What did we do wrong?

[dpuck1998]

I thought this might be a good thread. As in life we learn more from our mistakes than we do from our success. Post a photo or a "bad" photo you took we can discuss what went wrong. I'll post my first one as soon as I get home from work ;-)

 

[meliahz]

GREAT IDEA!!! I have lots to share . . . hopefully I'll have time to post them tomorrow when I get home from work (if Hurricane Flossie doesn't hit us bad). Gotta go to sleep now . . . just wanted to bump you up a little

 

[dpuck1998]

Okay, here is my first bad photo...feel free to rip it apart. I think I know what went wrong.

Here is the exif info
Exposure Time = 1/200"
F Number = F1.8
Exposure Program = Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings = 200
Exif Version = Version 2.21
Date Time Original = 2007-08-10 22:46:24
Date Time Digitized = 2007-08-10 22:46:24
Components Configuration = YCbcr
Shutter Speed Value = 7.64 TV
Aperture Value = 1.7 AV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Metering Mode = Pattern
Flash = Flash fired, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 50mm

 

[DizneyNutz]

As bright as it was, I would say that ISO 100 or even 50 would have been better. At the focal length the shutter should be plenty fast. Did you possibly flinch when pressing the shutter button? Again I am a newby looking to learn from the answers from the REAL photogs. Just making my GUESS.

 

[Groucho]

Well, the first thing is what you think is wrong with it... I'm guessing that you're not happy that it's a bit overexposed.

A few things... it looks like it was daytime and you were shooting in Aperture Priority, but were using the largest aperture (I assume you used a 50mm F1.8), which is often not the sharpest aperture for any given lens.

Because it was fairly bright, you could have set the aperture down a few stops, which would give you a sharper photo plus a larger depth of field, meaning that more of the photo will be in focus.

The other big thing is that you had the flash on, the photo definitely doesn't look like you needed flash.

For that kind of photo, I would be likely to just shoot in "P" mode as it doesn't call for any specific control over depth of field or shutter speed, and make sure that the flash isn't set to fire automatically. (Just close the flash and it should turn itself off, when not in Auto mode.)

 

[jann1033]

you are so brave I've been studiously avoiding this thread
i'm wondering if this the canon 50-1.8 ...if so i think you did what i always do with that lens ( ok, what i do 85% of the time) somehow i focus past the subject...not sure if i stand to close or aim wrong, thinking i stand to close since this is the only lens i do this with...but it looks like the yellow flowers are in focus better than your subject which i would imagine is the kids. ( don't have my glasses on but to my eyes that's the way i see it). also agree, you could have upped the aperture and lowered the iso but since it should have a short dof with 1.8 that is why i am leaning toward focus on the wrong thing.

 

[DizneyNutz]

Using the Rebel XTI you can often save photos that you do not desire when you shot them in RAW. The XTI only goes as low as ISO 100. What did you have the AF set on? One shot focus would have been the choice for this shot. I am wondering like the OP if the camera didn't focus on the background. With the wide open aperature, if the camera focused on the background then the subjects would be in less focus than the background. You already have your thoughts, please share them. I am a new XTI owner myself and looking forward to my first trip with it, so if you can shed some insight on this, I for one would greatly benefit from your experience. Thanks in advance!

 

[dpuck1998]

Okay, here are my thoughts..and I'm no expert either. Yes I was shooting with the "nifty 50". I was going for the f1.8 as I wanted a very shallow Depth of Field. I think everyone hit on the things I thought were wrong. 1. Flash was on and didn't need to be. 2. I grabbed a focus point past my subject. I should have manually focused or been in single point focus. (I've done this alot and should know better by now) 3. I should have gone down to ISO 100.

Yes I do have the RAW. I always shoot in RAW + High JPG

Anyone else got some bad photos...I know we all take some ;-)

 

[CheshireVal]

Er, okay I'll try. Here's a picture that had cool potential: I wanted to get a fireworks-over-Dumbo shot, but quite obviously the whole idea fizzled.... literally! I was using my Canon S3IS, and I think I had it in Fireworks mode, though I might have switched to sports for the faster speed. I haven't quite mastered any manual settings yet. I had my elbows resting on a trash can, but no tripod. Very bad picture!

