Easy Exposure - Topic: My step-daughter

daniela on My step-daughter

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 18:16:43 -0700

I think the 200mm and 300mm are difficult to focus because you need to be more faraway from subject, so it's more difficult to control your settings, that's why it's dark also, because maybe the camera as done the light metering to some other thing in scenery that the kid itself. I recommend you try 50mm and approach to the subject, with AF-S focus with one single point focusing on the eye (in Canon called “One shot” focus mode) – See lesson 17 for more info. If you want to keep this kind of size frame, with the subject filling the frame, maybe go to 105mm lens.

Wendi on My step-daughter

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 17:46:41 -0700

Canon Zoom Lens EF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6
I used this lens since I was photographing some really neat clouds and didn't feel like changing the lens.
Manual Focus

easyexposure on My step-daughter

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 16:56:48 -0700

I think you have a bit better focus on the second one, but it still looks like focus wend on the eye which is further from the camera. It is also under exposed. There is nothing wrong with using 200mm or 300mm for portraits. Some photographers prefer longer focal length for portraits, depending on their style. It gives more compressed feel to the picture and no distortion. Short focal length gives you more 3D look. But as Daniel said you have to be further from your subject and it makes it more difficult to direct your model, if you need too. Also you have to use faster shatter speed, then with shorter length to avoid camera shake. I thing it more depends on the lens itself and how sharp it is. A lot of kit zoom lenses are just softer on its longest end. Which lens exactly did you use?
Also which focusing mode in your camera did you use?

daniela on My step-daughter

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 12:50:08 -0700

I think the 200mm and 300mm are difficult to focus because you need to be more faraway from subject, so it's more difficult to control your settings, that's why it's dark also, because maybe the camera as done the light metering to some other thing in scenery that the kid itself. I recommend you try 50mm and approach to the subject, with AF-S focus with one single point focusing on the eye, in Canon called "One shot" focus (see lesson 17 for more reference). If you want to keep this kind of size frame, with the subject filling the frame, maybe go to 105mm lens.

Wendi on My step-daughter

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 23:41:37 -0700

Is this one in more focus? I know it is a bit darker.
Focal length 300mm
1/320s
f/5.6
ISO200

Wendi on My step-daughter

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 23:39:14 -0700

Focal length 150mm
1/320s
f/5.0
ISO22
I am so new at this and have lots to learn.

easyexposure on My step-daughter

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 23:15:39 -0700

I like your composition and her smile, but it looks like the picture is out of focus. For portraits you want the eyes to be sharp (specially the one which is closer to the camera). It looks like the eye which is further from the camera is a bit sharper, but still not very sharp.
Can you share you settings with us and the lens you used? Thanks.

Wendi on My step-daughter

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 23:05:10 -0700

Practicing with my new Canon T3 Rebel