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slim !yE5LOsLjxQ
I shot for a local memorial day parade yesterday. of course, being a huge noobz0r, i have no idea how best to photograph people. i'm still learning the basics while i get experience and get published in local papers (more writing than photos, but yesterday was mainly photos, like a whole page's worth).

anyway here are a few of my submissions. C&C appreciated.

first one: just some people of interest at the podium. i figured: just fill the frame with these guys, and catch the one talking as he is talking.
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Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot S3 ISMaximum Lens Aperturef/3.5Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaLens Size6.00 - 72.00 mmFirmware VersionFirmware Version 1.00Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2007:05:28 11:05:12Exposure Time1/320 secF-Numberf/3.5Lens Aperturef/3.5Exposure Bias0.7 EVFlashNo Flash, Compulsory, Red-Eye ReduceFocal Length55.90 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width1600Image Height1200RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualScene Capture TypeStandardExposure ModeProgramFocus TypeAutoMetering ModeEvaluativeISO Speed RatingAutoSharpnessNormalSaturationNormalContrastNormalShooting ModeManualImage SizeUnknownFocus ModeSingleDrive ModeSingleFlash ModeOffCompression SettingSuperfineMacro ModeNormalSubject Distance16.160 mWhite BalanceAutoExposure Compensation5Sensor ISO Speed160Image Number100-2137
>> slim !yE5LOsLjxQ
     File :-(, x)
conductor and high school band. no fancy stuff.

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot S3 ISMaximum Lens Aperturef/3.5Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaLens Size6.00 - 72.00 mmFirmware VersionFirmware Version 1.00Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2007:05:28 11:01:12Exposure Time1/320 secF-Numberf/3.5Lens Aperturef/3.5Exposure Bias0 EVFlashNo Flash, Compulsory, Red-Eye ReduceFocal Length49.60 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width1600Image Height1200RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardFocus TypeAutoMetering ModeEvaluativeISO Speed RatingAutoSharpnessNormalSaturationNormalContrastNormalShooting ModeFull AutoImage SizeUnknownFocus ModeSingleDrive ModeSingleFlash ModeOffCompression SettingSuperfineMacro ModeNormalSubject Distance18.190 mWhite BalanceAutoExposure Compensation3Sensor ISO Speed160Image Number100-2133
>> slim !yE5LOsLjxQ
     File :-(, x)
here's one i liked. it's a little metaphotographical i guess. the shot of a guy taking a shot of these ladies reenacting iwo jima gave me a feeling like people were really enjoying the parade. that is why i chose this for submission.

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot S3 ISMaximum Lens Aperturef/3.5Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaLens Size6.00 - 72.00 mmFirmware VersionFirmware Version 1.00Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2007:05:28 10:37:37Exposure Time1/250 secF-Numberf/4.0Lens Aperturef/4.0Exposure Bias0 EVFlashNo Flash, Compulsory, Red-Eye ReduceFocal Length21.30 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width1600Image Height1200RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardFocus TypeAutoMetering ModeEvaluativeISO Speed RatingAutoSharpnessNormalSaturationNormalContrastNormalShooting ModeFull AutoImage SizeUnknownFocus ModeSingleDrive ModeSingleFlash ModeOffCompression SettingSuperfineMacro ModeNormalSubject Distance6.380 mWhite BalanceAutoExposure Compensation3Sensor ISO Speed160Image Number100-2073
>> slim !yE5LOsLjxQ
     File :-(, x)
just an in-the-action shot of the governor's foot guard marching in...

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot S3 ISMaximum Lens Aperturef/3.5Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaLens Size6.00 - 72.00 mmFirmware VersionFirmware Version 1.00Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2007:05:28 10:11:13Exposure Time1/250 secF-Numberf/3.5Lens Aperturef/3.5Exposure Bias0 EVFlashNo Flash, Compulsory, Red-Eye ReduceFocal Length40.30 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width1600Image Height1200RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardFocus TypeAutoMetering ModeEvaluativeISO Speed RatingAutoSharpnessNormalSaturationNormalContrastNormalShooting ModeFull AutoImage SizeUnknownFocus ModeSingleDrive ModeSingleFlash ModeOffCompression SettingSuperfineMacro ModeNormalSubject Distance24.740 mWhite BalanceAutoExposure Compensation3Sensor ISO Speed160Image Number100-2031
>> slim !yE5LOsLjxQ
     File :-(, x)
... and marching out.

even though this one is from behind, i like the angle and the sense of formation that the other one lacked. it looks more, i dunno, paradey.