ExposureTime - 1/13 seconds
FNumber - 2.70
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/13 seconds
ApertureValue - F 2.71
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
MaxApertureValue - F 2.71
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
Flash - Not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 6.00 mm
ISO Value - 3 (other)
Metering mode - Center weighted averaging
Focus type - Auto
AF point selected -
Exposure mode -
Focal length - 100 - 600 mm (92 mm)
Flash activity - Not fired
Flash details -

 

[Groucho]

Okay, here are my thoughts..and I'm no expert either. Yes I was shooting with the "nifty 50". I was going for the f1.8 as I wanted a very shallow Depth of Field. I think everyone hit on the things I thought were wrong. 1. Flash was on and didn't need to be. 2. I grabbed a focus point past my subject. I should have manually focused or been in single point focus. (I've done this alot and should know better by now) 3. I should have gone down to ISO 100.

Yes I do have the RAW. I always shoot in RAW + High JPG

I think that even going for a shallow DoF, F1.8 is overkill in that situation... the DoF at that aperture is going to be paperthin, and if the camera (or you, if manually focusing) doesn't nail the focus perfectly, it just won't be sharp. I'd go for maybe F2.4 or so, that's still pretty shallow but not as demanding, plus being a bit away from wide open, the lens will probably deliver a sharper photo anyway.

ChesireVal: that shot doesn't look that bad - what in particular are you not happy about? The blurred Dumbos are not really going to be avoidable due to the slower shutter to capture the fireworks.

 

[AndrewWG]

CheshireVal,

Like Groucho, I don't think that shot is all that bad. I think that given the situation, it is probably about as good as it could be. If you wanted the shot to be more clear and have the Dumbo's in stop action, you would have needed a much faster shutter speed. In order to get that, you would have needed a much higher ISO. I just don't think that the camera would go fast enough for that shot. In fact, now that I shoot with the Canon 30D (used to shoot with the S2 IS), I am not sure that even it could deliver a sharp pic under those conditions. The fact that you got one Dumbo butt in focus is pretty cool. The firework isn't all that sharp, but not terrible, either. Perhaps you should have actually placed the camera on the trash can rather than holding it at all. That may have made a sharper image overall. I think that given the situation, you got close to if not the best photo you could out of it.

Andy

 

[Pea-n-Me]

dpuck1998 - overall, not bad. But since you asked, I think that besides the technical aspect, there are some basic composition issues at play here, too. As I see it: a) the children - since posed anyway - could have been seated with the little girl in the middle, or some other creative way for better balance and b) the way they're seated in relation to the sun seems to be causing them to squint a bit, especially the boys. So I think repositioning them and/or yourself could have improved the photo. My .02

 

[dpuck1998]

dpuck1998 - overall, not bad. But since you asked, I think that besides the technical aspect, there are some basic composition issues at play here, too. As I see it: a) the children - since posed anyway - could have been seated with the little girl in the middle, or some other creative way for better balance and b) the way they're seated in relation to the sun seems to be causing them to squint a bit, especially the boys. So I think repositioning them and/or yourself could have improved the photo. My .02

I totally agree with that...but it was rough enough just getting them on the bench in the first place ;-) Sidenote, even though it looks like an outdoor setting, we are actually in a large 'greenhouse' type structure at chicagos navy pier. I do struggle with them squinting. My first few shots they were wearing hats and the shadows over the eyes and face made for bad shots. Overall the "photo shoot" was not very successful this time

 

[DizneyNutz]

Anyone else got some bad photos...I know we all take some ;-)

Yes I have many, many, many. I haven't had my new camera at Disney yet. This Dec. though

File size: 316919 bytes
File date: 2007:01:02 19:08:31
Camera make: Canon
Camera model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Date/Time: 2006:12:23 23:26:17
Resolution: 800 x 533
Flash used: No
Focal length: 300.0mm (35mm equivalent: 485mm)
CCD width: 22.28mm
Exposure time: 0.0016 s (1/640)
Aperture: f/6.3
ISO equiv.: 200
Whitebalance: Manual
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)

 

[Pea-n-Me]

DisneyNutz, seems like a nice picture to me, kind of hard to shoot with the geese moving!

Val, I agree, a tripod might have helped, but that's a tough one! I have many like that too!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Well I don't want to be accused of dishing it out but not taking it.

The reality is, though, I've gotten darned good at deleting my "bad ones" so at least in my recent files, they're kind of scarce.

