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Mediocre pics from Louis

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Excellent photos, please tell us settings on camera and flash
good job
Ronell
Louis Pang said:
Woo...after reading some heated threads in this forum, I decided to
post some 'mediocre' pics for all of you...from my second wedding
shot with an S2.













more pics at http://www.pbase.com/louispang/wedding_2

Louis Pang

S2 Pro & Nikon FM2
Nikon AF-D 80-200mm f/2.8
Nikkor 35-70mm 3.5-5.6
Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 (ordered!)
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for compliments.
ronelljones said:
Excellent photos, please tell us settings on camera and flash
good job
Click to expand...
Here are the settings for each pic.



Shutter Speed: 1/32 sec
Aperture: F/2.8
ISO: 800
Metering: Spot



Shutter Speed: 1/10 sec
Aperture: F/2.8
ISO: 800
Metering: Spot
EV +1



Shutter Speed: 1/32 sec
Aperture: F/2.8
ISO: 800
Metering: Spot



Shutter Speed: 1/90 sec
Aperture: F/4
ISO: 800
Metering: Spot



Shutter Speed: 1/45 sec
Aperture: F/5.6
ISO: 1600
Metering: Spot
EV +0.5



Shutter Speed: 1/64 sec
Aperture: F/4
ISO: 1600
Metering: Spot
EV +0.5

--
Louis Pang

S2 Pro & Nikon FM2
Nikon AF-D 80-200mm f/2.8
Nikkor 35-70mm 3.5-5.6
Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 (ordered!)
 
Now I am flabbergasted, Sandra. I can in no way imagine that these pictures carry enough weight to make YOU of all people say this. This looks personal to me.

Louis, why did you post these ? I don't see the point. They obviously mean a lot to you coz' you mage them and probably to the subjects, since they're the happy couple, but no one else needs to see these now do they ?

Re the shots: I think they are sharp enough, but uninteresting to a larger audience. No great lighting, nor composition. All a bit dull and cliché. But still, I can imagine you and the people on them are happy with them. I'd suggest you keep them for your own viewing. Think of this forum as a newspaper, where private news is no news. Maybe pbase is a suggestion ?

Regards
Sjoerd
Sandra Andersen said:
Louis Pang:

Ni Hau?

Great, wonderful picturse. A joy to watch.
Click to expand...
 
please explaain what is wrong with this post the pictures are nicely done this is a placw we all go to learn from each other
please be kind

eman
Suredeath said:
Louis, why did you post these ? I don't see the point. They
obviously mean a lot to you coz' you mage them and probably to the
subjects, since they're the happy couple, but no one else needs to
see these now do they ?

Re the shots: I think they are sharp enough, but uninteresting to a
larger audience. No great lighting, nor composition. All a bit dull
and cliché. But still, I can imagine you and the people on them
are happy with them. I'd suggest you keep them for your own
viewing. Think of this forum as a newspaper, where private news is
no news. Maybe pbase is a suggestion ?

Regards
Sjoerd
Sandra Andersen said:
Louis Pang:

Ni Hau?

Great, wonderful picturse. A joy to watch.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Eman
Wish to quit my job and take pictures all day
 
Hi,

In consideration to others if you don't like some one's pictures and that up to you. Please simply pass on, DON'T COMMENT. There is one execption to this rule and that if someone asks for advise.
Suredeath said:
Louis, why did you post these ? I don't see the point. They
obviously mean a lot to you coz' you mage them and probably to the
subjects, since they're the happy couple, but no one else needs to
see these now do they ?

Re the shots: I think they are sharp enough, but uninteresting to a
larger audience. No great lighting, nor composition. All a bit dull
and cliché. But still, I can imagine you and the people on them
are happy with them. I'd suggest you keep them for your own
viewing. Think of this forum as a newspaper, where private news is
no news. Maybe pbase is a suggestion ?

Regards
Sjoerd
Sandra Andersen said:
Louis Pang:

Ni Hau?

Great, wonderful picturse. A joy to watch.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Alex
LWS photographic (UK)
 
Louis Pang said:
Woo...after reading some heated threads in this forum, I decided to
post some 'mediocre' pics for all of you...from my second wedding
shot with an S2.













more pics at http://www.pbase.com/louispang/wedding_2

Louis Pang

S2 Pro & Nikon FM2
Nikon AF-D 80-200mm f/2.8
Nikkor 35-70mm 3.5-5.6
Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 (ordered!)
Click to expand...
Hi Louis, First of all I would like wish you and your new wife a very happy life and from your pictures it appears that you are indeed very happy.

