close but no cigar - aka crap photographs...

[DodgyGeezer]

we've have a few threads for great and/or interesting pictures - not sure we've had one for picture which are.... errmmm "not so good". So with that in mind let's have some pics where:

- the bloody thing moved just as you snapped
- the autofocus got distracted by a moving leaf/whatever
- the... oh hell you get the idea


I'll start off with one for your delight and delectation:

[MacW]

Snap!

[Dave46]

Focus wandered off to the media guy as I panned



The dangers of photography at the seaside

Edited by Dave46 on Wednesday 8th June 13:41

[Fordo]

Left the lens cap on:

[Elderly]

Accidental press of the shutter release....

[yellowjack]

Took my first ever DSLR (used 2007/2008 Canon EOS 40D) out to the local park to catch the Air Ambulance lifting off...

...but hadn't the first idea what I was doing with the blasted thing!

It'll come, with time, I suppose. But my last period of 'proper' photography ended over a decade ago and utilised a "fully manual" Yashica 35mm SLR, so many of the Canon's settings and controls are beyond me at the moment. Big learning curve ahead.

[Tony1963]

Max, the cockapoo puppy, too quick on his paws for me

[Tony1963]

yellowjack said:

Took my first ever DSLR (used 2007/2008 Canon EOS 40D) out to the local park to catch the Air Ambulance lifting off...

...but hadn't the first idea what I was doing with the blasted thing!

It'll come, with time, I suppose. But my last period of 'proper' photography ended over a decade ago and utilised a "fully manual" Yashica 35mm SLR, so many of the Canon's settings and controls are beyond me at the moment. Big learning curve ahead.

The camera has exposed the image ‘correctly’ based on the bright white lights. I had a 40D for about 8 years, and then bought a 5D3 in 2014… a world of difference, but your image would be challenging to any camera and photographer. By the time you’ve worked out how much to over-expose by, the scene would probably have changed. I learned my lesson taking photos of rally cars at night in the 80s. I had to wait a week for the prints to come back and show me where I’d gone wrong!

[Simpo Two]

Tony1963 said:

yellowjack said:

Took my first ever DSLR (used 2007/2008 Canon EOS 40D) out to the local park to catch the Air Ambulance lifting off...

...but hadn't the first idea what I was doing with the blasted thing!

It'll come, with time, I suppose. But my last period of 'proper' photography ended over a decade ago and utilised a "fully manual" Yashica 35mm SLR, so many of the Canon's settings and controls are beyond me at the moment. Big learning curve ahead.

The camera has exposed the image ‘correctly’ based on the bright white lights. I had a 40D for about 8 years, and then bought a 5D3 in 2014… a world of difference, but your image would be challenging to any camera and photographer. By the time you’ve worked out how much to over-expose by, the scene would probably have changed.

Take some test shots and adjust the settings accordingly before it lifts off, then it'll be right when you need it.

If you can use a manual SLR you know enough to work a DSLR, just ignore/turn off all the 'auto' bits and find out how to adjust the basics

[24lemons]

In my early days of photography j attempted to photograph the red arrows at an air show. my favourite was a lovely photo of the back of a man’s head with a stream of red smoke going in one ear and out the other. I doubt I still have the photo I’m afraid

[Derek Smith]

My office manager used to organise monthly competitions designed to puncture any feelings of superiority. One was failed photographs. I won with the picture, perfectly focused, of the rear suspension of a Lotus 21 F1 car. As I had meant to produce the exact image I was banned from receiving the prize - a week of not having to make the tea/coffee.

In the days of film and print, I used to discard failed photos, and had the in-family accolade of 'always taking a great picture. If only they knew.

[StevieBee]

Not photo - video.

LeMans '19. There I am filming the driver's parade, getting up close and personal. Three or four guys run past me knocking me a bit. Hear a 'Excusez-moi' and a friendly pat on the shoulder. My son calls me over, says Dad, that was Alonso. And so it was, seen here on the right. Opportunity missed!

[Simpo Two]

Looks more like George Michael to me...

[ffc]

Still can't do the light thing.

[Simpo Two]

ffc said:

Still can't do the light thing.

Unless you want to add about +5 EV (and blitz the sky), balanced flash is your friend.

[yellowjack]

Tony1963 said:

yellowjack said:

Took my first ever DSLR (used 2007/2008 Canon EOS 40D) out to the local park to catch the Air Ambulance lifting off...

...but hadn't the first idea what I was doing with the blasted thing!

It'll come, with time, I suppose. But my last period of 'proper' photography ended over a decade ago and utilised a "fully manual" Yashica 35mm SLR, so many of the Canon's settings and controls are beyond me at the moment. Big learning curve ahead.

The camera has exposed the image ‘correctly’ based on the bright white lights. I had a 40D for about 8 years, and then bought a 5D3 in 2014… a world of difference, but your image would be challenging to any camera and photographer. By the time you’ve worked out how much to over-expose by, the scene would probably have changed. I learned my lesson taking photos of rally cars at night in the 80s. I had to wait a week for the prints to come back and show me where I’d gone wrong!

I've similar experience to relate. I was out in Kenya, working, when the East Africa Safari Rally came through town between stages. Some of the cars and support vehicles stopped at a petrol station in Nanyuki and I waited nearby with my camera to try to get some shots. Partly limited by film speed (only one camera which was loaded for African sunshine pictures), but the results were, shall we say, "somewhat less than impressive". The resulting prints are meaningless to anyone but me, and although it's a "take my word for it, that's Kankkunen's winning Celica" type scenario, I've kept the prints because if I ever leaf through those old pictures it reminds of the sights, sounds, and smells of that evening back in the early 1990s...