Blue eyes....

SarahB · 13-08-2005, 16:20

Please be gentle with me - I am an utter beginner!! I took this shot whilst playing with our newly delivered Fuji S5500. Just in auto with the Macro on.

It's our Siamese, Max - and he always has that haughty expression!!

CT · 13-08-2005, 16:30

Sarah that is really nice! We had a Chocolate Point one of those years ago.

The only thing which mars it for me is that leaf on the left of the pic which is more out of focus than the rest of the foreground and which tends to draw the eye to it. I don't think there's any crop you can usefully make to get rid of it. That apart there isn't much to pick at at all - the levels are just right and the colours work to give a nice almost pastel feel to the shot.

Nice work. :icon_cool

IanC_UK · 13-08-2005, 16:32

Its a great shot Sarah, as CT says the blurred green foliage to the left is a little distracting, but that is all i can see wrong with it as well, its sharp, seems well explosed etc !

Well done !

Matty · 13-08-2005, 16:52

as above really, not a bad shot at all, try cropping it to lose the leaf?

SammyC · 13-08-2005, 17:47

Looks ever so slightly over exposed on the top of his head.

***Steve*** · 13-08-2005, 20:33

As above with regards to the overexposed head and the very blurred leaf. Unfortunately there is not a great deal you can do about either now but for the future keeping the flowers around the cat to offer a natural frame is a well used trick employed by many profesionals. Using natural surrounding to frame your main subject can often enhanse photos greatly.

For a complete beginner its a very good photo and you should be pleased with your results.

One last thing, you did the correct thing by pointing out that you are a beginner as it helps us aim our advice at your skill level, there is no shame in that and you will learn much more from advice which you can understand and relate to.

I look forward to seeing more of your photos in the future.

SarahB · 13-08-2005, 20:34

Thanks for your comments!! What could I have done to have avoided the over-exposure on the top of Max's head?

SammyC · 13-08-2005, 21:13

I'm not sure with your camera, with an DSLR there are many things (it seems!) that could be done.

It's only a minor comment, but maybe it could be photoshopped to tone it down a bit?
You want his eyes to be the focal point (the bit that draws you in) but all I can see now is the white off the top of his head.

You'll soon find that 50% of the work of a good photo comes in the editing afterwards, don't think of it as cheating because the same would happen with film at the lab.

Matt · 13-08-2005, 21:21

Hello Sarah, Welcome to the forums.

If you have the option for exposure compensation on your camera, you can underpose by 1/2 to a full stop, then bring the exposure back with your imaging software.

You can also reduce the harsh light by using fill in flash, in aperture priority mode or auto.

Try to avoid harsh light when taking your pictures, this will rule out the blown highlights.

As a last resort, If you have a half descent graphics package, you can repair some of your images that you want to keep, with some very useful tools.

I had a quick word with Graham Gouch, and he swears by this technique for his hair loss pictures, Clone Stamp tool in PS.:lol:

SammyC · 13-08-2005, 21:24

Matt, your links don't seem to be working.

Probably better than my attempt if I could see them but I had a quick go at your picture Sarah:

Original:

***Steve*** · 13-08-2005, 21:31

Matt's link is working fine for me, it was slow to load but is fine??

IanC_UK · 13-08-2005, 21:33

I have 2 boxes with red crosses under Matts edit

SammyC · 13-08-2005, 21:39

It was the two red crosses that fooled me, I hadn't realised that Matt had given Max a head rug!

SammyC · 13-08-2005, 21:40

BTW, I think my effort looks a little unnatural but I guess it goes to show what can be done, if a little OTT!

IanC_UK · 13-08-2005, 22:05

Matt's edit is rugtastic !

:coat:

Gandhi · 13-08-2005, 22:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by SammyC

BTW, I think my effort looks a little unnatural but I guess it goes to show what can be done, if a little OTT!

it may look slighly unnatural but it certainly pulls your eyes to the centre of the frame, being the only blue in the shot!

CT · 13-08-2005, 22:57

Good job there by Matt. I think the top of his head may actually be white though?

Gandhi · 13-08-2005, 23:09

what's the lass gonna think when she get's back to the forum and finds we've butchered her beloved cat eh?

[I have editted your post as I don't think this comment is relevant in the critique forum]

Matt

SarahB · 13-08-2005, 23:50

Wow, Sammy his eyes look amazing!! We have photoshop but my skills on it are limited to crop & resize!! I'm hoping to do an evening class in September.

Matt, that's fab how you did the top of his head, but he is very, very pale grey/white there, Siamese only have colour on their points.

I am so envious of your skills!! I go into photoshop but it all looks so insurtmountably complicated!!

13-08-2005, 16:20	#1 (permalink)
SarahB New here Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 14	Blue eyes.... Please be gentle with me - I am an utter beginner!! I took this shot whilst playing with our newly delivered Fuji S5500. Just in auto with the Macro on. It's our Siamese, Max - and he always has that haughty expression!!

