photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 178 - Candid Shots >> Challenge 178 - Eligible > 8th Place. Is this for real? by Penny Street
previous | next
07-FEB-2009 Penny Street

8th Place. Is this for real? by Penny Street

Canon EOS 5D Mark II ,Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
1/200s f/5.6 at 105.0mm iso1600 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time07-Feb-2009 16:27:47
MakeCanon
ModelCanon EOS 5D Mark II
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length105 mm
Exposure Time1/200 sec
Aperturef/5.6
ISO Equivalent1600
Exposure Bias-0.67
White Balance
Metering Modepartial (6)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Programshutter priority (2)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
comment | share
ctfchallenge11-Feb-2009 17:37
Thanks Brent for all your helpful advice! The full-frame really has me all ajumble and focusing is going to take some getting used to. I'm trying to absorb as much information as possible. But today I'm off to try out another lens. We'll see how that goes. Penny Street
ctfchallenge11-Feb-2009 15:34
Rod gives good advice Penny and for quickest operation centerpoint focus and quick recompose is the way to go. But if you have a little time or you are shooting with a very shallow DOF (which can be often with that camera if you want) you should really learn to use that thumb focus point selector button and wheel around (or use the joystick though its iffy) and choose one of the nine focus points that works for your intended subject as you have things framed. Centerpoint and recompose would have been absolutely fine for this capture. But for a shallow DOF portrait where you want to emphasize the sharpness of an eye for example; recomposing will change the distance to the eye enough to lose the sharpness you want. For this kind of shooting you want to use one of the points that matches the eye you want to focus on. If that can't be done without moving and recomposing, tilt your camera to match a point to the eye and lock focus, then level out again and shoot. This method will keep the distance to the eye the same through the whole procedure where panning to centerpoint and back will not.
This image looks fine as is to me, but you mentioned wanting to get an OOF background. You probably could have open up the lens to f4 here and still gotten all the boys in focus yet OOfed the background even more if desired. Keep in mind with this new full frame camera it is going to have a much shallower depth of field than what you are used to at comparable apertures. This can be to your advantage at times, but you need to be aware of the difference to be sure to get all you want in focus at times.
Have fun with your new tool!
~Brent
ctfchallenge10-Feb-2009 23:37
And that's how to get the great looking oof background? I'll try that.
But here, when I take picys just walking around like I do, I'm often not sure what the subject is. I just try and frame and see what I can grab and, actually, my thought has been to get as much in focus as possible. Anyway, I'll play around with it and see what happens - thanks for the suggestion.
Penny Street
Rod 10-Feb-2009 16:34
Maybe try just setting the camera up for centre point only. On my camera I press the button near my thumb with the + magnifying glass & then turn the wheel near the shutter button so only the centre focus point is lit.. That way you focus on the most important point in the picy then recompose & shoot.
ctfchallenge10-Feb-2009 00:13
I think I used the focus with all the little points lit.
Penny Street
Rod 09-Feb-2009 23:30
Are you using centre focus point only Penny? Letting the camera choose will get you lots of OOF picys.
Guest 09-Feb-2009 20:49
Great shot Penny - new lens and camera, the rest of us will not stand a chance in future Challenges.

YB
Guest 09-Feb-2009 15:31
Yes, Very Good Penny. The new addition should make you very happy for a while. Congratulations!
ctfchallenge09-Feb-2009 15:25
Great shot and congrats on the new camera Penny.You should get the hang of it pretty quick I think as I pretty much hit the ground running with mine. I know you appreciate having one lens that can do it all and should find that 24-105 fits the bill for many shots. Have fun!
~Brent
ctfchallenge09-Feb-2009 14:01
thanks.
The boys were watching a break dancing street show. As you can see from their expressions, the show was pretty amazing.
The new camera is great so far. I only picked it up four days ago. This weekend I took about 500 photos using only one lens. I only posted one example so that should explain where I am. So far, the hardest thing has been focusing. I obviously have a lot to learn. This shot was taken late in the afternoon so you can see that the high ISO really helps.
I am quite excited but I know it will be a long process. Penny Street
ctfchallenge09-Feb-2009 09:46
It's amazing, Penny!, Their expression is priceless! Your every new photo is better and better!
I see you have got new camera ? What is your first experience ? No regret for the upgrade ?
Konstantin
Rod 09-Feb-2009 07:59
Bugger me you got one!!! How do you like it so far Penny? I can see from the Iso that you're well into the swing of it. It looks to me like the kids just stole some lollies & are hiding behind the tree. The left two kids look very worried & the kid on the right is saying ....I told you we would get into trouble.... Nicely shot with with your new camera, lucky girl:-)