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10/20/2014 12:18:34 PM · #1
Would welcome some feedback on this photo. It was done as a part of a family shoot. Just turned it to black and white. Thanks for any comments.

10/20/2014 12:22:04 PM · #2
It looks a bit soft - not sure if it was the way it was processed and resized, but honestly it looks like it was out of focus to begin with.
10/20/2014 12:32:21 PM · #3
Lovely natural expressions.

First impression was it looked a bit out of focus. Also felt that it gave me a feeling they were about to topple to the right.

Some blown out areas of white especially top left area. The right hand side of the man's face looks a bit blown out too.

I am no expert so take this with a pinch of salt or whatever the expression is
10/20/2014 12:35:33 PM · #4
Comments most helpful. I do think it was a bit out of focus to begin with. Having a little trouble adjusting to using my 50mm f1.4. Wonder if it would be better to manually focus.
10/20/2014 12:54:13 PM · #5
Originally posted by PuppyDogMom:

Wonder if it would be better to manually focus.


Probably not, but there are various ways to tweak the way you use autofocus.

You can set the focus point, you can use continuos vs. single shot AF, and you can relocate the AF feature to one of the buttons on the back of the camera. I would usually do all three of those things when I shot Canon AF. Takes some getting used to, but you can hold down the button and it will track focus on the dot you set and then when you click the shutter it's immediate and you don't have to reposition the camera to compose.

Now I usually use manual, but my Fuji also has focus peaking and a zoom in live view, as well as a digital DOF scale when I use the Fuji lens. If I had a 50mm 1.4 with autofocus, I'd certainly use the AF.
10/20/2014 12:56:29 PM · #6
Originally posted by PuppyDogMom:

Comments most helpful. I do think it was a bit out of focus to begin with. Having a little trouble adjusting to using my 50mm f1.4. Wonder if it would be better to manually focus.


I don't see why it would be better to manually focus for a portrait shot like this. Auto focus should be doing just fine, so long as you give it a second to do its job. Do you use focus lock (or its equivalent) when shooting with auto focus? In case I'm using the wrong term... I'm talking about when you hold the shutter button down half way to "lock the focus" on the faces (or whatever you want your focus to be) and then recompose your shot while still holding the button.
10/20/2014 01:30:54 PM · #7
Originally posted by aliqui:

I'm talking about when you hold the shutter button down half way to "lock the focus" on the faces (or whatever you want your focus to be) and then recompose your shot while still holding the button.


Yes, I do this. But I'm wondering if I don't have my focus points set accurately. In taking some other pictures, all of which turned out blurry, I noticed that the focus was on something a little closer to me, like a knee or a boot. I tried to refocus on the face, but for some reason wasn't successful with that. Think I just need a lot more practice with this lens, and need to check to see if I have auto focus set correctly.
10/20/2014 01:43:08 PM · #8
my guess is either you missed focus shooting with the lens too open or your shutter speed was too slow.

without exif i cant say for sure.

highly unlikely its the camera.

Message edited by author 2014-10-20 13:43:24.
10/20/2014 01:48:50 PM · #9
I would set the focus point so it will focus on the eye. I recently set one of the back buttons to focus rather than holding the shutter half-way down. Much easier than holding the button down while you re-frame. It also holds the focus until you push the button again. It takes a little getting used to, but I will never go back to using the shutter button for focus.
10/20/2014 01:56:49 PM · #10
fwiw, back button focus is all the rage and its works well for moving subjects since it holds the subject while you snap away but for portraits where people are sitting still you are better off learning the basics to use and change your focus point and hit proper focus before you learn these alternate methods.
10/20/2014 05:58:10 PM · #11
Focus, for me lately, has become a huge issue. Guess I need to go back to square one.
10/20/2014 06:16:52 PM · #12
Originally posted by PuppyDogMom:

Focus, for me lately, has become a huge issue. Guess I need to go back to square one.


Or get a Leica then focus don't matter ;)
10/20/2014 06:29:46 PM · #13
Originally posted by MAK:

Or get a Leica then focus don't matter ;)


:)
10/20/2014 07:14:18 PM · #14
Does this happen with all your lenses or with one in particular? You may have a front- or back-focus issue. Your 7D allows you to calibrate the camera to each of your lenses specifically.
10/20/2014 07:43:30 PM · #15
Since this isn't closeup of the face, I would have just used the centre zone to focus. No need to recompose or even select a specific point for a shot like this.
10/20/2014 08:11:00 PM · #16
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Does this happen with all your lenses or with one in particular? You may have a front- or back-focus issue. Your 7D allows you to calibrate the camera to each of your lenses specifically.


Doesn't seem to happen with my 24-105mm. Didn't know you could calibrate lenses individually. Something else I need to learn about! Wish the dog hadn't chewed up my manual.
10/20/2014 08:25:20 PM · #17
Originally posted by PuppyDogMom:

Wish the dog hadn't chewed up my manual.

That's not a problem - you can download the manual from the Canon website.
10/20/2014 11:22:01 PM · #18
Just to add my 1 cent: I agree with Paul, and would rotate photo to the left, so the man doesn't look like he is stepping back from this very pretty woman.
10/21/2014 01:41:33 PM · #19
Originally posted by lei_73:

Just to add my 1 cent: I agree with Paul, and would rotate photo to the left, so the man doesn't look like he is stepping back from this very pretty woman.


Followed that suggestion and straightened it up. Looks a ton better.
10/21/2014 02:30:07 PM · #20
also if you have PS CC you might try running Camera Shake reduction filter to see if it can sharpen it up a little or run a high pass layer over it may help.
10/21/2014 02:36:04 PM · #21
here it is with shake reduction applied
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