Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Julie (53/100) - On the edge of extinction


Striding along the racks on the 8th Floor of Fisher, I button-holed Chris who agreed to be my model: I told him that is was only a personal project, nothing to do with the institution and that I would take 5 shots. He was so cool: adopting all the positions I could have asked for.

This was on P, with the AWB set to Flash and the ISO to 800. Not sure how important all that is anymore. I had Photo-Style set to Portrait which was Sharpness=3, Contrast=0, Saturation=2 and Colour-tone=2. I also used my home-carved diffuser.


I have uploaded each of the images - except for the one that was out-of-focus. I would value advice on this sort of portrait: technical advice and compositional advice. I stayed at the end of the aisle and just took photos: should I have gone in closer? I have cut off the LHS which I thought would be arty-farty but was simply out-of-focus and in the way!

20 comments:

bitingmidge said...

That's ten midgey bites from me!

You don't need the others at all!

Ann said...

Can't comment technically but compositionally I love it. The diagonal of the shelves draws the eye straight to the subject.

Ann said...

Ps. The horizontal is definitely the way to go.

Julie said...

Interesting that you both go for the horizontal. I really wanted the squatting one to work but I have not cropped it well enough and I suppose it is the wrong stance (short and squat) for a background that is so tall and with such a vanishing point.

I am quite happy with the overall effect of the photograph but I would like much more clarity in the face of the subject.

Getting picky now ...

bitingmidge said...

No, you are WRONG! :-)

The face is quite visible in the shot, maybe not quite sharp, but good enough.

You were only a teensy tweak away from more focus on the face, and a little bit less light in the foreground. The back lighting also works a trick (you did that!)

I even had to pull the PE book out for this one, but it shows just how close you came to pulling off a biggie!

Julie said...

ooo ... taa for that assessment.

Now to the change in "colour" of the light from my version to your version. The diffuser (which I like btw) means that the light is more yellow than that horrid flashy flash ... but your tone of light is more real. I will fiddle some more with the settings on my camera. I think if I set the AWB to Flash then the effect is to yellow the light rather than to white it ... if any of that makes sense.

bitingmidge said...

Julie can you set the colour temperature manually?

There should be a custom option, it's not too hard to get your head around it, did you find TFM?

Ann said...

I'm thinking I might try manual focus, I'm having the same problem with the SLR, can't get the focus exactly where I want it, especially if the subject it offset. I've tried focusing and recomposing but it still doesn't quite work. (see next Tuesday's shot of Elsie). Strangely I can get the focus where I want it with the p&s, possibly because its only got one central focus point. the SLR has got lots of them and I can never work out whether what's flashing is where I want it.

Julie said...

You found a subject with the name ELSIE - I am so envious!

Ann said...

Why? She doesn't look like my idea of an Elsie.

Julie said...

Have TFM here with me.

P. 88 tells me about White Balance Correction which I am reliably informed is like doing a colour temperature conversion or using a colour compensating filter. It also mentions that a "mired" is a unit indicating the density of a colour temperature conversion filter.

Oh my poor head ...

Ann said...

Good god, woman, I'm still trying to get a decent composition and you're going on about WB compensation.

Julie said...

... *groan* ...

bitingmidge said...

Ann, I like to use a single point for the focus (the centre), focus on the subject, and then holding the shutter half down to keep those settings, I compose the shot.

Don't know if that helps, but the old hold the shutter half down trick works for me!

Ann said...

Think that's the problem, I'm set on multi focus points. Guess I have to RTFM again. I have been doing the shutter half down and recompose.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I hope you dont mind but I decided to follow your blog... for a couple of reasons, mainly that I am learning about photography (just started), and I think the concept of your blog is fantastic and really interesting... you must meet alot of people... I am going to go through the past 50 pictures and I look forward to the next....

Julie said...

You are most welcome to follow, Shaun. We are all learning at our own pace and in our own way. So read, leave comments, ask questions. We are open to all of that. Good to know that you find it our project of interest.

I have looked at your blog too and will leave a comment there later this evening. As a matter of interest for the team, how did you find out about our Strangers blog?

Joan Elizabeth said...

It seems that gone are the days of grab a pic and hope it works ... these days the master photographer Julie calmly asks her subjects to poses for her! I think this one has really good composition with the shelves forming an interesing path into the picture and the back lighting works are treat.

Anonymous said...

Through a comment you left at Richmond on Thames blog.. I have a few that I look at on occassion - that being one of them which I like... My blog started off as wanting to take pictures then I found out that I had opinions and a blog is the only place where I can vent and people have to listen....:) or shut down.

Anonymous said...

... and by the way. Picture changed and I have decided to get another one. Thanks for the input and keep up to the 100 mark.