I was determined today to compose a photo in my camera using the grid feature that I learned about thanks to @jasonbarnette and @equinoxe . Big mistake. Not only did the camera seem to not focus properly, but it's incredibly hard for a person wearing eyeglasses to look through the viewfinder. In the end I gave up, turned the LCD screen back on , set my camera to "close up" mode (which may or may not be a part of the auto programmed mode, I'm still waiting on Jason to explain that better), and snapped away. Editing consisted of clarify, and 1960's effect in picnik.
I think you got a great background for your shot, nice blur & colors. The leaf really pops. Those branches frame the leaf nicely and I feel like the outside area could be cropped out ( a slice from the left and a slice off from the top).
@janmaki
I swear I really need to get into your brain. Slice off part of the left, and the top? But then you will have weird branches behind branches connected to nothing. Unless I'm misunderstanding you again.
OK, so, the Rule of Thirds? You're almost there in this photo. I think you know where the leaf needed to be placed now.
As for the focusing problem? Your camera is set to focus on whatever is in the center more than likely. Do you know how to hold the shutter button down halfway to focus and then reframe? That would have helped.
"Close-up Mode" is for shooting something while standing right on top of it, like bugs or something. The DOF turned out great anyways though. It really makes the leaf and limbs stand out.
@jasonbarnette
You'd be wrong. lol. I had the camera set up with the grid thingy and kind of placed it but when I realized that it wouldn't focus and changed the mode, I was able to remember where the grid was. No guarantee that I'll remember tomorrow though.
When I'm in close up mode, I can hold the shutter down half way, let it cycle through it's focus and then take the picture. For some reason, more than likely the reason being me doing something wrong, when I half pressed in programmed auto, nothing happened.
Thanks. I kind of knew what Close Up Mode does, I just don't know if it's considered part of auto programmed mode because it has it's own position on my dial, but yesterday you made it seem like it was the same thing.
I think you have missed the focus here. The 2 thickest branches here are sharp, and your leaf which is sitting back just a touch is slightly out-of-focus. I think this is because of your use of "close up" mode. Sometimes the macro mode will not focus any further away then "x" amount of distance, and I think your branches are just inside that boundary and the leaf is just outside. Just.
@bobfoto
Thanks for the critique! I kind of thought the leaf was out of focus as well, but since no one else mentioned it, I assumed it was me being my own worst critic type of thing. I am attempting to learn to shoot in something other than "close up" mode. Thanks again!
Melissa, you say it is difficult to see through your viewfinder because you wear eye-glasses. On the p100, you should have a tiny dial on the side of the viewfinder which can adjust the focus of your viewfinder. It is called the Diopter Adjuster Dial and you can dial that up to the strength of your eyesight, and you shouldn't need to wear your glasses. Hopefully?
@bobfoto
Well I think you just became my new favorite person. I have found that dial, and have adjusted it accordingly. Things are still slightly blurry, but maybe it just takes some getting used to for my eyes to adjust????
@mej2011 - if it is like my Olympus, you can adjust it to the + or the - and the tiny lines or circle inside your viewfinder should sharpen up accordingly. Like a new pair of glasses, your eyes may need some time to get used to it.
Rule of Thirds aside, focus aside (it seems I am arriving late to the critique party) - I love the colours you've captured in this shot. Those warm tones against that icy blue? Love it.
I swear I really need to get into your brain. Slice off part of the left, and the top? But then you will have weird branches behind branches connected to nothing. Unless I'm misunderstanding you again.
Thanks! I will admit, composition is not my thing. I need to learn the skills better.
As for the focusing problem? Your camera is set to focus on whatever is in the center more than likely. Do you know how to hold the shutter button down halfway to focus and then reframe? That would have helped.
"Close-up Mode" is for shooting something while standing right on top of it, like bugs or something. The DOF turned out great anyways though. It really makes the leaf and limbs stand out.
You'd be wrong. lol. I had the camera set up with the grid thingy and kind of placed it but when I realized that it wouldn't focus and changed the mode, I was able to remember where the grid was. No guarantee that I'll remember tomorrow though.
When I'm in close up mode, I can hold the shutter down half way, let it cycle through it's focus and then take the picture. For some reason, more than likely the reason being me doing something wrong, when I half pressed in programmed auto, nothing happened.
Thanks. I kind of knew what Close Up Mode does, I just don't know if it's considered part of auto programmed mode because it has it's own position on my dial, but yesterday you made it seem like it was the same thing.
So the leaf should have been placed lower and to the left?
Why is the height fine? Is there a certain dimension? Please do NOT tell me to break a rule before I even understand it. lol.
Take the photo above. Divide it up like I'd told you. One of the horizontal lines runs directly across the leaf. So the height is correct. See?
So basically, I need a ruler to make sure that my lines are evenly spaced. This is getting too much like Math, and I hate math.
And here I thought geometry was a form of math. silly me.
Wouldn't I have to think in order to learn the lesson of not thinking?
Is that what happened to the dinosaurs?
I knew it! I so smart!
So they died because they were egotistical, not because they thought? Well then you better be careful.
Thanks for the critique! I kind of thought the leaf was out of focus as well, but since no one else mentioned it, I assumed it was me being my own worst critic type of thing. I am attempting to learn to shoot in something other than "close up" mode. Thanks again!
Well I think you just became my new favorite person. I have found that dial, and have adjusted it accordingly. Things are still slightly blurry, but maybe it just takes some getting used to for my eyes to adjust????
I've got it set to +1.3 , this seems like it will work the best. Thanks again!
Yes you are very late. Is about time you are back. :)
Thanks! I've always been a fan of browns against blues for some reason.