Failures abound
I started this blog to share but I've done little sharing of my failures. Perhaps because that could be a whole other blog by itself ;-). Seriously, I am increasingly frustrated by my mistakes. The streetstudio, for all its glory, is the source of many many screw-ups. Most notably, out of focus shots. I shot a bunch of Ft Lauderdale Coyotes in it last week and much to my chagrin, the focus is off or my shutter speeds were too slow to hold the camera stready and the shots are no good. Such is the hazard of shooting with natural and limited light I guess.
This seemingly lovely shot of Romina looks almost acceptable in low res but is in fact only focused on her lips. I had intended her eyes to be sharp. I checked the shots around it and there was nothing like this one. The way she turned her head and my angle lasted for one frame, this one. It was a one of a kind moment that I can't recreate. Darn. I really wanted this shot but didn't notice it's limitations until review hours later. I am almost certain I was shooting at ISO200 at 1/250 f2.8 but that wasn't enough. I needed more depth of field. It's always a balance between shooting a higher ISO and getting less noise.
So anyway, every picture ain't perfect. I fail more than I succeed and I am always learning. Such is the humbling joy of photography. I really need to learn to slow down when I am shooting. Maybe if I wasn't trying to photograph 66 women in two days I could find that time. No complaints, but it's just creating bad habits on my part.
I'll try to share more mistakes going forward. I'll be sure to make 'em.
Take pictures.
This seemingly lovely shot of Romina looks almost acceptable in low res but is in fact only focused on her lips. I had intended her eyes to be sharp. I checked the shots around it and there was nothing like this one. The way she turned her head and my angle lasted for one frame, this one. It was a one of a kind moment that I can't recreate. Darn. I really wanted this shot but didn't notice it's limitations until review hours later. I am almost certain I was shooting at ISO200 at 1/250 f2.8 but that wasn't enough. I needed more depth of field. It's always a balance between shooting a higher ISO and getting less noise.
So anyway, every picture ain't perfect. I fail more than I succeed and I am always learning. Such is the humbling joy of photography. I really need to learn to slow down when I am shooting. Maybe if I wasn't trying to photograph 66 women in two days I could find that time. No complaints, but it's just creating bad habits on my part.
I'll try to share more mistakes going forward. I'll be sure to make 'em.
Take pictures.
7 comments:
Awhile back you had mentioned you were thinking about moving over to RAW at least for the street studio stuff.
Where have you gotten with that? I'd have to search back through your blog but I believe you'd heard something cryptic about your jpeg work.
~Mark
1/250th at f/2.8 seems like it should work. At what focal length were you?
I used to shoot exclusively with tota's myself, but have recently upgraded to AB's. One thing I miss is the ability to pull out another $8.99 150w clip lamp to put here or there.
I shoot RAW when I have the time. The streetstudio with the Coyotes was way to fast and furious to mess with RAW. The file size slows me down. It's a problem but it's the way it goes.
Jonathan, I shoot with a 50mm in the streetstudio. And i don't know if your tota comment is related but the streetstudio doesn't use any lights. It's all natural light. Regardless, you'll have to pry my totas from my cold dead hands. ;-)
Right Clay! I must have missed that this was shot at the street studio, my mind was on the last post about shooting in the C.U. store with the tota's. I also realize now that it's more a DOF issue than a camera-shake thing. With my tota's I was consistantly suffering from camera movement when not on a tripod. It kept me from longer FL's which I prefer, and my ISO up at around 400. Nice bar shots by the way. I really like the way you "drag the shutter" on those!
I really appreciate you talking about your mistakes. It helps to know I'm not the only one out here making them.
well if all the photographers were this introspective...im such a fun about your street atitude and for me in all your work it´s a very good example of felling the people shoes..try to move a litle apart of your pictures and..watch ..very very very good work..i could make a story in 8/10 of your pictures ;)keep going
Alex.
Post a Comment