I go to a local photography center that teaches various aspects of shooting along with Photoshop classes here in Covina, CA. It's called Tri-Community Photo Center and I think I've learned quite a bit from the talented instructors that teach there.

The classes are usually made up of Canikon owners with a smattering of Olympus and Sony owners. There are only three Pentax owners in the entire school. It's funny to hear these guys talk about how well their cameras perform yet turn out mediocre to just good shots. I think I surprise them week after week with shots such as these showing that the K20D's IQ is just as good if not better than their Canikons.... some of them come up to me and ask what kind of equipment was I using.... lol

These two pics were taken last week in class of two teen-age girls.... the one in red is about 15 and the other about 13.... Minor post processing was done to smooth the skin to get rid of the pores and blemishes and to add a frame and text. Other than that, it's straight from the camera.

This was shot with a K20D with my Tamron 18-250mm zoom at 120mm, ISO 200 (EDR), f11.0 and 1/125sec.




K20D with Tamron 18-250mm zoom at 250mm, ISO 200 (EDR), f6.3, 1/125 sec.



C&C are always welcome.

Alex

[JCSullivan]

Good on you Alex. The shots are very very nice - the models, beautiful.

[Keith]

I don't like your background colour choice on number 1 but it does not matter - both photo's captured beautifully and I think they are exceptional.

Cheers
Keith

[cardinal43]

I agree with Keith regarding the background color for number 1. That aside, both pictures are outstanding!!!

If these beautiful young ladies were my daughters, I would have a huge baseball bat and a shotgun loaded with buckshot right next to the front door. Hard to believe they are 15 and 13.

[AlexM]

The background color wasn't chosen by me. The instructor chooses a background that is challenging and we have to make the best of it. Perhaps I could have minimalized the intensity of the background. They were two strobes with a red and blue gel to get that pink background.... perhaps it was for the girlish pink sweet 16 look... I agree, the pink is a bit strong...

Alex

[TomInJax]

The second photo, Rachael, exceptional! Most amateur-shot portraits don't have proper hand posing, but you nailed it in this photo! Great Job Alex!

[ManWithCamera]

fantastic portraits!

[gawan]

Superb! I am amazed how you did that, I mean getting a sharp picture with a soft appearance at the same time! Beautiful models!

[AlexM]

Superb! I am amazed how you did that, I mean getting a sharp picture with a soft appearance at the same time! Beautiful models!

Tri-Community offers a number of Photoshop classes that show you how to do that!

I guess I learned something there after all!

Alex

[Rener]

FANTASTIC shots Alex, I find PENTAX shooters are generally more educated about their choice of equipment and go against the flow. There are better hamburgers out there than just McDonalds and Burger Kings, no doubt these two are the biggest.

Cheers,

Rene

[mwcfire]

Great shots! I really like that the Tamron 18-250 was used! I love that lens's versatility.

[cputeq]

Like everyone else - great shots! Distracting background on #1 but of course not your choice.

I feel sorry for the father of these two ladies - I find it incredible that #1 is only 15! Very mature looking for her age.

And a surprising lens choice that worked out beautifully.

[AlexM]

Like everyone else - great shots! Distracting background on #1 but of course not your choice.

I feel sorry for the father of these two ladies - I find it incredible that #1 is only 15! Very mature looking for her age.

And a surprising lens choice that worked out beautifully.

I've found that the Tamron 18-280mm has a bit if a sweet spot between 80-125mm that produces some very sharp pix. At the 250mm end, even though it's a little softer, you still can get some pretty decent shots.

Alex