Challenge Portraits 5-29-31: I saw on here last month that someone said something about portraits so I said that I would do it. I am not very good at it as of now but hope to get...

Agnesm Loc: Florida

I saw on here last month that someone said something about portraits so I said that I would do it. I am not very good at it as of now but hope to get better as time goes on. I Have a grandson graduating from high school in a couple of years and hope that i can take some pretty good picture by that time. Here are a feel that I have taken with in the past month.

Rey

Ricky Need to work on those glasses.

Korynna

Leo

Natalie

Lucas

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

It's a good start except for your picture of Rey. It's really too soft to be considered a keeper. I don't know what else is going on with it but the edges around his neck are not right. It could be just the background. In any case, it seems that in all cases, more care should be taken to choose a better background that isn't back lighting your subjects. Also, you could use flash to get more consistent skin tones and catch light. Keep on practicing.

Bushido Loc: No Where and Every Where

Agnes, I know you set up this challenge for you to learn from so let me say that head shots are not what you are looking for at this stage. Head shots are for actors and retouch artists. Back off and crop at the bottom of the rib cage. Once taken then the photograph can be cropped to what you want. Close image give a shallow depth of field and sometimes that is not what you want.

Agnesm wrote:

I saw on here last month that someone said something about portraits so I said that I would do it. I am not very good at it as of now but hope to get better as time goes on. I Have a grandson graduating from high school in a couple of years and hope that i can take some pretty good picture by that time. Here are a feel that I have taken with in the past month.

Agnesm Loc: Florida

jeep_daddy wrote:

It's a good start except for your picture of Rey. It's really too soft to be considered a keeper. I don't know what else is going on with it but the edges around his neck are not right. It could be just the background. In any case, it seems that in all cases, more care should be taken to choose a better background that isn't back lighting your subjects. Also, you could use flash to get more consistent skin tones and catch light. Keep on practicing.

I know that the picture of Rey is not the best, but it is the only one that I have that I took recently. No flash for me as of yet with raw. That is one of the things on my list for the future.

Agnesm Loc: Florida

Bushido wrote:

Agnes, I know you set up this challenge for you to learn from so let me say that head shots are not what you are looking for at this stage. Head shots are for actors and retouch artists. Back off and crop at the bottom of the rib cage. Once taken then the photograph can be cropped to what you want. Close image give a shallow depth of field and sometimes that is not what you want.

Thanks for the input. The pictures were taken after school so the clothes that they had on were so so.

markar Loc: Michigan

Agnes, don't know if I'll get anything to post. I haven't tried portraits. I like what you have done. How can you go wrong with such good looking children?

Bushido Loc: No Where and Every Where

Agnes here are a few of my rejects, however they may give you some ideas.

Bushido Loc: No Where and Every Where

Agnes, you don't need a flash, use a white piece of cardboard as a reflector if you need to add light. So what if the cloths are so so. They are kids.

Agnesm wrote:

I know that the picture of Rey is not the best, but it is the only one that I have that I took recently. No flash for me as of yet with raw. That is one of the things on my list for the future.

CHuckle's Loc: Lockhart, Texas

Agnesm wrote:

I saw on here last month that someone said something about portraits so I said that I would do it. I am not very good at it as of now but hope to get better as time goes on. I Have a grandson graduating from high school in a couple of years and hope that i can take some pretty good picture by that time. Here are a feel that I have taken with in the past month.

Good looking kids! :-D Head shots can be hard, so step back and don't soom so much. My professional photographer BFF says to always leave room to crop.

PAToGraphy Loc: Portland ME area

Agnesm wrote:

I saw on here last month that someone said something about portraits so I said that I would do it. I am not very good at it as of now but hope to get better as time goes on. I Have a grandson graduating from high school in a couple of years and hope that i can take some pretty good picture by that time. Here are a feel that I have taken with in the past month.

That Natalie is darling. Portraits are tricky. Faces pick up the colors around them. I can see you are trying for even light on faces.

PAToGraphy Loc: Portland ME area

I am not comfortable with flash even though I keep trying. I prefer natural light, candids. These were taken this week.

Purposely wanted the half shadow for effect (and it hides some defects)

Really liked it in BW

With his Dad and waiting for a tractor ride. Under a soft light. I like this shot because they are so intently focused on something else, they don't even know I'm there. I can lighten their faces a bit.

Not easy to get a oicture of these 2. Background was cluttered so used vignette to make the main subject standout. Nothing like shooting while your carousel horse is going up and down!