You qualified your pictures as , here comes that dreaded word " mediocre"

and I would agree with you that they are, overexposed, underexposed, and mostly unsharp, probably due to camera shake.

With the fine equipment that you have, much better images can be obtained, a photography course or simply learning basic photographic methods and standards on the net wiil go a long way to get great pictures.

It could be offcourse that you are a very good photographer but on your wedding day had nothing else in mind then the wedding, which is the way it should be.

My standards in photography are simple:the exposure has to be on within a third of a stop, the intended subject has to be in sharp focus(except for portraiture), and the composition follows(very) loosely the rule of thirds, diagonals and strong points,if these criteria are not met , the image is toast.

Louis, this is intended as positive criticism and I hope that this will help you.
Best of Luck in you new life
Peter--

Peter Leyenaar
Decisive Moment Photography
 
Hi Peter,
Peter Leyenaar said:
Hi Louis, First of all I would like wish you and your new wife a
very happy life and from your pictures it appears that you are
indeed very happy.
Click to expand...
I was the photographer not the groom! :)
Peter Leyenaar said:
You qualified your pictures as , here comes that dreaded word "
mediocre"
and I would agree with you that they are, overexposed,
underexposed, and mostly unsharp, probably due to camera shake.
Click to expand...
Yea...this is the second time I use S2 for wedding, and the first with the AF 80-200mm ED which I bought two weeks ago. So I am still adjusting to holding the heavy glass.

They are unsharp partly due to my less-than-steady hands and the max aperture I was using. I don't think I can expect sharp pix with the lens wide open at 2.8

Some amount of overexposure in certain parts of a picture can create a fantasy-world kind of mood especially with the background blurred out, in my view that is.

Then again I could be applying the wrong technique in the wrong place :)
Peter Leyenaar said:
With the fine equipment that you have, much better images can be
obtained, a photography course or simply learning basic
photographic methods and standards on the net wiil go a long way to
get great pictures.
Click to expand...
I am planning to take a photography course soon. I took up photography last year and I am looking forward to learn from you all here and other photographers.
Peter Leyenaar said:
Louis, this is intended as positive criticism and I hope that this
will help you.
Click to expand...
Thanks for taking time to write your comments.

--
Louis Pang

S2 Pro & Nikon FM2
Nikon AF-D 80-200mm f/2.8
Nikkor 35-70mm 3.5-5.6
Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 (ordered!)
 
Allright. What's mediocre if not bad about these pics IMHO:

Shot#1: Girl is not completely sharp, her tiara type thing is completely out of focus. strange viewpoint. Uninteresting composition with strange distracting highlights in the background. Girls eyes have become just black dots with no detail left. Contrast in main subject bad. What I assume is a nearly white dress comes out yellow-brownish.

Shot#2: Guy is completely out of focus. Girl out of focus (suspect camera movement). Awkward, dull composition. Tilted background. Overexposed, with blown-out highlights. Definitely a trash-can shot.

Shot#3: If any, best shot. But dissonant B&W in all colour shots. Underexposed for main topic (guy). Reasonably sharp. Ok composition, but not exciting. B&W transformation presumably with Mode-> B&W. Lacks detail, possibly more in there using channel mixer or lab mode lighting channel.

Shot#4: Most boring composition possible. Exposed for background, way under-exposed. Not sharp. No detail, no depth. A photographic insult to the bride in my opinion, she seems a nice person to look at! Too little DOF, flowers unsharp.

Shot#5: Unsharp. Nothing interesting. Without wanting to be a racist (I AM NOT) typical shot found in Asian photographers' collections. There seems to be a cultural taste for portraying groups of people, in every shot. Only interesting for persons involved or present on wedding. Dull lighting.

Shot #6: Tough one to take with proper lighting both for her and him. I't probably have tried to light her proper, and risk some underexposure of his clothing. The bride is to shine! Reasonable composition, flowers in the back a little too distracting.

All shots seem to lack the edge in sharpness, even the sharpest of these six. Be honest, I cannot imagine this shot being worth more than a glimpse unless you were there. They don't need to be, nor need these be here.

