View Full Version : Portrait course quickies
Here are a few quick posts from todays course, C&C most welcome...
no PS trickery, just a convert from RAW.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/708/IMG_8467.jpg
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/708/IMG_8477.jpg
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/708/IMG_8469.jpg
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/708/IMG_8498.jpg
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/708/IMG_8506.jpg
minimeeze
20-11-2006, 20:35
I like the first 3 - very good, and they all look well exposed (well, to me who knows nothing, they do!). I find the artexed red wall in #4 quite distracting, and the last shot I find a little too dark, and the pose is all wrong for me.
Love the first3, red artex is way too distracting and I love the last one although you could do with lightening the face a little IMO.
1,2...mmmm :)
- It's all in the eyes.
3 hum hmmm
- Not sure what, but its missing something
4,5 not so mmmm.
-4 no eye contact and red wall...
-5 looks like she's lying on a wool rug. Dark pully and background dont help together.
#1 .... also how do you bend your elbow that far?
Thanks, the models poses were used by all of us with each person twicking it to how they wanted it, I really like doing the high-key stuff as I love the look and feel you get. Skip to the last one, I was on f16 and should have been on f11, my screw up also had wrong ISO for 3 shots previous to this so started to panic, I wanted to get her to take her hair back under her head as i thought this might look better? I lightened it up in PS but perhaps not as much...GOLDEN RULE Check and double check your seetings are OK, then look at the LCD screen thats what its there for. :bang: The red wall shots I wasn't so keen on these as a pose/setup.
I really like 1 and 2, they're both excellent, but looking just a smidge soft, the eyes need to be sharper, and I'd boost the contrast just a little to give them more punch. :)
I like them, especially the 2nd and the final one. She looks very relaxed and the lighting looks good.
Well taken
Very nice shots, I like them a lot.
I notice you used manual mode with pattern metering.
I couldnt contemplate using manual mode with anything other than spot or partial metering, specially with these solid blocks of black and white around.
Can someone please tell me if it is a good idea to use matrix/pattern metering in this situation?
I recognise the model in the first 3 portraits. Was your course at the Peak Photography centre in Buxton with Simon Watkinson by any chance? Know what you mean about panicing a little when it is your turn to take them and all eyes are on you. the poses seem a little 'staged' but hey! we all have to start somewhere and as you practice more you will be able to create your own unique style - so well done for trying. Cor! you should see some of my first attempts - I am not brave enough to let you guys even see them, let alone criticise them. GillyB
CarlOgden
22-11-2006, 21:11
Personally I like the last one! Maybe because it's dark!
First 3 remind me of Olan Mills images as my bosses daughter goes there. Not sure on the next.
Carl.
TheRedUn
22-11-2006, 21:46
A trick I learned to prevent poses seeming 'staged' (because the model is holding the pose too long) is to ask the model to move from one position into the pose then take the pic as she gets into it; the start position doesn't have to be too far removed from the desired position. Just like counting out loud "1...2...3... SMILE!", which makes for a more natural smile...
...just a thought, I know its difficult when a group of photographers are impatiently waiting for their turn...
I recognise the model in the first 3 portraits. Was your course at the Peak Photography centre in Buxton with Simon Watkinson by any chance? Know what you mean about panicing a little when it is your turn to take them and all eyes are on you. the poses seem a little 'staged' but hey! we all have to start somewhere and as you practice more you will be able to create your own unique style - so well done for trying. Cor! you should see some of my first attempts - I am not brave enough to let you guys even see them, let alone criticise them. GillyB
Yep, sure was ;)
Very nice shots, I like them a lot.
I notice you used manual mode with pattern metering.
I couldnt contemplate using manual mode with anything other than spot or partial metering, specially with these solid blocks of black and white around.
Can someone please tell me if it is a good idea to use matrix/pattern metering in this situation?
The tutor told us to set up in manual from the start, he suggested a shutter speed of 1/60th, then with the light/flash meter we took various readings and set the f-stop to what the lights and meter were telling us.
I will try and do a full review of the techniques and course when i get back from my mum and dads on monday, was gunna try and get it done this week, but I've been busy :)
very nice Glen, the first 3 are my favourites
Very nice shots, I like them a lot.
I notice you used manual mode with pattern metering.
I couldnt contemplate using manual mode with anything other than spot or partial metering, specially with these solid blocks of black and white around.
Can someone please tell me if it is a good idea to use matrix/pattern metering in this situation?
Somone please quote me if i'm wrong (more than likely) I was shooting RAW in full manual, if i remember correctly I think the tutor said the metering settings are over ridden by the fact your in RAW and manual, its down to you to get the settings right??? :shrug:
Somone please quote me if i'm wrong (more than likely) I was shooting RAW in full manual, if i remember correctly I think the tutor said the metering settings are over ridden by the fact your in RAW and manual, its down to you to get the settings right??? :shrug:
The metering system you choose to use has no bearing at all on which camera mode you should use... Manual, AV or TV.
Whilst it's true that RAW gives you much more exposure latitude at the processing stage, there are limits to how much over or under exposure you can recover from, so you should always expose as accurately as possible. :)
Yes, I think you may have been slightly confuddled between manual, tv, av and the various metering modes, matrix/pattern, centre-weighted, spot etc.
I understand he told you to use manual but it says in the exif that you were using manual, but with matrix/pattern metering which wouldve taken into account everything in the picture. I think manual is best used with spot or partial to then meter from a small spot of a tone that is important to you.
I just wondered if the tutor actually TOLD you to use matrix/pattern metering or did you just do that by yourself?
Sorry to be so confusing!! LOL :D
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