First attempt at shooting a live model
Dec 17, 2018 20:07:48 #
I've always been a landscape kind of guy with some rock bands and air shows thrown in for good measure. But I've long been considering shooting a model of the female variety for a long time. I dabbled a little bit of that in photography classes back in the mid 70's but that's about it. And it was more to hit on the girl in the dark room than to photograph her.
This past weekend, I finally followed through and attached for your critique are my first serious attempts. Please give me your thoughts. What did I do well? What could use some work? What did I totally blow? From pose to exposure to processing and everything in between. Everything was shot with natural light using a Nikon D810 and a Tameron 105mm f1.4 and another lens that escapes me at the moment. It should all be in the EXIF data if you are so inclined to look.
Please be forthright, but not brutal. Thanks in advance.
This past weekend, I finally followed through and attached for your critique are my first serious attempts. Please give me your thoughts. What did I do well? What could use some work? What did I totally blow? From pose to exposure to processing and everything in between. Everything was shot with natural light using a Nikon D810 and a Tameron 105mm f1.4 and another lens that escapes me at the moment. It should all be in the EXIF data if you are so inclined to look.
Please be forthright, but not brutal. Thanks in advance.
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Dec 17, 2018 20:37:11 #
Nicely done. Love the wispy hair and genuine smiles. I think you did very well, as did your subject. My $.02
Dec 17, 2018 20:51:49 #
I really like 2,7,8,9. I know that tattoos are all the rage today and have seen some really awesome ones but I really think they are a distraction. She is very pretty but that tattoo across her chest isn't. Number 9 would probably be the only photo I would be happy with since it shows very little of her tattoo. JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION.
Dec 17, 2018 21:02:41 #
Your use of the ambient light give the first 9 depth and a sense of dimension. IMO #10 is flat in comparison. Beautiful girl, overly tatted which is a distraction, but very well photographed. Great work 
Dec 17, 2018 21:08:55 #
The tats are so overwhelmingly awful its not easy to look beyond them. However I would say given the equipment you had to hand it was a very successful exercise. The "model" looks relaxed and comfortable. She has a pleasant smile.
Some of the backgrounds could have done with tidying up a little. The chair in the xmas tree shot?
The girl appears to be in denial about her true size and the tightness of her clothing has caused wrinkles which are distracting.
If you repeat this assignment with this particular young lady denim micro shorts and a small crop top with location in a trailer park may work better.
Some of the backgrounds could have done with tidying up a little. The chair in the xmas tree shot?
The girl appears to be in denial about her true size and the tightness of her clothing has caused wrinkles which are distracting.
If you repeat this assignment with this particular young lady denim micro shorts and a small crop top with location in a trailer park may work better.
Dec 17, 2018 21:17:25 #
canadaboy wrote:
The tats are so overwhelmingly awful its not easy ... (show quote)
What an offensive post.
Dec 17, 2018 22:30:54 #
My (hopefully helpful) comments would be that several of the shots would appear to be a bit underexposed, unless it was intentional. I would suggest spot metering off the subjects face and consider using some auxiliary lighting - either multiple and/or bounce flash or photo quality LED lighting unless you want to make an investment in strobes. The natural light is fine if that’s you vision, but a bit more exposure. If you’re interested in Portrait Lighting, I would take a look at strobist.com and go through their 101 and 102 free online tutorials. Just my thoughts...
Gentlemen, I dislike the extensive tattoos (intensely) as well, but let’s focus our advice on the photographic aspects rather than the model.
Cheers
Gentlemen, I dislike the extensive tattoos (intensely) as well, but let’s focus our advice on the photographic aspects rather than the model.
Cheers
Dec 17, 2018 22:32:45 #
"...I've long been considering shooting a model of the female variety for a long time..."
christographer young women carry a very heavy burden of being judged (i.e. valued) by their physical attributes (much of this sadly is perpetuated by males who oft view them as "objects of desire")
The challenge in a photo-shot with the aforementioned lays in how to honor their femininity rather than exploiting it...
