Portrait learning curve

R

Rufus

Messages
39
Edit My Images
No
As the title suggest this is new to me.
I think that learning from earlier post it might be an idea to give some history and then people can comment accordingly.
This was taken late afternoon with very harsh intrusive sunlight.
I don't have the best equipment or experience but do have loads of enthusiasm :)
I don't have a tripod , car or full set of lungs.
A rucksack holds as much as I'm able to carry which includes food and clothing , so even if I could afford the gear it's unlikely I could take everything I need with me.
I don't want sympathy , simply encoragement that will keep me out and about exercising what I have left.
Now tell me what you think of the picture.....and remember to be kind .......lol

[URL=http://s1162.photobucket.com/user/1st-Octarine/media/IMG_8286-m_zps59e4be9d.jpg.html][/URL]
 
Not sure this is kind but a few initial thoughts...
  • The subjects are too central in the frame
  • The dappled light is very distracting e.g. my eyes are drawn / wander between her knees, his right leg, the hot spot in the rear of the frame and the bush in the upper right corner.
  • The shadow covering the his eyes means he gets lost in the image and little / no connection with the viewer compared with her
  • A little flat looking for my BW tastes and needs more punch
Some simple changes in composition would have made a huge difference e.g. get them in the shade as much as possible to the light is more even, a tighter crop to remove the distracting elements, lift his cap up a little to let more light under or more preferable use a reflector to bounce some light back in.
 
Haha........not convinced you read everything before you jumped in but .........
Yeah I suppose there's some encouragement that can be ripped out of you C&C :)
 
1: Subjects too central .......seriously small space to work with so made a choice to include the best elements available.
2 : eyes drawn between her legs........sugest you spend more time with your wife :)
3 : The cap......his choice not mine so unable to do too much about that.
4 : More punch ?........alter it too much and you have the 'It's a bit overblown init' brigade on your back.

Appreciate the input though but does convince me you'll never please everyone.

Did make the sale though :)
 
Rufus said:
Haha........not convinced you read everything before you jumped in but .........
Yeah I suppose there's some encouragement that can be ripped out of you C&C :)
Click to expand...
I read it, i just wasn't interested in it.

What relevance is the "history" to the final product? Do you include it on a post it note with every sale to explain why the image is like it is?
 
Rufus said:
1: Subjects too central .......seriously small space to work with so made a choice to include the best elements available.
2 : eyes drawn between her legs........sugest you spend more time with your wife :)
3 : The cap......his choice not mine so unable to do too much about that.
4 : More punch ?........alter it too much and you have the 'It's a bit overblown init' brigade on your back.

Appreciate the input though but does convince me you'll never please everyone.

Did make the sale though :)
Click to expand...
1. Then make better use of what you have and stop looking to explain away why its framed badly.
2. I'm not really a knee person, more a T&A tbh.
3. Let him where the cap, just shoot it so it works better.
4. The image is very flat, adding pop / punch will not make it overblown.

Nope you can't please everyone and well done on the sale.
 
I do listen to what the customer wants.
Sale made and repeat business through recommendation will do nicely :)
Not a bad result for someone with crap gear and limited experience.
And the customer came to me knowing this but unsatisfied with pro toggers.......that in itself says a lot.
Obviously this also means nothing to you as arrogance pays the bills ;)
 
So far as composition goes not every photograph has to obey the rule of thirds and I see the rule of thirds as more of a guide than an absolute rule. I like this photograph even though it is centred and personally think being centred works well in this instance.
 
Last edited:
Michael D Beckwith said:
So far as composition goes not every photograph has to obey the rule of thirds and I see the rule of thirds as more of a guide than an absolute rule. I like this photograph even though it is centred and personally think being centred works well in this instance.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your obsevation........
I tried to explain that this was the only window open to me on this occasion but some simply don't want to accept this as truth.
At the end of the day this journey is about passion and keeping me alive a little longer.
People unable to appreciate this simple fact or fear for their own mortality can simply do one......lol
I love getting it wrong and being corrected but will never suffer fools or rude people ;)
 
Lol. That's the critique sandpit for you.

There is plenty of space for you to frame it differently and the lighting is crap. You have picked a poor spot to take the photo. Dappled shade is rarely a good idea as you will always have issues with exposure, shadows and hot spots on the face or clothing. His eyes having a harsh shadow over them doesn't bother me too much but it would be 'better' if it wasn't there. Probably an oversight on your part and is something I do often, then when I get back I notice it and could kick myself for not paying more attention to it at the time and sorting it there and then. It's no big deal but just be aware of it for next time.

