It doesn't matter...

[chipman]

... how big or small the group is, someone always blinks just as you snap the picture.

• Canon - Canon EOS R7
• RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM + EXTENDER RF1.4x
• 560.0 mm
• ƒ/11
• 1/1000 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• ISO 400

 

[DrLex]

Indeed, crows are also really good at this. They blink with their creepy looking nictitating membranes very often.

• OM Digital Solutions - OM-5
• LUMIX G VARIO 100-300/F4.0-5.6II
• 300.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/160 sec
• Pattern
• Manual exposure
• 0.7
• ISO 400

 

[Smaug]

I took a family group shot the other day. I set the countdown timer to count down 10 seconds, then make three shots. On the first shot, almost no one was ready; everyone was looking somewhere different. On the second shot, my mother-in-law blinked. Luckily on the third shot, it was about perfect.

Next time, I will coach the group better how the timer works and set it to take 5 pix instead of 3. It would be best if it shot the 5 pix all within one second, instead of one per second. (Nikon Z5)

Here was the keeper. I insisted on shooting the pic in open shade, but did not bring my flash, so I had to use exposure compensation and blow out the background to get the exposure right on the peoples' skin. Then, there was the black guy; I had to let him stay underexposed, since most of us are white. A couple guys had hats, which shaded their faces even more. This was a tricky pic!

Lesson learned; I will bring my flash next time!

• NIKON CORPORATION - NIKON Z 5
• NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3
• 38.0 mm
• ƒ/5.3
• 1/90 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• 2
• ISO 100

 

[chipman]

That many people, and only 3 shots?
You are a lucky man.

 

[RBIV]

Quite a group! I don't find the bright background a distraction, but yeah a flash might help with the faces. Love that you centered the dog.

BTW, what's up with the shutter speed exif on your Z5?

 

[Smaug]

…

BTW, what's up with the shutter speed exif on your Z5?

I don’t know; it’s auto-populated by the forum software. If we reduce it down, it’s 1/90s I think. That could be correct.

 

[RBIV]

Hmmm. I posted a couple Z5 images in the Pentax forum (I know.... it's not a Pentax), JCDoss, "Today with your Pentax" post 205 and I just checked, the shutter speed auto-populated correctly. ?????

 

[coldcoffee]

I don’t know; it’s auto-populated by the forum software. If we reduce it down, it’s 1/90s I think. That could be correct.

When I hover over the pic using EXIFY it does show 1/90th