Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic

Mike Hammond · Joined: 05 Jun 2012 Posts: 35

Got shot down posting a first batch of shots here a few weeks back, so I'm trying to be a little more deliberate in my shooting.

This picture is probably a cliché. I'm sure nobody has though of taking pictures of stuff in their hotel room while they're stuck in a hotel room before, right...

Nonetheless, I'd appreciate your thoughtful technical feedback.

This is my first critique post, please let me know if I've blundered the 100% crop / 500px image process.

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 8:27 pm

OOF, lighting and composition.

Placed right in center not to mention why is it on top of a bed?

Dark on the right and light on the left.

rinder99 · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 8:45 pm

Gotta agree with Barry.OOF mostly.

Mike Hammond · Joined: 05 Jun 2012 Posts: 35

rinder99 · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 9:09 pm

A tripod is the second most Important piece of equip you can own Period. what got ya was slow glass and AF. slow Kit glass won't lock on in dim Light no matter what you do. Use manual and take 10 Pictures. ya might get lucky. Thats why we use Fast Glass. AF can only work if it sees a Vertical contrast Point. fast glass alows more light to help with this. Kit lenses do not. and a 1/3 sec on furniture? Not likely unless ya get lucky. You didn't. LOL.Also a whit pillow case would have made a good reflector to help with the shadow side. Use your eyes. They work really well.

libyphoto · Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 799 Location: Oz

Mike,

I got in using a kit lens, and it was tough. Had to hold my butt cheeks together just right to get a sharp image, and then had to sharpen in PS and pray.

Make it easy on yourself and get a good wide to medium zoom, should cost about $1000, but you'll be glad you did.

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 9:28 pm

Learn the limits of your lens and you can work with it.

I use a kit and other top glass as well.

There is a big difference in them though, in the overall image clarity and color.

ISO-100
f/9
adjust diopter
manual focus
tripod
remote release or timer
Light,light and more light

Mike Hammond · Joined: 05 Jun 2012 Posts: 35

Thanks for all the good suggestions - keep 'em coming. Here's a longer shot I took after filling the frame with the tray/stuff. Focal length 34mm, same 1/3 sec and f/5.6.

I've read some things about lenses having a particular sweet spot where focusing is ideal. Should I aim to shoot at that aperture as often as I can? Any idea what it is for this lens? Or for my 50mm f/1.8?

I have a couple of tripods at home that I got as gifts. They are probably cheap. How big of an impact is that going to have on pictures like this? And would that be a positive or a negative impact? :)

libyphoto · Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 799 Location: Oz

I have the canon L series 24-105. After you work with your lens you will learn where the sweet spot is. For example, just a couple days ago I shot a portrait (bust) and was amazed at the clarity. The pores on the guys face were unbelievably clear. I looked at the file info in PS and found the lens was at 75mm. Currently, for me, this is determined to be this lens' sweet spot until other information comes in...

hhltdave5 · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 9:56 pm

You are trying to get a good stock shot without the proper equipment. The right equipment makes the job much easier. Think of it this way. Doing a shot without the right equipment is like hammering in a nail with a wrench. You can do it but it ain't gonna be easy.

The two main issues you have is light and focus. You have a great deal of light fall off from the window so you need something to reflect the light back into the darker side of the shot. You can prop up a pillow to the right of the tray or use a white towel or anything else that is white to bounce some light back to lighten up the darker areas.

Coming up with a faux tripod is a bit harder. If you have a high back chair you can use the back as a ledge to rest your hand and the camera on to help steady it (if you have enough light to hand hold). If not you will need to find something to rest the camera on.

The 50 1.8 is a great lens and as far as the sweet spot goes it is usually around f8.

The best thing for you to do is to simply wait till you get home and can do the shot with the right equipment or at least have more things to work with to make the shot easier.

Mike Hammond · Joined: 05 Jun 2012 Posts: 35

I've been wondering lately about using manual focus. The manual focus rings on my lenses seem, I don't know... clumsy to me. I have a hard time imagining I can get the focus exactly right in the viewfinder when the autofocus gets to do that spiffy split-image alignment thing. Is the autofocus motor not performing more precise calibration of focus than I could hope to with fingers?

Let me ask another newbie question: How do I know if my shot is going to be in focus before I release the shutter? How can I tell after the fact (like in PS) if my shot is focused enough or not? What am I looking for?

robhainer · Joined: 03 May 2010 Posts: 2896 Location: Dallas, GA, USA

You don't need expensive lenses to shoot stock, especially things that are sitting still. Just like Laurin said, you need a tripod. You can get a good steady tripod for $100-$150. Look on Ebay. A few scratches or something won't matter.

You don't really need zoom lenses for things that aren't moving either. Zoom lenses are for when you need to make rapid changes in focal length. Use the 50 1.8 and you're good.

rinder99 · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 12:11 am

Read my post again.

semmickphoto · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 1:43 am

I shoot at f/8 with my kit lens 18-55 with the same conditions you have and my photos are sharp.

Also, if a camera is on a piece of furniture, it wont move either, why need a tripod that does the same? Its not like the furniture is moving on its own.

And I am not saying fast glass and a tripod are not better, just saying there is no reason why this shot cant be sharp with equipement used.

barnabychambers · Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 280

Over the last few years I have tried using furniture, tree stumps, fence posts and car rooves. I believe there is no real substitute for a good tripod. The reason being its often difficult to look through the view finder when you have to stoop, twist and or stretch your neck to get your eye into position. You might get lucky with a conviniently built peice of furniture but you usually don't. And if you are uncomfortable its hard to concentrate on focusing etc.

There is no reason you can't get good focus that way but a tripod will hugely increase your keeper rate. Thats my experience anyway.