Please give your blunt critique , thanks !

[khiem_nguyen1]

Hi, this is picture of my baby girl ! I had try to improve my skill

thanks all for your comment. Shot was done by R3-90mm elmarit, film

Fuji Realla 100.

PS , I like to known what is the optical performnance different

between Elmarit R lense 35mm f2.8 latest Generation 290XXX-310XX ,

compare with 217XXX-1960S serials #. I will have a chance to

purchase the 310XXX series for $350. Should I buy it or not. Please

give your input experiences with this lense. Thanks so much for your

helps and many wonderful people in this forum

[h._p.]

It doesn't look anything like sharp enough for an Elmarit, which could be caused by (a) poor scanning, (b) bad focussing or © camera shake. If it's none of the above (very unlikely) then you really need to get the lens and/or camera seen to. I'd clear up this problem before spending money on another lens because ANY Elmarit should give you pin sharp results.

[fotografz]

Khiem, I won't comment on the subject matter, the child is cute beyond words... but

the photo itself is just a snapshot for the family album, and it's value and appreciation

lies there.

 

Technical stuff is another matter. As posted, the image appears a bit muddy and soft.

On the web it's hard to tell if it is camera technique, printing or scanning skills. Maybe

all of the above. Unless it's a defective lens that you used, it is not the glass. So

switching lenses isn't the answer.

 

When framing in the viewfinder try to avoid tangents where the subject is touching the

edges. You can always crop slightly later. Also watch for background distractions, and

try to isolate the subject from them.

 

When scanning either adjust the contrast and color saturation there, or in a post

editing program like PhotoShop. Even the cheapest form of PhotoShop is able to do

these functions. (It's better to adjust after the scan IF you have an editing program).

 

Sizing for photo.net: Your image was to big to be included with your text. Make the

longest side 500 pixels per inch and add a caption and it will appear with the text. It

shouldn't total more than 100K, so people with dial-up internet connections don't

have to wait forever for the photo to load.

 

Here is a quick fix of your image adjusted to open the shadow areas and give the

appearance of more sharpness by increasing contrast, saturation and applying an

unsharp mask in PhotoShop. I also added to the left side to simulate avoiding

tangents and cleaned up the background to show subject isolation. Hope you don't

mind my doing this, but showing is better than talking about adjustments IMO.<div></div>

[fotografz]

The original as posted:<div></div>

[henry_ting2]

Khiem, all the criterias you've given (lens, camera, film) should give you technically a better picture. Aside from the subject, that she is cuddly and cute, but the picture quality shows only the stuff that P&S camera's creation is capable of. Bear in mind the end result is only as good as the weakest link of your equipment/film. I wouldn't suspect the camera, which is only a body with shutter, but the downstream equipment such as the lens or the scanner. If you bought the lens second-hand, test it out with a tripod shooting at a high-contrast chart. Shooting at various aperature and shutter combination. Than look at the result to see if you still get the softness effect.

[octavio bustard]

Very cute kid. You must be a very proud papa....

[allen_quinn1]

Khiem,

When shooting this pix, had you moved slightly camera left, your child would have followed you like the pointer on a compass, and this would have removed the dark out-of-focused object in the background. Marc and the other posters nailed the softness issues. When shooting people, I always like to shoot at least 1/125th in order to minimalise subject movement. As far as subject matter goes, I think that documenting one's family is far more important for the amateur shooter than a snap of a bum on skid row. Keep shooting this kid looking for interesting moments that document a particular stage of her life.

[eric_.]

Nice work Marc.

 

She's cute Khiem, take as many pictures as you like as this age of your daughter will pass before you realize it...and put them in a family album where they belong.

[godfrey]

<center>

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/godders/.Pictures/

Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-01-16%2020.28.47%20-0800/Image

-5FA6D27248A511D8.jpg"><br>

<i>Frog and Bear - Sony U60</i><br>

</center><br>

I find it a charming and candid photo of a cute young girl, just as it is composed.

<br><br>

Technically, the plane of primay focus is a couple of inches behind her face and the

DoF is insufficient to cover her face and the outstretched hand fully. A smaller

aperture and slightly more accurate focusing would have made it "pop" better.

<br><br>

Also, a little bit of color balancing and perhaps a subtle vignette would have enhanced

the perception of depth and realism.

<br><br>

Lovely picture, however. Be sure you put one into a frame or an album. :-)

<br><br>

Godfrey