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From: George Kerby on 12 Apr 2010 10:08



On 4/11/10 8:57 PM, in article %5vwn.1373$z%6.534(a)edtnps83, "Dudley Hanks"
<dhanks(a)blind-apertures.ca> wrote:

> Here's a down-sized copy of the pic I'd like to submit for GDB's 2011
> calendar.
>
> http://www.blind-apertures.ca/images/TrafficCheck.jpg
>
> Just wondering if Mich is in focus, or if there are any other glaring
> problems ...
>
> Have fun; pick it to pieces!
>
> Take Care,
> Dudley
>
>
If I can read the phone number on his tag I would say that he's in focus.
Good to hear from you again!

From: Paul Furman on 12 Apr 2010 12:33
Dudley Hanks wrote:
> Here's a down-sized copy of the pic I'd like to submit for GDB's 2011
> calendar.
>
> http://www.blind-apertures.ca/images/TrafficCheck.jpg
>
> Just wondering if Mich is in focus, or if there are any other glaring
> problems ...

The horizon is quite crooked, but as long as you accept it's a quirky
shot, it sort of works for the purpose. The composition is awkward with
the car 'coming out of' Mitch's forehead, but like I said, that's maybe
kinda the point here. My biggest problem is his eyes don't show. If you
had another with his eyes, consider that one.

I assume you're aware the rest of your web site is down.

--
Paul Furman
www.edgehill.net
www.baynatives.com

all google groups messages filtered due to spam
From: Dudley Hanks on 12 Apr 2010 15:26

"Chrlz" <mark.thomas.7(a)gmail.com> wrote in message
news:4638f846-106e-475e-b2f0-52015fc9b9aa(a)35g2000yqm.googlegroups.com...
On Apr 12, 11:57 am, "Dudley Hanks" <dha...(a)blind-apertures.ca> wrote:
> Here's a down-sized copy of the pic I'd like to submit for GDB's 2011
> calendar.
>
> http://www.blind-apertures.ca/images/TrafficCheck.jpg
>
> Just wondering if Mich is in focus, or if there are any other glaring
> problems ...
>
> Have fun; pick it to pieces!
>
> Take Care,
> Dudley

That's actually a pretty cool image - unconventional, but it works,
somehow. The bits that should be sharp are, and you've got the depth
of field about right for the shot that you (might have?!)
visualised.. ;o)

Technically, the sky is pretty badly washed out.. Ok, it's not the
subject of the shot, but it's a bit distracting. I'm not an expert on
the Canon's ability to fill-flash in this way, but I'm guessing the
problem was using ISO 800... For daylight fill-flash shots with a
focal plane shutter, I think that's asking for trouble... :)


Yep, you picked out the biggest problem I had in setting up the shot.

I wanted the DOF effect more than the blue sky.

Given the position of the sun / direction of light, I needed the fill to
make sure Mich was in good detail. So, I tried to get the exposure of him
as clean as possible. And, I went with the higher ISO as I'd tried it with
lower speeds before but ended up with the in focus subject zone being too
shallow. With Mich being only about a foot and a half or two in front of
the camera, the aperture has to be fairly small to get a useable DOF.

As is the way with most aspects of life, a comprimise had to be reached, and
the sky suffered.

But, I was thinking that, if I wanted a more colourful sky, I could always
Photoshop it afterwards. But, I probably won't. After all, this is a shot
of a guide dog at work. When I look at the sky, it is really washed out.

Take Care,
Dudley


From: Dudley Hanks on 12 Apr 2010 15:32

"George Kerby" <ghost_topper(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:C7E893A7.431B8%ghost_topper(a)hotmail.com...
>
>
>
> On 4/11/10 8:57 PM, in article %5vwn.1373$z%6.534(a)edtnps83, "Dudley Hanks"
> <dhanks(a)blind-apertures.ca> wrote:
>
>> Here's a down-sized copy of the pic I'd like to submit for GDB's 2011
>> calendar.
>>
>> http://www.blind-apertures.ca/images/TrafficCheck.jpg
>>
>> Just wondering if Mich is in focus, or if there are any other glaring
>> problems ...
>>
>> Have fun; pick it to pieces!
>>
>> Take Care,
>> Dudley
>>
>>
> If I can read the phone number on his tag I would say that he's in focus.
> Good to hear from you again!
>

Thanks, George, for the feedback.

For some reason, it was quite tough to get him in focus. I took a number of
shots, over several shoots, and everything but Mich ended up crisp and
clear.

I think it was because the camera was quite close to him, and his coat
seemed to mess up the autofocus system.

But, it sounds like this shot should work.

Once again, thanks.

Take Care,
Dudley


From: Dudley Hanks on 12 Apr 2010 15:47

"Paul Furman" <paul-@-edgehill.net> wrote in message
news:hpvi0k$374$1(a)news.eternal-september.org...
> Dudley Hanks wrote:
>> Here's a down-sized copy of the pic I'd like to submit for GDB's 2011
>> calendar.
>>
>> http://www.blind-apertures.ca/images/TrafficCheck.jpg
>>
>> Just wondering if Mich is in focus, or if there are any other glaring
>> problems ...
>
> The horizon is quite crooked, but as long as you accept it's a quirky
> shot, it sort of works for the purpose. The composition is awkward with
> the car 'coming out of' Mitch's forehead, but like I said, that's maybe
> kinda the point here. My biggest problem is his eyes don't show. If you
> had another with his eyes, consider that one.
>
> I assume you're aware the rest of your web site is down.
>
> --
> Paul Furman


Hey, Paul, thanks for the feedback.

Yeah, I'm redoing the site. It should be up in a few weeks. Want to try a
few new things I've learnt over the winter.

Re: composition of the pic, I was more after the image of a guide doing his
job than a more traditional portrait. As such, the visual line between Mich
and the car was pretty much the most important element, and the toughest
one.

I knew I'd have to sacrifice a good chunk of his face in order to get him
looking back into the shot at an on-coming car, but I didn't want to settle
for a back of the head shot either. Add to that the problem I had getting
him in focus, I think this was the best overall image I got.

Also, I was trying to minimize the flash fill problem. A number of shots
came out with Mich too bright, so he really looked washed out / artificial.
And, if non-pros were telling me that, I knew those pics were unusable.

I'm sure this pic won't make one of the big monthly images in the calendar,
but I'll be happy if it just gets picked as one of the smaller fill shots.

Take Care,
Dudley


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