"Kick me in the Jimmy..."

[ktb53]

http://thebarnetts.smugmug.com/photos/32460724-M.jpg

Hopefully you all got the show reference in the subject line. Anyhow, I'm aspiring to be a decent photographer, just as a hobby and would love to get your thoughts of this image, anything you would have done differently.

Thanks,

Ken

Date Taken: 2005-08-11 20:03:27
Date Digitized: 2005-08-11 20:03:27
Date Modified: 2005-08-12 16:31:33
Make: Canon
Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL
Size: 2593x1852
Bytes: 2053175
Aperture: f/3.5
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 24mm (guess: 30mm in 35mm)
Exposure Time: 0.0666s (1/15)
JPEG Quality: 3
Flash: Flash fired, compulsory flash mode, red-eye reduction mode
Exposure Bias: 0
SensingMethod: One-chip color sensor
ColorSpace: sRGB

[wholenewlight]

My first thought is that I like the shot quite a bit. It's got a lot of spontanaity. I like flash-fill, action shots anyway but yours is extra fun. And the boy on the right has a "wendy following peter pan out of the window" look to his movement! Cool.


Criticism: the sky is bright and pulls the viewer's eye away from the cute kids. And that bright sky causes the viewer to notice distracting elements in the background (but I do like the movement blurred trees!). Now I know that on a shot like this, planning for the bright sky is pretty much impossible to worry about when shooting - you were catching the moment. And anyway, the fill-flash maximized your shot potential.

If you use photoshop or another editing program, you might be able to tone down the brightness of the sky. Here's my attempt to do that (pardon the temporary use of your pic):

http://cs-pics.smugmug.com/photos/32721141-M.jpg

I used multiple "gradients" to create the effect but other tools would also work.

The only other slight criticism is in the movement of the "jumping boy's" knee. A "rear curtain flash sync" (pretty sure you have the feature on your D Reb)would put the "movement trails" behind the jumper and make the motion look even more realistic.

Picky criticisms - the picture is pretty neat!

[JimM]

The boys are too "hot" and not very real looking. I don't like the blurred trees, because they tell me the camera moved, not the trees. For a shot like this, use a tripod and and the flash on rear curtain sync (this makes the flash fire at that end of the shot instead of the beginning, making the subject streak to the point of the freeze).

I just re-read what I typed. I didn't mean it to sound harsh. In general a pretty good shot. I just wanted to give you some tips on how to make it spectacular.

[ktb53]

Thanks for your feedback, especially taking the time to alter the sky for demonstration. It definately helps to isolate the subject.

I did want the motion blur to be behind but I've never heard of the rear curtain so I'm stoked to hear about that but have NO IDEA how to set that on my Digital Rebel, if anyone knows how to do this please let me know.

Thanks,

Ken

[erich6]

Thanks for your feedback, especially taking the time to alter the sky for demonstration. It definately helps to isolate the subject.

I did want the motion blur to be behind but I've never heard of the rear curtain so I'm stoked to hear about that but have NO IDEA how to set that on my Digital Rebel, if anyone knows how to do this please let me know.

Thanks,

Ken
I'm sure there are other posts about this on Dgrin but you may want to do a search for a free firmware upgrade (not from Canon...this was made after market) that allows you to sync the flash to the last part of the image exposure (not at the beginning as it is defaulted in the Digital Rebel). This freezes the action at the end of the shot. I installed this firmware on my Rebel and it works great. Comes with other customization functions that are also very useful.

Erich

[wholenewlight]

Thanks for your feedback, especially taking the time to alter the sky for demonstration. It definately helps to isolate the subject.

I did want the motion blur to be behind but I've never heard of the rear curtain so I'm stoked to hear about that but have NO IDEA how to set that on my Digital Rebel, if anyone knows how to do this please let me know.

Thanks,

Ken
If your camera is a 300D, it doesn't have rear curtain sync (also called second-curtain sync). If you have a 350D, the feature is built in.

As "eric6" mentioned, there is a software modification for the 300D that gives that camera the rear-sync flash functionality. It's called a "hack" and is not officially supported by Canon but many folks are using it. Here's a link that tells more about it:
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/digital_rebel_firmware_hack.html


Here's a goood link that shows how rear-curtain flash sync works:
http://www.photographic.com/phototechniques/1004lesson/index1.html

[HazyGrin]

Be aware that 2nd curtain sync doesn't work on the built-in flash for a hacked 300D. My understanding is that this only works with one of the add-on EX flashes.

If your camera is a 300D, it doesn't have rear curtain sync (also called second-curtain sync). If you have a 350D, the feature is built in.

As "eric6" mentioned, there is a software modification for the 300D that gives that camera the rear-sync flash functionality. It's called a "hack" and is not officially supported by Canon but many folks are using it. Here's a link that tells more about it:
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/digital_rebel_firmware_hack.html


Here's a goood link that shows how rear-curtain flash sync works:
http://www.photographic.com/phototechniques/1004lesson/index1.html