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Nophix wrote:I'm a complete photography newb. My wife isn't. So, I get to steal her good equipment to take really bad photos!

So, here are some my son and I shot today, I think they're OK, but I could totally use some better eyes on them.

DSC_0753 by Nophix, on Flickr

Three points here:
1. Color considerations. Devy is green, it would contrast better if you altered your shot to have the brown of the trees behind him to avoid mixing his colors and the environment behind. You did a good job using DoF to circumvent this though.
2. Composition. Single figure in the middle of a frame... It's fine for portraits but if you worked the image in thirds (rule of thirds) or from an angled perspective, I think you'd be more happy with it.
3. Cropping. It's really the lower third of the picture that needs work. You show too much non-relevant land below him. Tighten up your cropping here to make the picture more focused on your subject.

DSC_0725 by Nophix, on Flickr

Subject is slightly out of focus. DoF is not right for the figure's size.

This one particularly bothered me. I couldn't get much of his awesome detail to pop with the natural light. I tried several, this was the best one.
DSC_0762 by Nophix, on Flickr

Your lighting source is wrong. You can't get the detail because there is no frontal lighting to help you. The figure is casting his own shadow on himself.

carytheone wrote:I am currently fighting either too much light or not enough light. I've been playing around with my setup and now I'm re-learning how to use the tools available to me.

Here is an unedited pic that I over-exposed.



One of the problems is that my camera display does not even come close to the way the pictures look on my computer monitor. So I kinda have to take a few test shots and look at them on my computer then go back and adjust. I'm starting to learn the on-screen info to be able to make a good guesstimate.

So here is another from later that night after I got a feel for the way things were working.



It's better, but I'm not quite happy with it. There are still some hot spots I'd like to remove. I'd like to get a nice bit of shadowing on the figure, but still have it lit well.

Right now if I don't evenly light the figure it's either too dark or just overexposed.

Are you using any lighting diffusers? I see shadows in the first pic, and as strong as that light source is, I think you need a diffuser. The light source may be too close as well.

(Sorry for the multiple posts, just trying to keep responses tied together...)

Counterpunch wrote:Are you using any lighting diffusers? I see shadows in the first pic, and as strong as that light source is, I think you need a diffuser. The light source may be too close as well.

I am, but they are DIY and possibly too thin. I've got room to grow with moving the lights away though.

I'll give that a try, thanks.

This is from last year but it's one of my most recent Transformers photos (I've been neglectful of them):



G2 Superion, with G1 Metroplex in the background. Taken just with overhead true-color CFL bulbs, and one of a set taken of my G2 Aerialbots interacting with Metroplex.



Another from the same set.

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

We went back out, but we were dealing with direct lighting vs the shadows of the woods, and used some figures with characters that seem to pop a bit more in direct sunlight. Although, Seaspray seemed to almost reflect too much light with all his white. What setting do I change to dial it back?

It's not as apparent on this pic, but still had a bit to be desired. I was also having focus issues, I was on the opposite bank about 50ft or so away, using one of my wife's longer lenses.

DSC_0789 by Nophix, on Flickr

This one really shows it, especially in the feet. They look over-exposed.
DSC_0784 by Nophix, on Flickr

This one was fun, but I was trying to get the water reflection in, as well as all 3 figures. Maybe having them closer together would have helped? Or a few more figures?
DSC_0781 by Nophix, on Flickr

Nomomomomom!! But still, focus issues. Although I think it may be less the lense and more the user. I was the same distance away as I was with Seaspray.
DSC_0786 by Nophix, on Flickr