ceg341 Loc: Fortuna, Ca

Hey,
I love this forum.
I would love opinions on these pieces I did today of someone I went to high school with. I'm 18, a young photographer, but I love photographing people.
Thank you,
Cady

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

Great photos!

there are a couple of things I would offer feedback on:

#1 - the skin tone, w/b is way off. She has a pasty, walking dead look.

All 3 - the background is really blown out and a little distracting.

The posing and connection the model has with the camera is wonderful, nice and sharp focus and overall just well done.

ceg341 Loc: Fortuna, Ca

Thank you :) yea it was SUPER sunny. the sun was right there. and her hair was sooo blonde that it was practically see through lol. and her skin is really pasty in person, suppper ghostly white. thank you for your feedback :)

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

My youngest is that blonde and just as pale, it's difficult to photograph.

What time did you shot? Try shotting during the "golden light" (the two hours after sunrise and the two hours before sun set). It's a much nicer light and so much easier with this skin tone. Plus your backgrounds won't be as blown.

ceg341 Loc: Fortuna, Ca

Yea, she had cheer leading, so we only could do 12:30 lol the brightest part of the day. It sucks being bot sooo busy : / But she loved them. And yes, those times are the best. :)

Satanta Loc: N.C.

I like the first one the best. Second, not bad but the extra space to her right makes me wonder if a caption or movie credits are going to appear.

I like the third but it seems to have a lot of yellowish coloring in there-might be my eyes but I looked three time.

ceg341 Loc: Fortuna, Ca

thank you :) yea the second one, that was all sky. it was super sunny, so there wasnt a cloud to be seen. and the last one, yes its yellow. lol the leaves are super yellow here in humboldt county!

heres another from the shoot

markb Loc: Illinois,USA

Despite the washed out look of the photos,I really like them. There is something kind of "retro" about them. The poses of the 2nd & 3rd shots are nicely done. Keep up the good work.

PWhisperer Loc: Allentown, PA

This type of photography is my thing. My forte. And I have some very definite opinions of what I'm seeing in your work here.

Altho in the first pic I see clearly what u were trying to do. U wanted a desat shot with the blue saturated more. U lost a little too much skin tone tho.

In pix 2 and 3 I'd like to see a bit of blue in her eyes. Digging the washed out look in them as well. But dont get yourself in the habit of solving color temp problems by desaturating your shots. Now and then the look is awesome, but when I see an entire shoot's colors toyed with it makes me wonder if a setting was off and the photog was trying to rescue the shoot by desaturating everything. Are u shooting in RAW? If so....use the power it gives u to get great color.

Remember....in portrait photography, the diff between good and great are the details. The spots on her face should be gone, as should the spots on her hand on her head. On the third shot...I'd like to see her gazing off to camera left instead of at the camera in every shot.

All that having been said...I am impressed. And, I'm not impressed often.

dhelix33 Loc: Live in Raleigh, NC - Grew up in Teaneck, NJ

What equipment do you shoot with?

Giving feed-back on something is easy. Giving useful feedback on a subjective matter - such as photography - is difficult. I have not considered best pactices (if any) for photographic critiques, because I spend time taking images, as opposed to analyzing other folks images. That being said, I would like to let you know my comments are really not about images you captured, rather about how you may be able to develop as a photographer, both technically and artistically.

For me to say, I like a particular photo you have taken because it is "nice“ - would not add value to your development as a photographer. However for me to say, "I like the images you posted, because first of all your model is a beauty, and the captures show your thought about composition. Perhaps a quicher shutter speed would lessen the wash-out in some of the images, as well a conversion to black and white may add to the overall impression of an image", is more useful as feedback.

I have also found what some consider “right or wrong” in photography is also subjective. Technical errors (such as exposure problems, for example) can be universally wrong, but artistic considerations are not universal. Personally, I have a strong affinity for macro and expansive images of nature, landscapes, and cityscapes. I have a friend who loves to do tightly cropped black and white images, and I find it difficult to give her useful critiques, because it’s not my usual style of photography.

Early into my photography skills development, when being critiqued I did not get defensive (In fact, I just shut up and listened). Getting people to talk to you about your photos is a rare opportunity. Let people talk (even if you think they’re full of hooey), it’s their opinion, and they can help you to develop a target audience for your photography, which should be important to you. But if you really feel the need, defend yourself afterward. However, I suggest you keep something in mind (as I did when getting into photography), if I felt a need to defend myself - I took a step back and considered why.

In my opinion, the best way for you to grow as a photographer is to do just what you are doing now – take photos and enjoy taking them. I can spend time boring you with a discussion of sensor size, exposure times, ISO speed, lens specifications, or which camera is “the best”. That type of information is available to you through formal schooling or seminars if interested - (and through assimilation as your interest in photography grows – should you allow it).

Keep taking pictures – and have fun in the process!

dhelix33

Here are a few samples of my photography:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/73877479@N00/6281632724/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/73877479@N00/6175955345/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/73877479@N00/6212872123/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/73877479@N00/6113224126/in/set-72157627986277766/lightbox/

NOTE: First three images captured with a Nikon D700 FX and Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 lens

Last image captured with a Nikon D5100 DX and Sigma 50-200mm f/4-5.6 OS lens

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I think you did a great job considering what time of day you shot them!

#1 has a good look....I like it...sort of edgy. I also would have probably looked for a background that was darker to disconnect her from it. Or blur it more and lower the exposure.

#2 is good..but a little low on the blacks for my taste. Overexposed slightly?

#3 is also good but a little blown out in the background...and possibly a little overexposed for my taste.


None of these critiques are of huge importance...the pictures look good; very sharp and well done. I'm guessing these are the looks that you went for....bright..hot, not a lot of contrast...not the traditional portrait sort of thing?

Very nice for mid-day...very nice.


Have you tried a much tighter crop to eliminate that sky?

ceg341 Loc: Fortuna, Ca

I just saw all these responses. I don't even know where to start! Thank you guys so much for taking the time to tell me what you timk and what is on your mind. As for Raw, never done that, I don't even know how haha. I use a canon T3, and those were with the 18-200 lens.
Other than that, i am my own equipment I guess lol.
They had plenty of color, but for some reason, i like some pictures desaturated. i guess its just what appeals to me. :P
As for that 3rd picture, yes, very overexposed. didnt turn out like i imagined it i guess.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

ceg341...

No sweat..I thought that's what it was...with "art" there is always going to be differing opinions :)

In all our critique I guess we forgot to point out what a good job you did :)

Kathi Loc: Pennsylvania

Very impressive, Cady! You definitely have an eye for compostion! I'm sure your friend loved the shots you got of her.

1eyedjack

All photos are very FLAT, portraits in general should
never be tilled, there are a few exceptions.