Here's one from July 3rd at sunset, just before fireworks on the beach. I didn't think it was completely unsalvageable, but obviously wasn't too good, either. I think I had it on almost full zoom (S3 IS) DS was pretty far away in the dunes.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

DizneyNutz: I'm not good at reading the EXIF and offering advice, so I'll talk compositionally. The horizon is in the middle and I think it would be better if it were higher or lower. There's something in the lower right corner that is distracting, that should be cropped out. Maybe a faster shutter speed and more open aperature would have stopped the birds and given a shallower DoF. (did I say that right? make the background more blurry)

I'll go through mine and post it later. If I can find one.. haha.. that is if I can pick just one!

D4D

 

[DizneyNutz]

DizneyNutz: I'm not good at reading the EXIF and offering advice, so I'll talk compositionally. The horizon is in the middle and I think it would be better if it were higher or lower. There's something in the lower right corner that is distracting, that should be cropped out. Maybe a faster shutter speed and more open aperature would have stopped the birds and given a shallower DoF. (did I say that right? make the background more blurry)

I'll go through mine and post it later. If I can find one.. haha.. that is if I can pick just one!

D4D

Yeah I agree. This was taken on one of my first outings playing with the camera. I knew the ducks were using in that area, so I drove out there to see what was around. Upon arriving at the field I saw the ducks in the field and hurrriedly try to make some settings and the ducks started getting up, so this was shot from my truck window in a rush. The distraction you mentioned was cable guide wires for power line poles. I didn't even try to edit anything considering it a lost cause. None of the ducks are in good focus, like you said I believe the focus ended up being on the field. The OP said they wanted us to post some of our mistakes, so I chose this one. I will probably go back this winter hopefully armed with better knowledge of my camera and settings. I did get a few bearable ones that day, just not in flight.

File size: 180810 bytes
File date: 2007:01:02 18:31:04
Camera make: Canon
Camera model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Date/Time: 2006:12:23 23:23:55
Resolution: 800 x 533
Flash used: No
Focal length: 300.0mm (35mm equivalent: 485mm)
CCD width: 22.28mm
Exposure time: 0.0016 s (1/640)
Aperture: f/9.0
ISO equiv.: 200
Whitebalance: Manual
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)

File size: 261183 bytes
File date: 2007:01:02 17:45:42
Camera make: Canon
Camera model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Date/Time: 2006:12:23 23:18:07
Resolution: 800 x 533
Flash used: No
Focal length: 300.0mm (35mm equivalent: 485mm)
CCD width: 22.28mm
Exposure time: 0.0016 s (1/640)
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO equiv.: 200
Whitebalance: Manual
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)

File size: 237244 bytes
File date: 2007:01:02 18:07:27
Camera make: Canon
Camera model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Date/Time: 2006:12:23 23:31:50
Resolution: 800 x 533
Flash used: No
Focal length: 300.0mm (35mm equivalent: 485mm)
CCD width: 22.28mm
Exposure time: 0.0016 s (1/640)
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO equiv.: 100
Whitebalance: Manual
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)

These are the ones I welcome all of your input and please pick them apart. I will put on my listening ears! I know the first one focused mostly on the Greenhead in the center and I was probably using center weigthed AP. The second one I really like so PLEASE pick this one apart so I know how to better improve it. I see it as slightly fuzzy, probably due to using extreme focal length of the lens and no tripod to boot. Still my favorite of the three. The third I really wish I had shot for more depth of field and again the center weighted thing bit this one in the B_ _ _. Live and learn but please share insight. Now that I am a little more familiar with photography, I am thinking the third photo needed a little less aperature with the intent to capture them all in focus. Is this correct? None were taken with a tripod due to scaring the ducks, but were rested in the window of my truck door. Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I like the idea of discussing our bad pics. I think I can learn a lot this way.

Here's one I'll post for discussion. I took this not long after getting our Nikon D200 and I really wasn't used to changing the ISO. I wanted the natural but that induced a longer shutter speed which resulted in this pic. I have a better understanding of ISO, shutter speed, and aperture now so I'm sure I could improve on this pic now - but I have a lot more learnig to do!

D4D

 

[DizneyNutz]

Glad I am not the one that just exited that ride. Did someone have bruise to show for it?:rotfl2
I prefer the stationary ones. This horse was a pure ham. Everytime I would move to photograph the geese in the pond, he would come over to where I repositioned.