mm f/2.8L IS + 50mm f/1.8
Manfrotto 055CX3 + 496RC2
www.thomaslowe.com

Thx Tomis.

The above pic with a crop.

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Nikon D3100
Nikon 55mm-200mm - F/4.0-5.6
Nikon 18mm-55mm - F/3.5-5.6
Sigma 120-400mm f4.5-5.6 APO DG OS HSM

A more pleasing photo now that it's cropped. As you say you are quite new to this, I would suggest using the scene modes and see what the camera setting are and use them as a base line. Cameras today are so smart after $M of research but many including myself never use these setting. Perhaps I should look at them.

Cheers

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Nikon D7000, D40X, Nikkor 18- 200 VR II, f3.5-5.6, 70-300 AF non VR, Kit Lenses.

thx for your input 4xxxx.

_________________
Nikon D3100
Nikon 55mm-200mm - F/4.0-5.6
Nikon 18mm-55mm - F/3.5-5.6
Sigma 120-400mm f4.5-5.6 APO DG OS HSM