This is my opinion, anyone may agree or disagree. I am not aiming to destroy someone. I just questioned the 'raison d'etre' of these shots in this forum. I am not a good photographer myself either. But I have an opinion about these. Does it take a writer to appreciate or criticize a book ?

Regards
Sjoerd
eman said:
eman
Suredeath said:
Louis, why did you post these ? I don't see the point. They
obviously mean a lot to you coz' you mage them and probably to the
subjects, since they're the happy couple, but no one else needs to
see these now do they ?

Re the shots: I think they are sharp enough, but uninteresting to a
larger audience. No great lighting, nor composition. All a bit dull
and cliché. But still, I can imagine you and the people on them
are happy with them. I'd suggest you keep them for your own
viewing. Think of this forum as a newspaper, where private news is
no news. Maybe pbase is a suggestion ?

Regards
Sjoerd
Sandra Andersen said:
Louis Pang:

Ni Hau?

Great, wonderful picturse. A joy to watch.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Eman
Wish to quit my job and take pictures all day
Click to expand...
 
That's what I call BS or being hypocrit (spelling??). Someone puts up pictures in a FORUM, he or she must expect response. Be it positive or negative appreciation. As long as its honest and not aimed to bash a person.

I'd be HAPPY to receive criticism if I post a pic or even as a reply to my pbase shots. Even if it is all negative. Just the comments like: you suck, or your work sucks are of little help or effect. That's the type of comment I think you should never give, EVEN when asked.

Do you tell your wife she looks lovely when you go out just because she wants to hear that even when she just doesn't that time ? Truth hurts sometimes, but I prefer it anytime over a lie. It's just how you bring the news. "O dear, you look awful" is possibly not the tactical approuch to your girly donning a bizar too small fattening dress... Saying she looks stunning is a shame in such a case.

Happy posting & shooting
Sjoerd
ajs2 said:
Suredeath said:
Louis, why did you post these ? I don't see the point. They
obviously mean a lot to you coz' you mage them and probably to the
subjects, since they're the happy couple, but no one else needs to
see these now do they ?

Re the shots: I think they are sharp enough, but uninteresting to a
larger audience. No great lighting, nor composition. All a bit dull
and cliché. But still, I can imagine you and the people on them
are happy with them. I'd suggest you keep them for your own
viewing. Think of this forum as a newspaper, where private news is
no news. Maybe pbase is a suggestion ?

Regards
Sjoerd
Sandra Andersen said:
Louis Pang:

Ni Hau?

Great, wonderful picturse. A joy to watch.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Alex
LWS photographic (UK)
Click to expand...
 
Louis Pang said:
Louis Pang said:
You qualified your pictures as , here comes that dreaded word "
mediocre"
and I would agree with you that they are, overexposed,
underexposed, and mostly unsharp, probably due to camera shake.
Click to expand...
Yea...this is the second time I use S2 for wedding, and the first
with the AF 80-200mm ED which I bought two weeks ago. So I am still
adjusting to holding the heavy glass.
Click to expand...
As my subject says: don't try or experiment on important events. Use what you know and are familiar with, and experiment on things that don't happen once (or perhaps twice ;-) in a lifetime.
Louis Pang said:
They are unsharp partly due to my less-than-steady hands and the
max aperture I was using. I don't think I can expect sharp pix with
the lens wide open at 2.8
Click to expand...
The 80-200/2.8 is supposed to be tack-sharp, and sharper at 2.8 than most lenses stopped down a little.
Louis Pang said:
I am planning to take a photography course soon. I took up
photography last year and I am looking forward to learn from you
all here and other photographers.
Click to expand...
Apart from the sharpness and exposure issues, I think the compositions mostly fall in the "candid" category. If you're doing this for fun or as an extra photographer (there is a pro around too), than that's okay. If you're the main photographer, work on composition too. The word "directing" was said in a previous post, and I can tell from my own work that when a series of pictures tends to be of lesser quality than what I know I should be able to produce, then it was because I wasn't directing but only taking snapshots of what came in front of the lens. Wrong approach, especially on weddings. Get the people together, place them how you would like to see it: you'll see they even like it when you do that.

Anyway, with all the heat in this forum about "mediocre" quality of pictures, I think you were very brave to post these pictures. But with a little help from your friends in this forum, and with the course you're going to take, I think your pictures will improve quite fast.

