sanyflame

I've been reading about model releases and some problems other members here had when posting their images on the net without a model

release so I'm a bit curious. I'm a very green beginner and therefore not in business. However I'm starting to take pictures of people.

Generally friends and colleagues, people who don't mind being my "training subjects" in exchange for some pictures, in order to help me

practicing and developing my skills. I have no intention of trying to sell them. For me to get some feedback and improve I then post, what I

consider the best pictures in the internet (in this case in my flickr account). Now, would it be wise of me to get them to sign a model

release? Just in case something, sometime down the line goes wrong? Also, what sort of model release would I use? I like in UK and I'm

not sure if the law around model release and copyright is different here than in the US. Many thanks in advance for any help.

Thanks so much to everyone who replied. I'm much relieved now. I originally thought it's fine as what matters is the diameter of lens (and

that I got right: 52mm) but I was not completely sure, so thanks for your help. Sometimes it feels too "painful" to be a silly beginner and

ask stupid questions.

I have made a hugely stupid mistake whilst ordering some filters. I have a Canon 450 and bought some filters for

my 50mm 1/8 lens. However after I payed for the items I noticed they mention they are for a Nikon D40. It's my

first time with filters and I'm a beginner in photography anyway. Can I still use these filters in my lens? I'm

thinking that as long as they fit the lens there should be no issues. Am I right? Thank you for your help.

Thanks guys for your advice!

I got it, no mixing of lights. It makes sense, if I think well of it, it would be a nightmare to adjust. Will stick to natural light

as source is bigger and use some reflectors for fill light. Matt, I do have a tripod so will set it up for the day.

My friend can only come late in the afternoon but I think I don't need to worry with harsh light as I live in London, UK and

even though it's summer now it doesn't look like it. It's fairly cloudy and I believe that will diffuse light nicely (or I hope

so). My friend is a goth, clothing black and dark make up. Need to have a think about posing and composition as not all

poses go well with her style. Above all it should be fun and I hope to learn something on the day.

I'm pretty much a beginner in photography so have not yet been able to get some lighting equipment. A friend of mine volunteered to be

photographed by me to help me improve my skills and practice. The session will be at my house. In a room 10ft x 10ft with a western

window. I will be shooting with my canon 450 and a 50 f1/8 lens, mainly face and head/ shoulders shots but also some full body ones (if I

can squeeze them).I thought of using the natural light from window as main light from left side and use a reflector on right side as fill light.

If light is not strong I thought of using a normal table lamp with a diffuser as fill light. I would shoot in RAW and adjust WB after. I was also

thinking of using window light as front light and the already mentioned table light as a background light. I know much of what I need to

learn I'll learn through experimenting but I was just wondering if you think the above will work and also if you have any other suggestions. I

wanted to give these photos a slight glamour feel. Any way of doing it with this limited light? Thank you for your help and patience.

I'm trying to create a web gallery to show some of my photos. I have a mac account so have some space allocated which I can use. I

really don't like iweb so decided to try the web gallery at photoshop. I managed to create one and find a way of publishing it online but I

have a question about the template I'm using. It has a feedback section and a Image Info section (file, title, description, credits and

copyright info). The Image Info is empty, even though I updated this information is photoshop. How can I input this information? I looked

into help and did a search but couldn't find anything. I don't want to leave it empty but have no clue of what to do. I appreciate your wisdom

on this matter and apologies if it's dumb.

I have a question about focusing in portraits and, once again, I apologize if sounds silly. I understand the concept of focusing in the eyes

in portraiture. With head and shoulder shots I haven't had an issue using AF but I was wondering what to do if it's a full body portrait or if

the angle of the intend photo puts the eyes of the subject in the corner or side of viewfinder. I have a Canon EOS450d and AF points do

not cover these areas. Am I better off using manual focus in this situations or is there another (probably simple) way I can still achieve

sharp eyes using AF? Thanks you.

Thank you very much for all your help! I will do some lenses test and continue my research on the topics William

mentioned. I have a reasonably good idea of what shutter speed, aperture, DOF means and how it's used but when it

comes to the relationship between these factors I still get confused. And obviously I need to increase my understanding of

these because they all interrelate when you take a picture. You all been very helpful.

Thanks very much. I read that optimal aperture setting is usually 2 to 3 stops above widest aperture so should have set it

that way. Will do a round s test shots just to be sure. Thanks again.

Thanks Tommy. The first photo was taken at 1/100 f/18, ISO800. The second has same setting but 1/250 for shutter

speed. Because it was suppose to be a simple photo and I'm still learning to work full manual mode I used AP mode. For

me the picture was fine. I didn't plan to elaborate on it . If the guy had said pic has wrong exposure or bad composition I

would be ok with it but the remarks that something might be wrong with lens made me wonder. Maybe it's a perception

issue.