To this end you might review magazines which seriously cater to women and as such indeed "honor femininity"
Additionally it may be wise to avoid poses that are only germane to "Men's Magazines" thus might be prudent not to use...
One that is especially challenging to pull off is having both the talent's elbows above her shoulders...
This is used ubiquitously in Men's Magazines to showcase women's breast... you'll not see this pose oft used in VOGUE, BAZAAR, ELLIE etc.
christographer after you've shot with young women for an extended period you may become more cognizant on how heavy the burden truly is for young ladies to look "attractive..."
That said what I've personally come to realize over the years is a dominate and pervasive theme and ultimate goal...
"Ever watch a young girl growing old trying to make herself a bride..." Lyricist Mike d'Ado elegantly nailed it...
Mike d'Ado compelling lyrics are omnipresent in this scenario...
btw, the first rendering in the series is truly epic!
LOVE the shallow DOF and dreamy bokeh...
Believe you have achieved excellence with this single poignant image...
The pose dynamic and illumination are iconic...
I certainly would be proud to have this in my portfolio...
Thank you for sharing...
wishing you all the best on your journey...
christographer young women carry a very heavy burden of being judged (i.e. valued) by their physical attributes (much of this sadly is perpetuated by males who oft view them as "objects of desire")
The challenge in a photo-shot with the aforementioned lays in how to honor their femininity rather than exploiting it...
To this end you might review magazines which seriously cater to women and as such indeed "honor femininity"
Additionally it may be wise to avoid poses that are only germane to "Men's Magazines" thus might be prudent not to use...
One that is especially challenging to pull off is having both the talent's elbows above her shoulders...
This is used ubiquitously in Men's Magazines to showcase women's breast... you'll not see this pose oft used in VOGUE, BAZAAR, ELLIE etc.
christographer after you've shot with young women for an extended period you may become more cognizant on how heavy the burden truly is for young ladies to look "attractive..."
That said what I've personally come to realize over the years is a dominate and pervasive theme and ultimate goal...
"Ever watch a young girl growing old trying to make herself a bride..." Lyricist Mike d'Ado elegantly nailed it...
Mike d'Ado compelling lyrics are omnipresent in this scenario...
btw, the first rendering in the series is truly epic!
LOVE the shallow DOF and dreamy bokeh...
Believe you have achieved excellence with this single poignant image...
The pose dynamic and illumination are iconic...
I certainly would be proud to have this in my portfolio...
Thank you for sharing...
wishing you all the best on your journey...
Dec 17, 2018 22:40:07 #
broncomaniac wrote:
What an offensive post.
Offensive? What the heck was offensive? The OP asked for honest opinion. He did a good job of capturing the model, and the model is attractive, but this new trend of covering oneself with tats is hard for some of us old timers to get used to, especially on a women. Some like them and others don't. Her tats, in my opinion, does take away a lot of her beauty.
Dec 17, 2018 22:48:36 #
Cookie223 wrote:
Offensive? What the heck was offensive?
The personal attack of the subject, who was all but directly referred to as trailer trash.
Dec 17, 2018 22:52:28 #
Rather than get into a battle of wits with an unarmed man, I'll follow TriX advice.
Have a Merry Christmas! Hope that doesn't offend you too.
Have a Merry Christmas! Hope that doesn't offend you too.
Dec 17, 2018 23:27:57 #
Dec 18, 2018 00:04:34 #
broncomaniac wrote:
The personal attack of the subject, who was all but directly referred to as trailer trash.
Trailer trash are your words and the words of no one else. A suggestion for a further shoot in another location can in no way be considered a personal attack. Your reference to people who live in trailers is a personal attack however.
Dec 18, 2018 00:13:15 #
canadaboy wrote:
Trailer trash are your words and the words of no one else. A suggestion for a further shoot in another location can in no way be considered a personal attack. Your reference to people who live in trailers is a personal attack however.
OK
Dec 18, 2018 03:01:37 #
The girl looks like a young teen to me. The photos, which I am not qualified to critique, make me sad. I find Thomas`s comments very interesting and relevant.
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