Portraits comment please

[jamin40]

First try at portrait photography just like some tips and also if there bad or good thanks

 

[TonyGamble]

Shot One would have been better if the background on the right had been lit rather than that on the left. The head disappears.

Shot Two. What is that blob on the wall?

Shot Three. Shadow on the right does nothing so should not be there.

Hope this helps.

Tony

 

[jamin40]

thanks for your feedback didnt notice the bloob so have removed it now

 

[deniz erdem]

did you apply a photoshop filter to these?

 

[tedolf]

up at a portrait subject has some specific effects on the feel of the image and the look of the model. I do not find this particular angle, or the focal lenght chosen flattering for this model.

Did you intend those consequences? If not may I respectfully suggest that you read a few articles on portrait work. Photoflex has a very good set of short on line tutorials you can learn a lot from for free. Once the basics are mastered (not that complex really) varying focal lenght, direction, lighting, fill light, etc. can all be done to get the image you are looking for. Kirk Tuck has some interesting on line information as to how to shoot difficult models as well.

Tedolph

 

[amtberg]

Agree, and would add that they all suffer from the subject's shadow being cast on the backdrop, which is quite distracting.

 

[mikeconte]

tough crowd here

i like that you tried unusual angles and pose and the pictures are moody and interesting.

there is bit of a double shadow from the flash on the right.

keep shooting and have fun

 

[misolo]

Very nice work, especially for a first attempt.

I like the second one a lot (after you removed the blotch) - the unusual angle and lighting with the bright red color work very well for me.

On the third one I think the tattoo is slightly blurred, probably out of focus. Because it's obviously such an important part of the personality you capturing, I think it would help a lot if it was completely sharp - just stop down the lens a bit more (or by putting the focus in between the face and arm you might have had enough depth-of-field to have both in focus).

The shutter speed is also on the lower end for these things (people do move, and a tensed-up muscle shakes...), so you may have motion blur. You might have gotten a better tradeoff between noise and shutter speed at ISO 400.

I'd suggest you don't read up too much on portraiture - reading a bit is very useful, but too much will more likely make your portraits derivative, unoriginal and uninteresting. Keep shooting and develop your style.

 

[tarnumf]

I think this particular shot is very decent in couple ways:

• Shadowing and red color make good contrast and mate nicely with overall picture mood
• composition of pose, model look and light are in sync
• the fact that both model and tattoo picture doesn't show eyes is good touch

I would probably remove/blur out hard head shadow and blur whole background

thanks for your feedback didnt notice the bloob so have removed it now

 

[misolo]

PS - I do agree with others though that you need to sort out that shadow (a shadow can sometimes work well, but not when it's that close to the subject).

 

[Beth McMillen]

--Most comments are about shadows, lighting, etc. I don't mean to sound critical, but what pops out to me is the shoulder and tatoo. To me is is distracting. My eye is drawn to it instead of the face and eyes. But that is just me, others seem to like it. Keep shooting.

Beth

 

[jamin40]

thanks for all your comments i didnt have much to work with they were all took next to the bedroom wall and the only light was from the window and the flash that why theres the shadow in all the photos i will use your comments and try again much apreciated.

 

[Kolen]

First try at portrait photography just like some tips and also if there bad or good thanks

You use the on camera flash? You should buy a flash instead. Something at about $100 is already very good.

 

[tedolf]

(other than daylingt fill flash) you are going to have to at least get a $35.00 fold up reflector. a lot can be done with a reflector and a flash.

Tedolph

 

[jamin40]

It was the on camera flash i have looked today online for an external flash i have no experiance in photography just take pictures of the kids and me so far so im working with nothing so far no tripod or anything so il be investing bit by bit is there an flash for the gf1 you could recomend thanks

 

[larsbc]

thanks for your feedback didnt notice the bloob so have removed it now

I like it. There are two changes I would make:

1) Move the subject a bit more to the right, so you have more empty beige to balance the subject and darkness on the right.
2) Use a fill flash firing from the camera right to:

a) Fill in that small shadow (I don't mean to completely eliminate the darkness...I'd just want to kill the sharp edged shadow from the left light source).
b) Highlight the subject's hair a bit so separate it from the darkness.

Good work, though.

larsbc