I recently bought a 50mm 1/8 to use for portraiture. I haven't yet had a chance to use the lens much but did some test images on a

colleague of mine. She needed some shots for a local fanzine and I had my camera that day and took some shots. Very basic, not

professional at all. Just simple shots. I believe I used AP mode. I did some small work on photoshop but nothing major. Her brother is a

professional photographer and apparently mention to her, after seeing the pics, that there was some problem with the lens. I'm not sure

what he meant by this but I'm wondering what could it be. I know there might be issues about composition and light but the shot was never

meant to be anything more than it is and he did specify that the lens had a problem. There's some links to the two pictures I took and I was

wondering if anyone can find a lens problem? Also, how would you assess a lens problem (not exposure of composition) just by looking at

the pic? Sorry if question is silly but I'm a total beginner and still learning. Thanks!

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c285/Sanyflame/Zeynep.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c285/Sanyflame/Zeynep2.jpg

Thank you all! All these answers have been very useful and I appreciate it! I have decided to buy the 50mm 1/8. I think it

will be good value for money and it will suit my small space. I will also look into the 75-300mm for nature.

Hi, I wondered if someone could help me! I have a EOS450d with kit lens 18-55mm. I was advised by a friend or mine to get the canon 17-

85mm, as that would cover (in general) my preferred areas of photography (portrait and nature). Whilst I know this lens will perform well in

nature photography because of focal length and short aperture I have some concerns regarding portraits. The focal length is quite good for

portraits but the widest aperture of 4.0 concerns me. Can I still use this lens successfully for portraits and get a shallow depth of field? Or

should I buy two distinct lenses, one for portraits (i.e. the 50mm 1/4 and 1/8 or 85mm 1/8) and one for nature/landscape. I apologize if

question sounds silly but I only just started in photography and want to make a good investment in the lens.

Thanks you all for your advise, it is very helpful!! I know I need to learn more about lighting, including studio, so will search in this forum

and elsewhere good information on it. The books I have talk about lighting but in a very general way. I think I need more specialized

information. To start with I do not yet have money to buy a good flash gun or lighting equipment. That's why I'm focusing on natural light,

for now. I have bought some reflectors and will experiment with them. Thanks again!!

I'm quite new to this forum but would like to give my 2c regarding critique. I understand a lot of members get a bit frustrated

at the quality of an image and therefore do not rate it. However there are some people quite new to photography, like

myself, who would like to get some feedback and critique on their pictures as this enables people to improve their skills.

People, like me, might seem frustrating to knowledgable people who do not wish to see poor work and I respect that,

therefore I'm thinking twice about posting for comment. Maybe we can divide the critique forum in two: one for beginners

and one for more experienced users. I know there might be problems accessing someone's level but this would allow

people who do not wish to provide more basic peer education/help a way of not even stumbling in such images and it would

allow beginners "stress free" posting for comment.

Christopher... The fact I wrote this was my first picture with my first SLR doesn't mean I don't have a clue or that is it

a point and shoot picture. I expressed in those words the simple fact I'm very new to photography. As it being a trip for

the ego maybe for other people as it enables them to comment on my motivation and personality and not on the picture itself and that

might

make people feel important. I want to pursue photography as a hobby but a serious hobby. I have read and am reading books and can ask

other people's opinion but all they can tell me it that it's nice. That's not what I want to accomplish. I want to know what I'm doing

wrong and I want to improve. This photo was not a point and shoot. I tried several different exposures and different light available. All I

asked was a comment of what might be wrong so I can change it. I know there's hundreds of books of photography and I am

reading quite a few but I had hoped I could have some help in a place like this. Maybe I was wrong, maybe this is a

forum just for the knowledgable craftspeople. You said you don't mean to be negative or condescending but I'm sorry, you

just assessed my motivation and personality without knowing me.

Everyone else, thanks for comments! I'm finding lighting a very tricky business and need to learn a bit more about how

to make use of natural light.

I believe comments than ratings for reason many people already mentioned. As a beginner in the world of photography I

welcome all comments as honest as possible, as I can learn with that. However I, personally, feel a bit stupid to comment

as a lack knowledge to be able to comment. With the amount of information available maybe it works like a short cut for

some people as it is easier and quicker to rate than comment.

Hi, I'm new to this forum even though I have been reading it for a while! I have recently bought my first ever SLR camera and have taken

my first shots with it today. I never handled a SLR before so I'm still getting to know the camera. I'm still very, very much a novice and

know that this picture might will have many many faults, but I would still enjoy to read what critique you have. If I keep on practicing and

getting feedback from the beginning I might evolve better.

It was taken with my Canon EOS450D with kit lens 18-55m.I took around 20 different shots of this picture with different settings but this

one came out better. Only natural light. Don't be afraid to be honest!!

Thank you for your feedback!

http://www.photo.net/photo/7580394