Critique Please?
Nov 28, 2011 01:21:05 #
Jschneir
Loc: Santa Monica, CA
phoneguy55 wrote:
while some very good advice has been offered ,...f... (show quote)
Very sound advice and good observations. Are you sure you are not a pro?
Nov 28, 2011 01:44:08 #
Cady, I happen to like the 'off color' skin tones and such. I use a lot of photoshop actions to acquire the edgy/urban coloring and I get a lot of criticism for it. Some of mine appear a bit green or pink, or pale...It's a matter of choice. I was told in another forum I was using poor editing skills to cover up poor photography skills. If we all created our images to look exactly the same, some of us wouldn't be needed. I, too, was a huge "tilt" photographer, but I've kind of grown out of that.
Once in a while, a little tilt is appealing. You'll settle into your own style. Don't let anyone tell you that you HAVE to live by the rules. Rule of thirds? Ehhhh....Dare to be different.
I think you've done a great job!
Once in a while, a little tilt is appealing. You'll settle into your own style. Don't let anyone tell you that you HAVE to live by the rules. Rule of thirds? Ehhhh....Dare to be different.
I think you've done a great job!
Nov 28, 2011 01:47:08 #
kegler
Loc: N. E. Indiana
Like some of the others I like #1 but think it could use just a touch more skin tone. Like sthe skin in 2 &3 but not the blown out background, and don't care for the tilted shots. Hope she keeps posing for you, or someone else, great eyes!
Nov 28, 2011 02:07:57 #
Nov 28, 2011 02:09:00 #
Try to take photo during late sunset with sun mainly to the persons back or even better in the shade. When the sun is low you have better results and use a light meter to capture what setting you need after reading at the face.
Direct sun is bad and even in the background since cameras tend to over compensate for bright objects.
Good luck.
Direct sun is bad and even in the background since cameras tend to over compensate for bright objects.
Good luck.
Nov 28, 2011 06:55:26 #
Cady, I like your pics. I really do like the tilted ones. I wouldn't want a whole set of tilted ones but doing two or three for the person to choose from if they want one is fine.
Nov 28, 2011 20:56:11 #
Lucian
Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio
Cady, Don't be put off by all the people telling you they don't like the space on the left or the washed out look or the weak colour or tilt etc. Don't get me wrong people reading this, you are all entitled to voice your opinions and it's good to advise others of what we feel in a shot, so I'm not knocking you, I'm just giving my own advice to Cady here.
As for the tilt, a tilt is fine and used a lot in all facets of photogrpahy today, from still life to portraits to weddings, fashion and more, especially in senior shoots, so despite some of the possibly old fashioned crowd not liking it, and read that again people... "Possibly old fashioned", don't be put off doing it. However, don't tilt the frame too far or it will simply look wrong.
And remember that a tilt can look wrong one way, but flick it the other and it suddenly seems to work. So when tilting, if you have the time, as in not an action shot, tilt both ways a little, and then a little more, then choose what you like when you go back through them, later on. Tilting is here, has been for a number of years and here to stay for a good while. So experiment with it, regardless of what a few others may or may not like.
You have, luckily, a beautiful subject with which to work with stunning eyes and a face just made for photography, so you are half way there already. I don't know if you directed her positions/poses, or she just did them, but they are, in my opinion, perfect. I would love to have the chance to photograph her.
You have a particular style developing, it's evident, so just go with it and shoot what feels right to you and don't listen too much to what others are telling you. For a while, just do what feels right for you or else you will be trying to emulated what others are doing or telling you to do, and you'll never develop your own style. Go and be free.
As for the washed out look, not every portrait has to have perfectly exposed skin tones, contrary to what some seem to think. What I saw was a high-key look to your photography and I assumed you were going for this look intentionally, rather than it being something that went wrong in the camera for you.
Your model's looks work very well for this type of look and she has beautiful features that are accentuated when exposed the way you have chosen to do, with in camera over exposure or Photoshop work, I love it and think it is fantastic.
If that is what you were going after, don't be afraid to let us all know that, then we have to accept and respect that. Now if it was a mistake, and you didn't like it and wanted to know what you may have done wrong, that's a different matter.
That negative space to the side of one of your close in shots, that is also fantastic and looks great, so don't listen to those who want you to keep the head dead centre. That is not the way to make a stunning portrait that people will be captivated by. What you chose to do and or cropped to show, is perfect and it is correct.