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot S3 ISMaximum Lens Aperturef/3.5Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaLens Size6.00 - 72.00 mmFirmware VersionFirmware Version 1.00Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2007:05:28 10:12:33Exposure Time1/160 secF-Numberf/4.0Lens Aperturef/4.0Exposure Bias0 EVFlashNo Flash, Compulsory, Red-Eye ReduceFocal Length14.20 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width1600Image Height1200RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardFocus TypeAutoMetering ModeEvaluativeISO Speed RatingAutoSharpnessNormalSaturationNormalContrastNormalShooting ModeFull AutoImage SizeUnknownFocus ModeSingleDrive ModeSingleFlash ModeOffCompression SettingSuperfineMacro ModeNormalSubject Distance4.630 mWhite BalanceAutoExposure Compensation3Sensor ISO Speed160Image Number100-2037
>> slim !yE5LOsLjxQ
     File :-(, x)
I couldn't decide which of these 2 (out of about 20 total shots) was a better 'parade arrives at destination' shot. it's very very direct. just saying 'here comes the parade'.

#1

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot S3 ISMaximum Lens Aperturef/3.5Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaLens Size6.00 - 72.00 mmFirmware VersionFirmware Version 1.00Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2007:05:28 10:23:00Exposure Time1/250 secF-Numberf/3.5Lens Aperturef/3.5Exposure Bias0 EVFlashNo Flash, Compulsory, Red-Eye ReduceFocal Length34.30 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width1600Image Height1200RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardFocus TypeAutoMetering ModeEvaluativeISO Speed RatingAutoSharpnessNormalSaturationNormalContrastNormalShooting ModeFull AutoImage SizeUnknownFocus ModeSingleDrive ModeSingleFlash ModeOffCompression SettingSuperfineMacro ModeNormalSubject Distance26.210 mWhite BalanceAutoExposure Compensation3Sensor ISO Speed160Image Number100-2039
>> slim !yE5LOsLjxQ
     File :-(, x)
and #2

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot S3 ISMaximum Lens Aperturef/3.5Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaLens Size6.00 - 72.00 mmFirmware VersionFirmware Version 1.00Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2007:05:28 10:23:40Exposure Time1/320 secF-Numberf/3.5Lens Aperturef/3.5Exposure Bias0 EVFlashNo Flash, Compulsory, Red-Eye ReduceFocal Length52.80 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width1600Image Height1200RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardFocus TypeAutoMetering ModeEvaluativeISO Speed RatingAutoSharpnessNormalSaturationNormalContrastNormalShooting ModeFull AutoImage SizeUnknownFocus ModeSingleDrive ModeSingleFlash ModeOffCompression SettingSuperfineMacro ModeNormalSubject Distance33.970 mWhite BalanceAutoExposure Compensation3Sensor ISO Speed160Image Number100-2042
>> slim !yE5LOsLjxQ
the rest were kind of garbagey. sort of filler material. it's a really low quality newspaper and it's a really boring town. they basically had a bunch of girl scouts throwing candy as the main attraction. I made sure to include some flags and lots of smiling children in the rest, but none of them are really too photographically sound.

anyway. tear 'em down so i know for next time please.
>> heavyweather !4AIf7oXcbA
"If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough." -Robert Capa.

Another quote I've seen somewhere is, "Get close. Then get closer." It's true. That's what these photos need.
>> heavyweather !4AIf7oXcbA
Also, the saturation and contrast on these is reaaaaaally low. Like, so low that my eyes slide right off the pictures. They need more pop.
>> slim !yE5LOsLjxQ
>>51306
hmm. that's how they come out of the camera. i complained to /p/ that i thought my camera took kind of dull pictures, but i was told that my postprocessing made them too oversaturated and oversharpened, and taht they looked fine straight from the camera. i didn't touch a single one of these in post. i'm leaving that up to my coordinator at the paper.
>> Anonymous
>>51307
I'm sure you know this, but it's not a simple formula.

For most situations, a low amount of saturation relative to what the average consumer wants is the right thing. But there's several people on these boards who cream themselves over Velvia film, because high saturation is good sometimes.

As for sharpness, I don't think it ever hurts to do some very subtle sharpening out of most point-and-shoot cameras on low ISOs. Just so long as it isn't obvious like, "OH MY FUCKING GAWD YESS!!1 I RAN UNSHARP MASK AT MAXIMUM STRENGTH TWO DOZEN TIEMZ GAIZ!!!11!"

It's usually not needed, though, either. Discretion is the better part of photography. Try your photos with different post-processings and see what makes it most powerful.
>> Anonymous
Oh, and what's the conversion multiplier to turn the S3IS's focal length into 35mm equivalent? I should know; I used to shoot with one. I can't remember what it was, though, mostly because (to be honest) I had shit clue what focal length did beyond zoom for most of the time period I was using it in.