When ever I try to take portrait shots the quality always lets them down. There is loads of noise on the left hand side of this one. (http://365project.org/calx/365/2012-09-21)
What do I need to do?
I don't have a DSLR but a Panasonic bridge camera.
I thought taking the shot outside would help but I was wrong :(
@calx I've noticed w/ my portraits if they are taken in harsh light they don't turn out well. I would try to do early morning or evening.. you get that softer light so there's less noise. I don't know anything about your camera :( But also.. I notice if I take the shots a little bit farther away and then crop to my liking they turn out better. I am no expert and learning everyday but that's what I've seen w/ mine. Just keep playing and you will get it! Ps I don't think this picture is bad by the way.. I think that if you were in softer light you could get her face completely lit because she wouldn't be squinting in the sun and then you wouldn't have that shadow.
@meagang Thanks Meagan... this is all your fault really, I love that shot of your daughter that I fav'ed ages ago, and I haven't managed to create anything like it.... I will try again this evening, if the subject will be compliant!
I'm sure someone with some mad photoshop editing skills could even out those skin tones. The light here is certainly too harsh on one side and makes for a difficult time. I did run it through a portrait editor and since I couldn't get the green tones out, I changed it to b&w. Finding the right light will help your shot tremendously. Am not sure why the camera picked up those greens, but perhaps the harsh light contrast, or maybe something reflecting in your environment pushed that color. The camera sees what we don't.
Noise is dots, and fuzz. so no, its not noisy. I think you mean its a loss of acutance because its shadowy and not clear. So you can't take as good portraits as a DSLR. you can't take good wildlife shots either. bridge cameras are good for street shots and landscapes and stuff IMO. you need to shoot in the first 2 hours of the day or the last two hours. get out of the sun otherwise, into woods, or in a building. Or even better shoot when its raining, foggy or cloudy. you need to get a cheap reflector if you wanna shoot outdoors, and see this kind of result:
practice makes perfect, practice or a big expensive DSLR. above all things get the focus on her eyes and get the harsh light off her.
@swguevin I definitely like the B&W effect. I agree, lighting makes all the difference. My biggest problem is taking photos inside of events, like at a meeting with a speaker, etc. Even the close ups turn out bad.
Flash might of helped a little. I find your framing a little odd. You only get that close say if she was wearing a big wooly hat and that was helping create the frame.
Agree with Eddie a fill flash may help even the tones out. We were always told to get your subjects facing into the sun but this creates horrible squints and harsh light, better to have them facing away from the sun and use the flash if you can't avoid shooting in harsh midday sun. Otherwise, yep always go for "golden hour" shooting or indoors. :)
Do you use your bridge camera manually? you would need to add some more exposure looking at this shot. As it is a rather light subject overall your meter will read it wrong and get you to give it less exposure and as a side effect you get more shadow than usual in the shadowed areas.
If you don't use manual settings does your bridge camera have a bracketing option? You could use that and then it will give you three exposures to choose from.
@ayearinthelifeof I haven't ever heard of a bracketing option, I'll have a google to find out thanks
But, if I upped the exposure wouldn't that make the right hand side too bright?
@calx There are some fantastic blogs and websites out there....everything I've ever learned regarding photography is self taught through (first and foremost) a love of all that is photography, my talented Grandad inspiring me when I was young and reading books, blogs, websites and networking with fab people like those on this site! You'll find you start to soak it up like a sponge and once you start putting things into practice, all you need do is strive for the ever illusive "perfection". I've found that the technical stuff and jargon just comes over time....always ask questions of your peers, they have the most invaluable advice and most are usually generous with it :)
i think what you're seeing is the result of such a big difference in light intensity from the brightest spots to the dark and the CCD not being able to handle it properly. To fix this :
1. Get fill in light. Flash, reflector (put aluminium foil over a cardboard surface and reflecting light back in there)
2. Turn her so she's facting the light more or turn her so she's totally facing away from the light
3. Pull the blinds down from the window where the light's coming from to soften the key light
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practice makes perfect, practice or a big expensive DSLR. above all things get the focus on her eyes and get the harsh light off her.
But, if I upped the exposure wouldn't that make the right hand side too bright?
@sarajeal @chewyteeth I'll go for evening light, it was a bit bright :)
@swguevin We were in the garden so I guess the green could be off a tree
Thanks for all your responses, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with the jargon but its good to stretch oneself :)
1. Get fill in light. Flash, reflector (put aluminium foil over a cardboard surface and reflecting light back in there)
2. Turn her so she's facting the light more or turn her so she's totally facing away from the light
3. Pull the blinds down from the window where the light's coming from to soften the key light