Portrait Critique

[Fearless_Shultz]

Hi All, I am working on a couple of portrait shots that I took at the weekend and would really like some feedback on how I can make the most of the them, I am still really quite new to photography(about a month) and struggle particularly with getting portrait shots right....

I would particularly like to get the second shot as good as it can be as the girl in the picture is going away travelling for a year soon and thought framed it would make a nice reminder of her and her boyfriend

The reason I changed to black and white btw is that she has some really bright luminous colours on her top and it is quite distracting....

http://www.just-seo.com/lizz2.jpg



http://www.just-seo.com/leeandlizz2.jpg

Any comments or criticims hugely appreciated :)

[Kev M]

Sorry but the first one looks like the cliff face is in focus and her face is out of focus. Not much can be done to fix that I'm afraid.

The 2nd one lacks contrast for me, it's lots of grey tones rather than blacks and whites and I'd be tempted to crop it into a portrait format because I think there's too much space on th left hand side.

I'm not sure what the 2nd picture says to me but it's not a couple in love. She's leant against him which is affectionate but then she's looking out to sea and he's looking at whatever is going on to your left. I think it's a sort of catalogue pose of two models not a couple in love.

I think you're doing a really nice thing for your friends so if you've got time try and shoot it again and ask her to wear something in less shocking colours and watch your focus points.

[Fearless_Shultz]

Hi Kev, thanks for taking the time to comment :)

Yeah, there is a slightly soft and blurry look to her face, just wasn't sure if there was anything I could do about that.... It was the other one that was really important though to be honest so I might just put the first down to experience if there is nothing to be done....

The main reason I would really like to be able to do something with #2 is that they have both seen and really like the picture.... I still have the raw file so will maybe go back to that and try and introduce some more contrast and blacks and whites rather than greys.

Not a bad suggestion to try and get them together for another shoot though, would be handy to have a bit more control over what they are wearing.....

thanks again :D

* funnily enough I kinda saw a catalouge pose element to it aswell lol, I wonder if littlewoods are hiring.... *

[Kev M]

If they like it then it matters not what you, I or anyone else thinks. :)

[Fearless_Shultz]

That is true enough lol, still I would like it to be a special momento so I will have a play about with the exposure and contrast and make the best of it I can :)

Thanks again for the candid comments tis much appreciated! most of the people I have shown my work to so far have been family and friends and it is very difficult to get actual criticims out of people or progress at all when all they ever say is ooh that's a nice picture :p

[ShawWellPete]

FS, it's tricky to crititique when someone is relatively new as most people want to give helpful advice without putting you off!

I took some photos at my cousin's wedding recently (not officially) and they used one of my photos for all their thank-you cards. Technically it was a rotten shot and would have got slated on these pages but they liked it!

With the first photo, the camera has focused on the cliff, get into the habit of using centre focus, locking onto your subject and the recomposing the shot.

I would say the main problem with the second shot is the composition. If the space was to the right of the photo it would look a lot better as it would give the lady something to look at. You may be able to increase the contrast by using the curves funtion in photoshop or elements if you have them. It may be my work monitor, but to me it looks a tad dark too.

[Fearless_Shultz]

Hi SW,

Don't worry I am very thick skinned, I am actually here more for people to tell me what is wrong with my photos than is right tbh.... :)

Thanks for the tip on focusing, definitely something I need to work on! I was in Whitby at the weekend and was really disapointed with the number of potentially nice shots that were just ruined by being out of focus....

I see what you are saying in terms of composition aswell, in retrospect it would look better if they were further to the left

I may just take this as a lesson learned really and go for a reshoot... tis just a shame the nearest coast is so far away :(

thanks again!!

[Ewan]

Thanks for the tip on focusing, definitely something I need to work on! I was in Whitby at the weekend and was really disapointed with the number of potentially nice shots that were just ruined by being out of focus....



Try taking 2 or 3 shots of each one. I usually take 2 of any photo if I can - less chance of missing it/getting it wrong then. You can use continuous shooting (if you have it) to do this quickly.

[Fearless_Shultz]

thanks for the tip Ewan :) I do have continuous shooting and I have actually noticed on a couple of occasions I have ended up with one good shot that way