My first paid job

[Dogsey]

I mentioned on here earlier in the week that did my first paid job last weekend, many thanks to those that helped me out then btw, well I've finally got around to adding a select few to my Flickr page and I thought I'd show them off - oh and ask for any c&c to help me improve them.

Kit is a Nikon D50 with either the standard 18-55mm or Sigma's 70mm f2.8 macro and, rather strangely, a Canon Speedlite 430EX flash as it was the only one I could lay my hands on in a hurry (borrowed from a work colleague). Because of this I chose to shoot completely on manual. Most shots were taken at 125th @ either f5.6 or f2.8, then I used blind guess work (and lots of checking on the screen) to set the flash to the right level. All were shot in raw at ISO200 as well. I've tried to keep the processing to as few steps as possible (mainly to keep it quick and easy to process the 60 images I've submitted to them), just adjusting curves, applying the Transparency preset from OptikVerve Labs' rather good virtualPhotographer plugin for CS3 and finally a subtle sharpen. Doing this has taught me how to record an action and to batch process images so it seems it's benefits all around.

Anyway, I'd be interested to hear what you guys think and how you think I can improve my technique in both shooting and processing.

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I could get to like earning money doing this.

[andybuk99]

Flash is far far too harsh.

Try balancing the flash with shutter speed better.
Something like 1/8th of a second would have got the ambient light showing more and the shots would look more natural. There would be no movement on the subjects as the flash would just freeze them enough.

Also try a wide angle and get in there with the action.

[Dogsey]

andybuk99 said:

Flash is far far too harsh.

Try balancing the flash with shutter speed better.
Something like 1/8th of a second would have got the ambient light showing more and the shots would look more natural. There would be no movement on the subjects as the flash would just freeze them enough.

Also try a wide angle and get in there with the action.

I realise that the flash is a little too harsh, one of the draw backs of only being able to use it on full manual. I'm interested to know how a wide angle could have got me any closer to the action, there are no crops here and the subjects pretty much fill the frame, surely using a wide angle would have meant that I would have had to be right under they're noses to get a similar shot, which would have hindered the attempt to catch completely candid shots?

[Simpo Two]

Dogsey said:

I'm interested to know how a wide angle could have got me any closer to the action, there are no crops here and the subjects pretty much fill the frame, surely using a wide angle would have meant that I would have had to be right under they're noses to get a similar shot, which would have hindered the attempt to catch completely candid shots?

I think he means it from a style/fashion view - blast it wide and shove it in their faces. However I'd agree that's not particularly flattering when people are involved, and you also have to bear in mind your client and the publication.

I have an issue with client at the moment because he doesn't like shallow DOF. I think the shots are great, and far better than the turgid rubbish he currently has in his boardroom, but there you go.

[Andy M]

I hope you don't mind an honest critique.

These photos really don't do it for me as there's no real spark in them - nobody is smiling, and to be honest it looks like they're doing an unwanted chore rather than enjoying themselves.

On a technical level, I agree that too much flash has been used and a knock on effect is that some of the subjects' skin look sallow and unnatural. Also, the shots come under the title of 'snapshot' for me, rather than 'photo'.

With so many kids around I'd have tried to have gotten onto their 'level'. Shoot low, and try to capture the world as a child sees it.

This lady does an excellent job IMO: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/sesameellis/popul... (possibly NSFW)

[Dogsey]

Andy M said:

I hope you don't mind an honest critique.

These photos really don't do it for me as there's no real spark in them - nobody is smiling, and to be honest it looks like they're doing an unwanted chore rather than enjoying themselves.

On a technical level, I agree that too much flash has been used and a knock on effect is that some of the subjects' skin look sallow and unnatural. Also, the shots come under the title of 'snapshot' for me, rather than 'photo'.

With so many kids around I'd have tried to have gotten onto their 'level'. Shoot low, and try to capture the world as a child sees it.

This lady does an excellent job IMO: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/sesameellis/popul... (possibly NSFW)

Totally up for the honest critque, how else am I supposed to learn.

I agree that it's a shame not many of them are smiling, however the workshops were quite intense and it seemed everyone was concentrating on the work rather than having a laugh, they all seemed to have enjoyed themselves at the end of it though. I also wanted to get down to their level a bit more, but the space was so cramped (it's only about 15' x 25' and we had about 35 people and a load of tables and chairs in there) that most of the time the only way I could get any clear air to shoot through was by going over other peoples heads / shoulders.

One thing is for sure, I'll make sure that I have a camera and flashgun that actually talk to each other!