13-08-2005, 21:13	#8 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	I'm not sure with your camera, with an DSLR there are many things (it seems!) that could be done. It's only a minor comment, but maybe it could be photoshopped to tone it down a bit? You want his eyes to be the focal point (the bit that draws you in) but all I can see now is the white off the top of his head. You'll soon find that 50% of the work of a good photo comes in the editing afterwards, don't think of it as cheating because the same would happen with film at the lab. __________________ Canon 350D Canon 18-55 kit lens Canon 28-105 f3.5-4.5 USM Canon 50 1.8 Mk 1 Sigma 70-300 APO Macro DG Kenko extension tubes My photographs

13-08-2005, 21:21	#9 (permalink)
Matt Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,326	Hello Sarah, Welcome to the forums. If you have the option for exposure compensation on your camera, you can underpose by 1/2 to a full stop, then bring the exposure back with your imaging software. You can also reduce the harsh light by using fill in flash, in aperture priority mode or auto. Try to avoid harsh light when taking your pictures, this will rule out the blown highlights. As a last resort, If you have a half descent graphics package, you can repair some of your images that you want to keep, with some very useful tools. I had a quick word with Graham Gouch, and he swears by this technique for his hair loss pictures, Clone Stamp tool in PS.:lol: Last edited by Matt : 13-08-2005 at 21:37.

13-08-2005, 23:09	#18 (permalink)
Gandhi Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: bath, somerserset Posts: 966	what's the lass gonna think when she get's back to the forum and finds we've butchered her beloved cat eh? [I have editted your post as I don't think this comment is relevant in the critique forum] Matt Last edited by Matt : 13-08-2005 at 23:34.

13-08-2005, 16:30	#2 (permalink)
CT Feet under the table Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Mids UK Posts: 3,500	Sarah that is really nice! We had a Chocolate Point one of those years ago. The only thing which mars it for me is that leaf on the left of the pic which is more out of focus than the rest of the foreground and which tends to draw the eye to it. I don't think there's any crop you can usefully make to get rid of it. That apart there isn't much to pick at at all - the levels are just right and the colours work to give a nice almost pastel feel to the shot. Nice work. :icon_cool

13-08-2005, 16:32	#3 (permalink)
IanC_UK Feet under the table Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 2,137	Its a great shot Sarah, as CT says the blurred green foliage to the left is a little distracting, but that is all i can see wrong with it as well, its sharp, seems well explosed etc ! Well done !

13-08-2005, 16:52	#4 (permalink)
Matty Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: kings hill Posts: 5,269	as above really, not a bad shot at all, try cropping it to lose the leaf?

13-08-2005, 17:47	#5 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	Looks ever so slightly over exposed on the top of his head.

13-08-2005, 20:33	#6 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,153	As above with regards to the overexposed head and the very blurred leaf. Unfortunately there is not a great deal you can do about either now but for the future keeping the flowers around the cat to offer a natural frame is a well used trick employed by many profesionals. Using natural surrounding to frame your main subject can often enhanse photos greatly. For a complete beginner its a very good photo and you should be pleased with your results. One last thing, you did the correct thing by pointing out that you are a beginner as it helps us aim our advice at your skill level, there is no shame in that and you will learn much more from advice which you can understand and relate to. I look forward to seeing more of your photos in the future.

13-08-2005, 20:34	#7 (permalink)
SarahB New here Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 14	Thanks for your comments!! What could I have done to have avoided the over-exposure on the top of Max's head?

13-08-2005, 21:24	#10 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	Matt, your links don't seem to be working. Probably better than my attempt if I could see them but I had a quick go at your picture Sarah: Original:

13-08-2005, 21:31	#11 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,153	Matt's link is working fine for me, it was slow to load but is fine??

13-08-2005, 21:33	#12 (permalink)
IanC_UK Feet under the table Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 2,137	I have 2 boxes with red crosses under Matts edit

13-08-2005, 21:39	#13 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	It was the two red crosses that fooled me, I hadn't realised that Matt had given Max a head rug!

13-08-2005, 21:40	#14 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	BTW, I think my effort looks a little unnatural but I guess it goes to show what can be done, if a little OTT!

13-08-2005, 22:05	#15 (permalink)
IanC_UK Feet under the table Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 2,137	Matt's edit is rugtastic ! :coat:

13-08-2005, 22:57	#17 (permalink)
CT Feet under the table Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Mids UK Posts: 3,500	Good job there by Matt. I think the top of his head may actually be white though?

13-08-2005, 23:50	#19 (permalink)
SarahB New here Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 14	Wow, Sammy his eyes look amazing!! We have photoshop but my skills on it are limited to crop & resize!! I'm hoping to do an evening class in September. Matt, that's fab how you did the top of his head, but he is very, very pale grey/white there, Siamese only have colour on their points. I am so envious of your skills!! I go into photoshop but it all looks so insurtmountably complicated!!