January 20, 2009

Sick of the cold, so thought I would shoot something that reminded me of warmer days :)

Getting to know my camera:) took a few shots with different exposures. Here they are. It does seem that my camera meters a little dark.

Also, had my camera on a tripod, but still got out of focus pictures. I used the timer, so is it the aperture do you think? Anyway thanks for looking!

Took all pictures with my 70-300mm lens. First picture was what my camera metered as correct exposure. I did meter the berry, so maybe that is why it is so dark.

RAW Image
ISO 200
1/6
f 5.6
Focal length 300mm















RAW Image
ISO 200
0.60 s
f5.6
Focal length: 300mm















Edit:
darkened by exposure in RAW conversion, levels change, and sharpen.

January 19, 2009

Wasn't able to get a picture today, so decided to pick an old one and work on it. Anyway, we went home for Christmas and I had some fun taking pictures of my newest little niece. I love little babies! I can't believe that mine were ever that small!

Here is the original shot:

SOOC
JPEG image
ISO 200
1/125
f 4.8
Focal Length: 56mm
Used my Nikon sb400 and bounced light off ceiling.
















Here is my edit:
lightened with curves, levels to darken, sharpen, remove red in skin, skin smoother, round corner and of course, add text :)

January 18, 2009

My little nephew. I took the first pic on accident. I thought that was pretty close to the right exposure. For some reason my pictures don't have the saturation and contrast that I desire. I thought this picture was closest to that. I know that it needs to be lightened, but the colors are deep like I want. Is that due to the exposure?

JPEG image
ISO 200
1/500
f 6.3
focal length: 80mm























Anyway here the picture that I am working and focusing on for the day.

SOOC:
JPEG Image
ISO 200
1/125
F7.1
Focal Length: 40mm























And my edit:
Levels, PW boost (I love this thing. It adds the 'pop' that my pictures seem to lack), skin smoothing, eye sharpening, and rounded the edge.

January 17, 2009

Late getting this up. I took this pic of my bro and SIL over Christmas break.

SOOC:
RAW image
ISO 400
1/160
F 7.1
Focal Length: 60mm
Taken 3:30, I am facing North. In shade.
















My edited version:
sharpened, curves to lighten, PW boost twice, teeth whitening, and curves vignette.























Enlarged picture and it made it blurry. Anyone know how to post larger pictures on blogger? Thanks!

Remember, any praise or advice is more than welcome!!

January 16, 2009

We finally got some snow, which sadly warmed things up! Yesterdays high was 3 degrees. So we went to shovel snow and I thought it would be fun to capture my dd's in the snow. Both pictures using my 28-80mm lens
SOOC:
RAW image
ISO 200
1/125
F5
Focal Length: 62mm























Edited:
Crop, PW Sharpen, PW Boost, Levels change to darken, curves vignette to lighten outer edge.
























SOOC:
RAW image
ISO 200
1/125
F 6.3
Focal Length 80mm























Edit:
Cropped, PW sharpen, Levels, PW boost with mask to keep background dark.

January 15, 2009

Here is my first post. I am working on my exposure with Natural light indoors. So my dd and I had a little photo shoot. I set up the camera on a tripod for my picture and she pushed the botton. She is pretty good! Here are the settings and my edit.

SOOC (straight out of the camera):
RAW image
ISO 200
1/125
F 5.6
Focal Length: 80mm
Edited:
Lightened in RAW conversion. PW sharpen, PW boost and curves mask for vignette.

SOOC
RAW image
ISO 400
1/160
F 3.3
Focal Length: 28mm
Here is my first edit:
I sharpened and lightened with the RAW conversion box. cropped, PW boost and a curves mask for the vignette. Also dodged and sharpened eyes.
Second Edit:
Used 2peas tutorial by 2hoosiers1gem to get rid of the red color cast. I then sharpened, used PW boost and curves mask for vignette. Also cloned out wrinkles in backdrop.



I have got to figure out my camera. On each picture it said that I had set a correct exposure. My camera must meter a little dark. I guess this is why I am doing this. Any pointers are great!
Also notice the difference that changing the ISO made!