First request for C&C

[JudiL]

Hi all,
Im new and a TOTAL beginner in the world of photography. Im even embarrassed to post because I know my photos are so basic and lacking in technical skills. But, I really want to learn how to improve and make images that look like the gorgeous ones I see here. So, here goes. This is my son. (Yes, he is having a hard time letting go of his thumb, even though he is 7 years old....oh well.....)
I use a Nikon D90, with an 18-105 Lens. This was shot at 400 ISO, at 80mm, f5.6, 1/100", using a Nikon SB400 flash. I have Photoshop Elements 5 and am struggling badly to learn how to use it but I did make some very basic editing efforts there.

So, how could this become a better photo? And, how do you all get those amazingly smooth skin tones? Thanks for any help. And I apologize if I am making any mistakes with this post...its my first time, and I need to learn how to use this site also. SO much to learn! thanks for any and all advice.

Judi

[verdesardog]

Well that's a pretty good photo,unique perspective, sharp, color correct, what were you going for? It's kind of a close crop for me.

[JudiL]

Thanks! I guess I dont really know what I was going for (first big mistake, huh?) Just thought he looked cute and wanted a real close up of his big eyes. So, too close? Probably should have had the whole hand either in, or out, not just a part of it showing, huh? Thanks for the comment.

Judi

[Gna]

Originally Posted by verdesardog

Well that's a pretty good photo,unique perspective, sharp, color correct, what were you going for? It's kind of a close crop for me.

I agree with Verdesardog.
OTOH: you could also go closer still, imo. To maximize the effect. By cropping this one differently. Like so, e.g.:

[Songman45]

Welcome to the Camel. Please don't ever be embarrassed about your skill level or your work on the basic elements of photography. Most times errors made in photography are directly tied to a very basic step. If you are a sports fan, you know the mistakes that cost a professional team a game are tied to something taught way back in pee-wee league.

Having said that, this is a decent picture on most all the basic levels. As previously stated, the color, exposure and focus are fine. The crop is tight (close) but if your intent was to show a particular expression in the eyes, it works.

Getting incredibly smooth skin sometimes begins with incredible skin. When smoothing is required in post-processing two things affect how well it turns out: 1- The quality of the original image and 2- the skill of the person in using re-touching software.

My first advice is learn coinsistency. Its great to be able to take a wonderful picture- its better to take wonderful pictures on a regular basis. It looks like you may be on your way. You selected Manual exposure on the camera and picked very reasonable options. ISO 400 indoors with flash is good, you don't overwork the flash or blind the subject at this sensitivity. Shutter Speed 1/100th that's nice to allow a little room light to contribute and lessen shadowing. f5.6 at your shooting distance provides a nice depth of field, all the elements of the face nice and crisp and the ears falling out of the zone of critical focus- not too much nor too little. You did allow the flash to pick up the slack and that's okay. You didn't ask it to perform a hat trick, just to do what it needed to in a very workable set of parameters. The only thing more you could have possible done would be to set the flash on manual and use a hand-held meter to set the flash output. I don't find that a necessity as I generally set my camera and allow the flash to do what it needs to do. If I didn't get good results, I'd take a different approach.

Keep shooting, keep sharing and keep visiting the camel.

Regards,
Steve

[JudiL]

Wow, thank you so much! GNA, I love what you did with the image, especially the second one. It looks deeper, richer, and just so much nicer. I love the black frame too!

And Steve, wow, what a wonderful encouragement this is for me. Thanks so much. I appreciate your insight. I dont actually know if my flash can be set to manual? (SB400) This is an area I know nothing about, so will have to read up on it. But thanks again for the very helpful comments. This is going to be fun!

[Gna]

The first one is yours, the 'before' version. Unaltered. The second one is another possible interpretation (mine in this case, of course), the 'after' version: different crop, enhanced catchlights, smoothed skin. Nothing else.

BTW: don't worry about that thumb. I sucked mine until age 11. I'm still alive & kicking nearly half a century later...