Keep shooting. The S2 is tons of fun!

Cheers!
Reginald
--
Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.
 
Louis, I think photo 1 & 4 can be greatly improved by using a flash, especially #4. This kind of backlight situation, without a flash, you got dark face. Obviouly the lights indoor were not enough, so you're forced to use f2.8 to get a resonable shutter speed. Still not fast enough. So a flash can help a lot here.

xin
Louis Pang said:
Woo...after reading some heated threads in this forum, I decided to
post some 'mediocre' pics for all of you...from my second wedding
shot with an S2.













more pics at http://www.pbase.com/louispang/wedding_2

Louis Pang

S2 Pro & Nikon FM2
Nikon AF-D 80-200mm f/2.8
Nikkor 35-70mm 3.5-5.6
Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 (ordered!)
Click to expand...
 
All said and technicalities aside, I would say these are interesting candid shots which captures the mood of the occasion. Especially with the group shot with both the young and old laughing spontaneously, never mind the "typical Asian" pose remark.

Good job, Louis. Keep it up!

Cheers
Pete Wong
Louis Pang said:
Louis Pang said:
Were the pictures taken in Australia?
Click to expand...
--
Louis Pang

S2 Pro & Nikon FM2
Nikon AF-D 80-200mm f/2.8
Nikkor 35-70mm 3.5-5.6
Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 (ordered!)
Click to expand...
--
http://www.petewong.net
 
Pete Wong said:
All said and technicalities aside, I would say these are
interesting candid shots which captures the mood of the occasion.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your encouragement...I eat what I like and what I can chew and leave the rest aside. That's how I treat comments too. :)

Candid shots are what I enjoy. So I do have the luxury of time and correct lighting for every shot. I like taking pictures that tell a story, evoke emotions and rekindle memories.

Having said that, I know I need to work harder on the technical side. Who doesn't? I will keep shooting and posting. I think that's the only way to move forward. There is no place for being afraid of failure or rejection.
Pete Wong said:
Especially with the group shot with both the young and old laughing
spontaneously, never mind the "typical Asian" pose remark.
Click to expand...
:)
Pete Wong said:
Good job, Louis. Keep it up!
Click to expand...
Thanks again. Keep in touch

--
Louis Pang

S2 Pro & Nikon FM2
Nikon AF-D 80-200mm f/2.8
Nikkor 35-70mm 3.5-5.6
Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 (ordered!)
 
Louis Pang said:
Woo...after reading some heated threads in this forum, I decided to
post some 'mediocre' pics for all of you...from my second wedding
shot with an S2.
Click to expand...
For some reason, my comments got bumped from the forum, so I'll try again.....just my $.02

My $.02
Claude Rieth said:
Photo 1

Not sharp enough, background too visible, expression on girls face
is nice
Click to expand...
Sharpness seems to be a problem with all of these, I'd apply some USM to all of these. With this particular photo, though, the background is a bit busy, but it looks like a grab shot, so unless you want to do a lot of PS, you've got what you've got. A little bit (very little, several stops under) of fill flash would have put a catchlight in the girls eyes which would have been pleasing, and brought her out of the background a bit

I tried a USM of 150/1/1 on all of these and the results were quite good. You might need to change the setting for higher res.
Louis Pang said:
Photo 2

Not sharp enough, background not good, camera not horizontal
Click to expand...
Sharpness could be better. Tilt of camera actually works here, so it doesn't bother me. Photo is high key which also works. A little bit of sharpness and it's a winner
Louis Pang said:
Photo 3

I prefer black and whites with harder contrasts, landscape
orientation and framed only the face and its reflection might also
be a good way to do it
Click to expand...
Don't know why landscape works better with b/w, but do agree that it needs a little more contrast.
Louis Pang said:
Photo 4

Probably Matrix Metered, center weight metering might have gotten
better result
Click to expand...
Fill flash needed here. Center-weighted would just blow out the background even more. I'd take the exposure down to prevent the blowout in the background (I'll bet the incamera histogram would have shown this, I use it all the time) and use fill to expose the subject correctly.
Louis Pang said:
Photo 5

More depth of field would have improved sharpness of the second row
people, the moment is well captured, because they are all laughing
Click to expand...
agreed
Louis Pang said:
Photo 6

Sharpness
Click to expand...
agreed

take care,
Paul
 
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