First 50D Test Photos

After a week of staring at my new Canon 50D - and becomming increasingly frustrated at the rain pouring down outside - I finally managed to take a few test shots indoors, once again using my mum as willing model.

When the blog was set up several months ago my mum posed for my first 350D post so it feels right to start a new chapter in the same way -

Taken handheld with my excellent EF 50MM F/1.8 II prime lens with an exposure of 1/60s @ f5 ISO500, partial metering.

Using natural light coming in from the left of frame and controlled with the use of blinds and some opaque plastic sheets I tried to create a soft halo effect on the background around my mum's head which has worked quite well. A home-made reflector was used to fill in the harsher shadows on the right side of the face and I've included one of the flowers on the background pattern to help break up some of the empty space caused by the off centre framing.

Software: Canon RAW processing and Photoshop Elements 6.0. Unbelievably using just a small levels and curves adjustment to really make the most of the lighting and the use of the clonning tool to remove any distracting skin blemishes (sorry mum).

As above with an exposure of 1/60s @ f5 using ISO400. This photo was slightly blurry as we were laughing so much at this point that it became hard to keep a steady hand. I should have perhaps switched to using a tripod or upped the shutter speed to compensate.

A series of shots taken inbetween the more serious efforts. I actually like these a little more than the more staged looking photos due to there humor and a greater sense of character.

All three have been given a slight levels adjustment in PS but other than that and the resize to form a triptych they are straight out of camera. You can really see how much of a difference the reflector makes!

I'm yet to really test the 50D fully but during this initial 30 minute portait test I was hugely impressed by the results.