How to edit when your tools are dull

So I took a shot of my friend's dog when I took it to the park this afternoon. When I I loaded the pic up I thought it was just the thing, just like I saw it when I was there. I've been told that it's over exposed but I'm not so sure. Basically, I'm limited to editing pics on a laptop that makes my 30D look positively state-of-the-art, and apparent exposure changes drastically with just a few degrees of screen angle. I don't much trust the camera's screen, either, so what's to do?

I've recently been pretty impressed with myself because picasa's "I feel lucky" button only makes tiny changes to my pics. :)

It looks alright to me. Not blown in the highlights or clipped in the shadows. The only thing I can tell that's wrong with it is the dogs face is not sharp, but rather the side near the back side of the dog is sharp. If I were you, I would burn down the background and the grass around him and sharpen his face a little. Other then that, it looks fine.

This is not over exposed, you just shot in shitty light. And the focus should be in the eyes. If you shot RAW, you might be able to do something with this image.

The exposure looks fine, but I would take Levi's comment a step further and just say it's out of focus.

Exposure-wise, the grass is pretty bright (but not blown out) but the dog looks fine.

Focus-wise, I don't know if your 30D locks focus with a half-press of the shutter. If so, put the focus sensor where the focus should be exact, half-press, then compose before you press all the way. If you let go of the button you have to start over. You may have to have AF in single mode to get a lock.

I have not mastered the art of having the focus point where it needs to be when I'm shooting things that move. Which kind of sucks because I'm pretty much only interested in stuff that moves. :-\

I understand the focus issue and I'm shooting for practice. Like this. But I'm still curious if anyone else has had issues using laptop screens for editing. =]

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Originally Posted by MotorToad

But I'm still curious if anyone else has had issues using laptop screens for editing. =]

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Chances are good that that ancient laptop monitor is out of calibration. Google "monitor calibration" and do a little not-so-light reading. :) Then come back here and we'll answer any questions you have.

Btw, calibrating the monitor won't help much with the viewing angle thing. That's a function of LCD monitors. (I assume you're using an LCD).

- Joe U.