[JLiu]

Overall, nice work – especially with focus being tack on the eyes.  If I may, there are a couple areas where I would suggest strengthening:

–  Personal opinions about the “vintage” look aside, I would caution a more discerning eye towards highlights.  There are a couple portrait shots where the face blends almost completely into the background, only to have it broken up again by a feature of the face.  There’s one shot in particular where it’s really difficult to make out the bunny ears that the child is wearing. White on white is very hard to master – play around with contrast and shadows.

–  Composition seems to be centered on the subject for a lot of the shots.  While this isn’t always bad, it’s also not the most ‘exciting.’  Play around a bit and use the rule of thirds to your advantage.

–  Always be wary of the limbs when shooting or cropping down.  There are a lot of cut off fingers/hands/feet.

You seem to have a very solid grasp on photography – keep shooting!

[JLiu]

To continue my thoughts…

Two of three people took time to either ask questions or identify areas of concern. One offered alternative considerations before proceeding with your endeavors. Neither were perceived as helpful.

Instead, it was just easier to get defensive. Understandable as it may be to want to defend something of a personal nature, I have to ask again – did you honestly expect praise knowing your work as it currently stands?

Nobody mentioned anything about you quitting. On the contrary, help was gladly offered. That hand was smacked away.

[JLiu]

I expected no less than the posted response.

But…let’s take a step back and analyze the situation here.  You knew before posting that you are still (very much, based on a cursory glance) in the learning phases of photography, correct? I’m assuming you spent some time lurking this site – which, just as a reminder, is titled ‘You Are Not a Photographer’ – before you decided to post, right? If you didn’t, then I’m just going to assume you’re not one to read instructions before using heavy machinery. If you did spend time looking around the forums, then…did you honestly expect different? Seriously think about that and honestly answer before you respond.

[JLiu]

I’ll bring the drinks if you stock the snacks.

[JLiu]

That article is one of the reasons why I’ll be a hobbyist until I retire…and even then I’ll not go pro.  I’ll be one of those old dudes wearing a funny hat at an artfest with random landscape shots in my tent.

[JLiu]

lol…are you typing this from your phone, IHF?  off Carmela?

[JLiu]

Those lens…er…I mean lense spots are in a perfect semi-circle.  Kinda odd.  Bad sensor cleaning job?

In any case, it’s definitely dong photography.

[JLiu]

“You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks” ~Winston Churchill

[JLiu]

It was most certainly your critique.  You took the time to explain your position and re-worded it such that it was easy to see both sides of the coin.

 

[JLiu]

IHF – you inspire me.

[JLiu]

I second the vote on roses…I spit out what I was eating at the time.

[JLiu]

That’ll teach you to hand your camera off to someone.  I would’ve run with it…hahah

[JLiu]

Thanks for the confidence boost, sir!  I’m flattered…but am seriously just an amateur.  Most of the stuff I say is regurgitated from any other photography site, plus whatever experience I have from trial and error.

A tutorial section would be interesting – perhaps bring it up with the admins?

[JLiu]

Haha…considering you’ve been posting every 5 min. 😉

I’m gonna have to agree with dont.care – slow down and take the time to really learn photography.  The fact that a lot of posted photos are soft is a sign that, at the very least, technique needs improvement.   Learn the basics, get to know your gear backwards and forwards (and I mean really get to know it – being able to dial-in the “sweet spot” at a moment’s notice is crucial sometimes), work on the post-process…then decide if making that jump is worth it.  The last thing you probably want is being prominently displayed on the front page of this site.

[JLiu]

No, unfortunately.  The focus appears to be sharpest on the nose…and even that seems a smidge soft.

I took a look at the EXIF data on the photo, and it looks like o a handheld shot using the 50/1.8 lens at a shutter speed of 1/60 + flash and an aperture of 1.8.

So, already the depth of field (AKA DOF) is quite small (I’d imagine you weren’t more than 2 feet away…which gives equates to about about 0.36 inches DOF).  Tack on that this is handheld at an “inappropriate” shutter speed, the chances are high a soft image will be the result.

I put inappropriate in quotes because, although the general rule of using a faster shutter speed than the focal length of the lens is being obeyed, there is a higher risk of soft images with a shutter speed that close to the focal length – especially considering the crop factor.  It would be safer having a shutter speed of about 1/100.  That’s not to say it’s impossible to get sharp images at 1/60…but the results are almost always better with more keepers at a more appropriate shutter speed…..am I making sense?

[Author]

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