[JudiL]

Oooohhhh...no wonder I liked the second one better! It is so bright, especially the eyes. I think I really need to spend some hours (and hours and hours) figuring out how to use that Photoshop program! It is so complicated. All I know how to do on it so far is crop, and do the "auto enhance photo" thing, with a tiny bit of adjusting of skin tones. Thats it. Looks like I've got some learning to do. Thanks again for the help. (and thanks for the encouragement about the thumb....LOL...my SON thanks you too!)

[Gna]

Originally Posted by JudiL

my SON thanks you too!

Will he still when I add that he'll probably have to wear braces for years and years to correct his buckteeth...?
But although extremely unpleasant and inconvenient, it is survivable!

[KatMitchell]

I am so glad you decided to post Judi.

Well it looks like Steve did an awesome job of covering the technical stuff...

My advice is this : Get the shooting and compositions down first. Then worry about the fancy effects you can achieve from photoshop. Once you can work the camera, I suggest studying up on composition. You need to learn the basics of photoshop for now, such as : File saving formats, cropping, and sharpening etc. The best way to learn photoshop is via tutorials. Go to YouYube and type in photoshop elements photo tutorials. Then open a photo up in photoshop and follow the video tutorial step by step. Also, keep this in mind when editing. When you save a photo as a jpeg it uses compression, so you do not want to open a photo and edit it and save as a jpeg and then open it and resave as a jpeg again as this will degrade the photo. When I edit, I always shoot Raw, then I keep a working copy of the photo on my desktop saved in photoshop file format psd because this format does not compress and it saves your history and work on the photo. I only save a copy of the jpeg when I am finished editing and ready to upload. If further editing needs to be done, then I do that editing on the psd photo and resave a newly edited jpeg.

Keep shooting and keep posting... and when you can, get on the internet and study other child photographers work. Often times emulating someones work helps a person to learn too.

Study the poses and the exif information to see what settings they used.. and try to get out of the habit of dead centering your photos.

I wish you all the best.

Kat

[JudiL]

Thank you Kat. This is wonderful helpful advice. I had no idea about not saving files in jpeg, repeatedly. I have never even shot in raw. I will try that. Hope my computer can handle the size! :0 I didnt know there were video tutorials on Youtube for photoshop. Wow, what a great idea! I will check them out today. And, yes, I love to look at other's work, (so many fantastic photographers here, and on other sites) and try to understand how they got the results they got. Thank you so much for all this advice. I will refer to it often until it is embedded in my brain! LOL So much to learn, but what a fun learning process it is!

Judi

[KatMitchell]

Oh, you just reminded me of something. I do not have a lot of experience with photoshop elements, only photohsop CS3, so I am not sure if elements can handle and edit a RAW file.

Can it ? If it can't, you may have to shoot jpeg and save in TIFF, which is also non compression.

Perhaps someone else can chime in that has experience with elements ?

Kat

[JudiL]

Yes, I actually just discovered that I cant upload RAW images to my computer or to my Photoshop Elements. Im not familiar with TIFF....I'll have to do some reading up on that. Thanks!
Judi

[KatMitchell]

Hey Judi,

TIFF is just another format, only, it gives you the option to compress or not compress. Elements should handle TIFF just fine. So, you can shoot in jpeg and then just be sure that after you open it in elements to edit it, that you save a copy in TIFF to work on that is not compressed. However, you will also need to save a copy in jpeg for uploading to the internet and posting because the jpeg is smaller and easier to uplaod and handle. Just be sure to have a working copy of the photo in TIFF that you can edit ongoing if you need to..

I hope I did not confuse you..

Kat

[mrpalmer420]

Welcome to the Kids Forum and the the Camel all together. You have fond a great place to learn and be helped in you photography journey. This Board is always willing to help. Never be embarrassed by your skill level, we all start somewhere and we are all constantly learning.

I like the image a lot and I love the crispness in the eyes.

[JudiL]

Thank you Kat. Actually, that is quite clear! Cant wait to try it.

Thanks also, TJ, for the kind welcome. Im so glad I found this site.

Judi