Camera Labs

Hi:

I'm taking a photo class and one of the assignments was to take a photo of hands. I asked one of my mothers friends to pose for me.

Please let me know what you really think, your comments will only help me get better.

Canon XTi | Canon 17-85mm | Focal Length=61mm | Shutter=1/40 sec | Aperture = f/5.6 | Mode=Av | Flash=External 430EX bounced off the wall on the right | ISO:400



Thanks,

Mitch

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 (Lumix DMC-TZ7)

Really nice!

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Graham
Flickr

GREAT one!!!!

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Canon 400D + 18-55mm | Hama Star 63 | Lowepro Off Trail 1
Nikon D80 + 18-135mm
My Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17959284@N03/
My Sony H1 gallery:
http://picasaweb.google.com/DrazenGall

Nice one but I think a shot or frame showing the full sets of hand(s) would be better,.

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Nikon D7000 and a bunch of Nikkors

Really great shot. I agree with DavidL though - I would have liked to see the hands brought into frame a bit more.

Even so, as it is it's fantastic shot. Well done!

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My Flickr

I can feel something with this shot.
Tough, Hope, Peace, Faith.

Love the detail of the hand

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Stephen Ho
Nikon D40 l AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II (3.0x) l
www.flickr.com/photos/vandcoler

AMEN! Oops, sorry got caught away. LOL. Thats a great picture.

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Nikon D7000. Nikon AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED VR II Lens, Nikon 50mm 1.8D, Tamron 10mm-24mm

I think that is a VERY good looking picture. Great depth of field and it sparks a lot of associations, whether it be religion, age, character, ones grandmother..sky is the limit.

From a composition perspective - weighed against "hands"-theme - I have to admit that I am pulled in two directions.

One one hand (bad pun, sorry) I am immediately drawn to the hands themselves. Their depth and character - as they rest on the also focused text/book below.

When I look at this image longer, religious aspect become more prevalent. Clearly the text is biblical and the "pose" of the hands, along with the crucifix, become more obvious.

To my eyes - and I realize that the image is reduced and that my monitor can only approximate - the focus point is just in front of the rings and not on the crucifix or the nails.

Nevertheless the crucifix is smack-dab in the center, screaming for attention - but it is somewhat out of focus - or maybe it's the position of the light.


If this was my assignment, I would play around with shifting the focus forward towards the cross and play with the lighting a little more. And perhaps move the camera a little to the right, to bring the crucifix a little off center.

In addition, I would try how it looks with either more or less of the hands showing, because the cross is also vertically centered.

The image is very evocative as it is and a very fine piece of photographic art as it stands and I like it a lot and please take my comments on that backdrop, if you will

Cheers!

very nice shot well done. I would have to agree with LahLahSr, I was thinking the same thing before I read the post's.
Other then that it is well done.
Tell us how it did in your class. I would like to know what your teacher thinks.

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Canon Rebel XTI, Tamron 70-300mm w/180-300 macro AF, Canon 18-55mm,Canon 50mm F1.8, Sandisk ExtremeIII 2gig.
Nikon N2020.My Flickr

Hi Mitchel,

This was very well executed and comes across well in black and white. I like your choice of using 'aged' hands for this shot. They certainly have more of a story to tell and adds a lot of character to the image. One thing that might be interesting in a shot like this would be to shoot it with a wider aperture, something like f/1.8 might be useful in bringing more attention to the hands.

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Leica M9, Nikon D300s, Leica X1, Canon S95, Zero Image 6x9

I like this very much. B&W photos often look too artsy or would be better in color, but you've hit it just right. Perhaps the DOF could extend back to the nuckles, but that's a minor thing -- I wouldn't change anything that would take away from what you already've got -- it's a shot to be proud of.

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BrianS
D50, 70-300mm VR, 50mm f/1.8

Thank you everyone for the great comments and suggestions. The class is over, the instructor picked this one as one of his favorites but the overall class vote was for a photo of a child holding a flower and I have to admit it was very nice.

Mitch

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 (Lumix DMC-TZ7)

There was no doubt that this was a good photograph. Congratulations!

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Leica M9, Nikon D300s, Leica X1, Canon S95, Zero Image 6x9

really great shot!!