Playing Taboo

[Maven]

Just bought my first ever camera and new to photography so decided to take a pic on the occasion where there's people activity.

Bunch of friends were playing Taboo and I used the Portrait mode of my 400D to focus on the eyes of the guy holding the cards as he was explaining the card he was holding with the other team behind him hoping that he couldn't.

Not sure if my composition is right or should I focus everyone in the picture (if so, how?). Flash was fired, because the shutter was too slow for non flash shots because there's a lot of body movements from the people, especially the ones holding the cards.

Here's the shot:

 

[sprintist]

i think he is pretty well framed by his friends. Candid shots like this just got to snap, can't do away with that pair of legs at the back too..haha

the light really spot on, on him only ah..very focused lighting it seems. Still at the same lighting, there isn't any ambient effect i think.

abit boring photo but good snapshot.
try capturing more expressions, i think can up the photos but many levels :thumbsup:

 

[night86mare]

1) scene is cluttered, try to simplify it by shifting yourself
2) once again, this is shot from a top-down perspective, giving the idea that you are an observer, and no feel of "being in the action", also very different feel from shooting at his eye level - best to do this unless there is special reason not to, like emphasis of a certain characteristic , etc
3) i would position myself lower, perhaps to the right of the girl who is oof in the foreground i think
4) the flash renders very uneven lighting, are you using built-in? try using diffuser, or if best avoid it altogether here, at such close quarters light control very hard, i would imagine, just use ambient by bumping up iso and using aperture priority at widest aperture

this is seriously, not a very appealing picture
the scene is too busy, there is too much going on, too many people, and many people is fine, but you have not found the "order" in things
work harder on composition, and keep shooting, cheers!

 

[sammy888]

A picture needs to tell a story. Now if I am not sure what game they are playing, just looking at that picture as an outsider I can't "read" anything from that picture. What is the story behind the shot?

Why is the guy in the middle of the group the focus? And if he is the center of the whole picture, what is his reaction and relation to the people around him. All this picture tells me is your camera capture a pretty decent well exposed shot.

At the heart of any picture is the story you are trying to tell without having to explain it verbally. A relatively good picture would be able to do that. The story is told by reading the scene and what the group is doing, concentrate on what makes the scene interesting and what are the key element(s) to the story... all that ...INCLUDING clicking at the the right time plus maybe in an interesting camera angle to complete it.

As you are learning and with this being your first camera and you are maybe still new to the hobby, well keep practicing and also take the time to browse through magazines, books to get better ideas for composing your shots, learn to tell your story with your camera like those you see in photography books..etc...BUT most importantly have fun and pace yourself. There is no dateline to chase. Don't try to cramp everything in. In time you will get alot better.

 

[sprintist]

A picture needs to tell a story. Now if I am not sure what that game there are playing, just looking at that picture as someone who was not there and I need to "read" the picture. What is the story? Why is the guy in the middle of the group the focus? And if he is the center of the whole picture, what is his reaction and relation to the people around him. All this picture tells me is your camera capture a pretty decent well exposed shot. But the heart of any picture is the story. The story is told by reading the scene and what the group is doing, concentrate on what makes the scene interesting and are the key element to the story all that including clicking at just the the right time at the right positioning your camera angle.

As you are learning and with this being your first camera and you are maybe still new to the hobby, well keep practicing and also take the time to browse through magazines, books to get better ideas for composing your shots, learn to tell your story with your camera...but most importantly have fun and pace yourself. There is no dateline to chase. In time you will get alot better.

true, well i think he was attempting a snapshot and candid. though abit untimely.

well TS, practice makes you better, never perfect. good luck and keep practicing as everyone always say!

 

[sammy888]

true, well i think he was attempting a snapshot and candid. though abit untimely.

well TS, practice makes you better, never perfect. good luck and keep practicing as everyone always say!

Just like in Fishing the illusive one is always the BIG ONE that got away heheh...Ultimately that is the thing about photography. Using that finger to coooridinate with your eye in the viewfinder and click it at just the right time. It makes all the difference hehe...sometime I am still chasing till this day Yup you get better at it...but never perfect or perfected.

But of course, I hope everyone notice I left out the part about being competence and well verse with your equipment too but that...I hope everyone know...IT's A GIVEN ! hehehe..

 

[sprintist]

Just like in Fishing the illusive one is always the BIG ONE that got away heheh...Ultimately that is the thing about photography. Using that finger to coooridinate with your eye in the viewfinder and click it at just the right time. It makes all the difference hehe...sometime I am still chasing till this day Yup you get better at it...but never perfect or perfected.

But of course, I hope everyone notice I left out the part about being competence and well verse with your equipment too but that...I hope everyone know...IT's A GIVEN ! hehehe..

haha :thumbsup::thumbsup:
i think your two paragraphs serves as a good indirect critique

 

[sammy888]

haha :thumbsup::thumbsup:
i think your two paragraphs serves as a good indirect critique

Well the individual is new to the camera they just bought and maybe even to photography. lah....too early to tear one up on him or her heheh... already willing to post their picture here to learn something about what they shot..if we can offer some tip or comment to help them along that would be good not just at improving their skill and familarity with their equipment but their confidence and creative eye. heh.

 

[Maven]

Hey thanks guys, never know shooting a camera can have so many pre-considerations. I already shot this at ISO400, in fact I think I tested a few settings before settling on this to shoot the entire game because their hand movements (usually in front of their faces) in low light conditions makes the pictures too blurry and higher ISOs makes them very noisy which I really don't like.

When you guys say that the scene is cluttered meaning I should only emphasize on him? I was actually thinking of capturing everyone in the picture but it looks like only the guy with the cards gets the most focus. Hehe, maybe I'm in the wrong track that's why I'm posting here to seek for critics and opinions

And yes I'm using a built-in Flash, still saving up for additional accessories when I see a need to get some. I know picture is kinda boring, will work on that next time when I have more chances to shoot :bsmilie:

 

[sprintist]

Hey thanks guys, never know shooting a camera can have so many pre-considerations. I already shot this at ISO400, in fact I think I tested a few settings before settling on this to shoot the entire game because their hand movements (usually in front of their faces) in low light conditions makes the pictures too blurry and higher ISOs makes them very noisy which I really don't like.

When you guys say that the scene is cluttered meaning I should only emphasize on him? I was actually thinking of capturing everyone in the picture but it looks like only the guy with the cards gets the most focus. Hehe, maybe I'm in the wrong track that's why I'm posting here to seek for critics and opinions

And yes I'm using a built-in Flash, still saving up for additional accessories when I see a need to get some. I know picture is kinda boring, will work on that next time when I have more chances to shoot :bsmilie:

you can try using iso 400 at 1/20 with built in flash. effect can be quite different instead of at shutter 1/50 and above etc.

 

[Clement Low]

I think the girl sitting in front of the legs on the right of the pic will make an interesting portrait shoot. Maybe u can just focus on her. Fire your camera from a prone position, and turn on the room lights may help. Oh yes, you will probably do well if you take her with ur camera set to aperture priority at the lowest F number.