My daughters first communion today

[Peter_AUS]

Just one shot, it was really hard to get any shots, so many people and you weren't allowed to move from your seat, which made it awfully hard. I did find that I really need to get a Compact Battery Pack CP-E2 for my Canon Flash, rechargeable batteries I think just can't cut it, or there was something wrong with the flash, which is my other thoughts, recycle time took for ever.

Any way, this was a shot in the room where they were getting there pins, it was fully of people and it was this or direct sunlight which on a white dress would have just bee too hard for me. I couldn't get back far enough to get a full shot of her, too many people making it just so difficult.

[Lara]

Not being qualified to comment on composition Peter, I do want to say, she's a lovely young lady!

Would you use Photoshop to crop or make any changes? Just asking as a learning experience.

[Peter_AUS]

I used Capture one first and croped in there, saved as tiff file (no loss of detail) then into Photosop for a little adjusting and saved for the web.

I was disappointed with a lot of shots today, was very difficult lighting and I had a problem with the flash and batteries, not firing a few times.

Thanks for the comment Lara. She is lovely, but loves to lick her lips and that is starting to leave a ring around the outside of her lips which is at times quite excoriated and red, today being one of those days too.

[Piet]

Photo's makes memories last longer.Should you have the time to set up a photo so that it can be technically correct it's fine.However I think that the photo of your daughter is one you will always cherish and to me it is a good one.The feature's of her face is lit up well and well focused.
Piet

[Lara]

You're absolutely right Piet, it is a photo to be cherished and hold memories. I'd be so proud if she were my daughter for many reasons. I'm wondering when I take photos of my grand daughter if I'll ever come up with ones so nice. I imagine with family photos, the concentration should be on the face and the activity, not so much the surroundings.

[Elysian]

Lovely girl Peter and nice of you to share this moment with us, but do you want us to make suggestions or not?
I say that because nobody is posting any suggestions and any way you look at this... this IS the critique forum.

[mtbbrian]

I am not quite sure how to comment, here in the Crit Forum, on this photo either...
I am certainly glad you sharred it with us, kind of brings back memories of my first communion, some 20 + years ago....
My son, licks his lips a lot too! What is it with that, don't they relaize how painful it is?

Thanks for sharring Pete!

Brian

[mikehulsebus]

I've shot a number of speakers for the paper and since this isn't that dissimilar, the trick really is just taking a whole bunch shots--trail and error. Every place has its own lighting scheme (most of them horrible for photography) and its a matter of setting your flash at the right angle, power, and having the camera go at the right shutter speed. Maybe theres a more exact science to it all, but after a while you get pretty good at guessing. You ended up with a pretty good shot, can't really tell that you were constrained to your seat, though in the shirt you can see its a bit over exposed.

[Peter_AUS]

Yeah, I know it is critique forum and you can critique away. Reason I posted here, was I don't really think Viewfinder should be cluttered up as much with images as it is.

What is wrong with the photo, considering i was in a room, with 40 other children, parents getting them ready, and trying to grab a little space to get a shot, as they weren't allowed to move out of the room until the were heading up to the church.

My daughter was about 3 feet from the background, all in white (which is the usual for Communions) and I was about 3-4 feet in front of here with Flashhead 550EX. Because of the confined space, lack of time and inability to posed the shot, this was the best I could do.

No it isn't the greatest of shots, but afterwards I watch the professional taking photos using one Elinchron 400 shot into umbrella directly behind him, hand held, children about 2 feet from the grey mottly background. And he was using a film camera as well, which I found a little strange for such important shots. The group photo was interesting, in the church, he had I think medium frame camera and two flash heads, like Metz heads, positioned one each side of the camera on the biggest tripod (video I think) I have ever seen used and the flash was nearly at camera height to take the image.

Getting a shot was really hard as the parents had no idea how to allow for others taking photos around them. The children were less than co-operative as well, was really hard.

[Lava Lamp]

Congratulations on the event. This is a solid photo. I'd be pleased with it if it were mine.

[Peter_AUS]

Thanks Lave and Penny.

Penny I have been slowly posting some images on my memoriesinphotos.com website in the galleries there and linking the occassional one over to PR.com forums. I am wanting to build up the galleries there, which people are free to join and use to post images as well. Not trying to detract from here at all either.

Will post some more soon, my back has been very sore for the past month and not getting much better either.

Thanks for the kind comments.

[Peter_AUS]

Hi Penny,

I have posted up some more images on my website if you want to have a look.

http://www.memoriesinphotos.com/coppermine_dir/