First D90 Pics!!!

[Chris-T-Photography]

After a few days of tinkering with settings, learning how new functions work, and a lot of manual reading me and my wife went out to a nearby closed army base to put it through the paces and got some good shots. I really feel like this camera can really help take my photography to the next level. As always any and all feedback is welcome. These are two but I may post a few more from the series as time goes on.

[Phil]

just out of curiosity is it Fort McClellan, if so how much access do you have to the facilities

[Chris-T-Photography]

Yes it is actually. At one time you could go out and drive around basically anywhere but now they are closing off more and more roads again. You can still get to some residential areas and a few tattered buildings.

[Phil]

I need to get over there and take some pictures some day.

About the pictures I like the composition and the color, but I'm would suggest putting the flash on -1EV (or if you use manual settings just dial it down 1 stop) so it blends better with the natural light.

[Chris-T-Photography]

Thanks for the input Phil. I was shooting toward dusk and was having a hard time getting my shots properly lit but I will definately dial the flash down next time. I have +1.5 - -1.5 EV on the flash and never messed with it but i'll just turn it down some next time to get that natural feeling.

[Steve Paxton]

It is so dang cool to get a new camera! I am excited for you!

Overall, I agree with everyone's feedback. A couple of things jump out at me that I always try to avoid. The first is odd side shadows. Typically you get these weird side shadows anytime you shoot vertical with an on camera flash. The solution is to either not shoot vertical (crop later) or use a flash bracket that positions your flash directly over your camera. You shot the first image horizontal so I think the tree is causing the problem in this case. Side stepping to the right just a bit would have probably solved the problem. Alternatively, you could shoot the setup with an off camera flash setup camera right (shooting more laterally to the left).

The other noticeable element is the intersecting lines coming from the telephone pole in the first image. If you have enough Bokeh, distracting background elements can be blended out. In the the first image, the telephone pole (and tree branch?) appear to be coming out of your wife's head. It's not a big deal, but it distracts from the portrait.

I will be the first one to admit that I have made both of these mistakes plenty of times. Each time I shoot a wedding or do a portrait session, I usually walk away saying to myself, "Shoot! Why did I do that?!" or "I totally forgot to do this..." Experience only comes from experience. You have to make little mistakes along the way to develop as a photographer.

Below is an unprocessed raw image that I shot just two weeks ago; part of a series of shots that I rushed through (we were very short on time). I shot a string of images that had a flag pole coming out of the bride's head. Needless to say, the few images in that set landed on the cutting room floor as soon as I saw them. It is a pretty decent shot ruined by my inattention. It happens to all of us.

You are doing a great job - keep up the great work!

[Taallyn]

I don't know, that flagpole is lined up with her head-band. Maybe she was just wearing a patriotic, novelty hat? ;)