You press the shutter, you compose it, you take the picture. Although gear does play a big part for some kinds of photography, it doesn't matter what gear you have really. There's nothing specialist about this pic so a basic camera will take this kind of shot all day long so playing the 'crap gear' doesn't really cut it for me. Sorry.

The reason you're drawn to the knees (on both!) is because they are much brighter than their faces, nothing to do with anything else. As the light looks to be on their knees you could have brought them forward out of the dappled shade which would have given them a bit more 'pop' as mentioned in previous comments.

The mono conversion has just lost them into the surroundings imo and maybe colour would be better?

Sorry if all that sounds negative, it's not meant to. It's meant to be constructive with some genuine pointers what to keep an eye on next time.. If you want 'great shot' stick to the 'for pleasure' forum or good old facebook.

David.
 
Last edited:
I'd give you my opinion, but I'm afraid it would echo what has already been said.
 
I'm not going to wade in with arguments.... just remember this is a photographic forum and as photographers we view images differently than what a client would (mostly blinded by just seeing themselves). I can be certain on this as a family we did a shoot and I have been picking apart the images produced even though she is a very good photographer, so in other words I am probably her worst customer.
I think if you saw this shot done properly you would agree that your shot is limited and probably wouldn't have been bought in a comparison scenerio. But you will get there only if you listen and take on board advice from here, you did in one thread but not in this so very confusing.

But that aside: see below vid very handy for quick tips.

 
Last edited:
As had been said above - it's probably the composition that's letting it down more than the light.

Zoomed in on my phone to crop it to portrait format and it looked better IMO. Removes some of the untidy background and shifts the focus back to the subjects. You've caught some really nice facial expressions but they're lost in the clutter coupled with dappled light.

Try a crop, you might like it :)
 
Never ever shoot in dappled light unless you really know what you're doing. Far better on sunny days is to put the sun right behind the subjects and expose for the skin or use some kind of fill light. People use reflectors too, but I'm not a fan as they dazzle as much as the sun.
 
Right... the photo. You've got focus and exposure is fine in some reasonably challenging lighting and contrast conditions. You've tried to isolate the couple from the busy background using a wider aperture - good (but bringing them further away from the background would have helped more). So the actually process of "capturing the image you see" is fine.

As others have said, there are plenty of ways to improve the composition, the lighting etc. but you have everything you need: a camera, a lens and enthusiasm. Get out there and take photos. But... if you want to "improve" certain areas then seeking input, review and critique can be very helpful, albeit only if you really do want to hear it :)

By the way, if you need more of a shoulder around the arm re: a photo then stick it in the general photo bit and ask for it!
 
Rufus said:
Thank you for your obsevation........
I tried to explain that this was the only window open to me on this occasion but some simply don't want to accept this as truth.
At the end of the day this journey is about passion and keeping me alive a little longer.
People unable to appreciate this simple fact or fear for their own mortality can simply do one......lol
I love getting it wrong and being corrected but will never suffer fools or rude people ;)
Click to expand...
What truth exactly? Mortality erm ok.

So despite inviting comment any poster disagreeing with your vision is a fool and rude? The image as shot and processed is mediocre at best i and now several others have chimed in with how with subtle changes it can be elevated. Those changes won't add extra weight to your backpack, shuffle you off this mortal coil any quicker or cost you a penny (reflector aside). It is mainly composition in this case that will improve the image and more consideration to the elements you have to work with.

Like others have said if you want advice or insight how an image might be improved (in the responders opinion) great, if you want warm and fuzzy comments about how wonderful your images are stick with Facebook etc.
 
How rude......lol
Don't need facebook only paying customers and I have plenty of those.
So long chaps time for me to bid you farewell :)
Keep up the good work ;)
 
Rufus said:
How rude......lol
Don't need facebook only paying customers and I have plenty of those.
So long chaps time for me to bid you farewell :)
Keep up the good work ;)
Click to expand...

Didn't even get enough posts to get in the classifieds.... Good luck :)

minnnt said:
:LOL:

With all the paying customers you can buy loads of good gear then... win win for you!!
Click to expand...

Yes but not as cheaply as he could have done if he got to the required level to get in Classifieds...
 
Last edited:
Another example of an OP not understanding the basics of critique. If you don't want to actually improve then don't listen. I would bet my house that any number of us would have seen more opportunities than this to shoot. That's no slur on your part, just an honest assessment of the situation where experience opens "windows" or allows them to be seen where there appear only to be doors to the less experienced.

If you truly want to improve then you have access to some great portrait photographers here who will help you but, unlike your family, friends, deluded clients and Flickr, will not sugar coat a turd.

Sup to you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top