Having said that, as a rule, do remember when you do such a shot, you should always have more space in front of the face when doing a shot from more of the side of the head. Model looking somewhat right as you view it, more space on the right than the left. Model looking somewhat to the left, then more space to the left, in front of the face.
Don't worry about washed out backgrounds either, if they work in the composition and the model type, then great, keep it that way if you like it. Now what you might also like to try is add some textures/overlays or grunge to your images. When there is a washed out background, that can sometimes make something great into something brilliant.
Feel free to contact me if you need some ideas or help doing something like that. Your images are great as they are and the arm over the head was also nice. Though, sometimes a slight crop here or there can help such a pose, if too much open space is showing in an area that could do with less beng displayed.
I think you did a great job, you have an excellent eye for capturing your subject and composition, have a great model and have chosen well for the lighting conditions too. That evening/mporning light does not work for everything, so don't feel like that is the only time to shoot.
If you are in the mid day sun, you could always think about shooting in a shaded areas, or shaded part of a street for example, to get a very different look again, or have someone hold a diffusion screen above your model. In fashion shoots this is used all the time.
Keep shooting the way you are, don't change for others, only change and experiment for yourself and I say this due to the high caliber of work you are already putting out there for us asll to see. That advise would not be for everyone, it depends on what the person is already producing and you are producing great work, I look forward to seeing more.
As for the tilt, a tilt is fine and used a lot in all facets of photogrpahy today, from still life to portraits to weddings, fashion and more, especially in senior shoots, so despite some of the possibly old fashioned crowd not liking it, and read that again people... "Possibly old fashioned", don't be put off doing it. However, don't tilt the frame too far or it will simply look wrong.
And remember that a tilt can look wrong one way, but flick it the other and it suddenly seems to work. So when tilting, if you have the time, as in not an action shot, tilt both ways a little, and then a little more, then choose what you like when you go back through them, later on. Tilting is here, has been for a number of years and here to stay for a good while. So experiment with it, regardless of what a few others may or may not like.
You have, luckily, a beautiful subject with which to work with stunning eyes and a face just made for photography, so you are half way there already. I don't know if you directed her positions/poses, or she just did them, but they are, in my opinion, perfect. I would love to have the chance to photograph her.
You have a particular style developing, it's evident, so just go with it and shoot what feels right to you and don't listen too much to what others are telling you. For a while, just do what feels right for you or else you will be trying to emulated what others are doing or telling you to do, and you'll never develop your own style. Go and be free.
As for the washed out look, not every portrait has to have perfectly exposed skin tones, contrary to what some seem to think. What I saw was a high-key look to your photography and I assumed you were going for this look intentionally, rather than it being something that went wrong in the camera for you.
Your model's looks work very well for this type of look and she has beautiful features that are accentuated when exposed the way you have chosen to do, with in camera over exposure or Photoshop work, I love it and think it is fantastic.
If that is what you were going after, don't be afraid to let us all know that, then we have to accept and respect that. Now if it was a mistake, and you didn't like it and wanted to know what you may have done wrong, that's a different matter.
That negative space to the side of one of your close in shots, that is also fantastic and looks great, so don't listen to those who want you to keep the head dead centre. That is not the way to make a stunning portrait that people will be captivated by. What you chose to do and or cropped to show, is perfect and it is correct.
Having said that, as a rule, do remember when you do such a shot, you should always have more space in front of the face when doing a shot from more of the side of the head. Model looking somewhat right as you view it, more space on the right than the left. Model looking somewhat to the left, then more space to the left, in front of the face.
Don't worry about washed out backgrounds either, if they work in the composition and the model type, then great, keep it that way if you like it. Now what you might also like to try is add some textures/overlays or grunge to your images. When there is a washed out background, that can sometimes make something great into something brilliant.
Feel free to contact me if you need some ideas or help doing something like that. Your images are great as they are and the arm over the head was also nice. Though, sometimes a slight crop here or there can help such a pose, if too much open space is showing in an area that could do with less beng displayed.
I think you did a great job, you have an excellent eye for capturing your subject and composition, have a great model and have chosen well for the lighting conditions too. That evening/mporning light does not work for everything, so don't feel like that is the only time to shoot.
If you are in the mid day sun, you could always think about shooting in a shaded areas, or shaded part of a street for example, to get a very different look again, or have someone hold a diffusion screen above your model. In fashion shoots this is used all the time.
Keep shooting the way you are, don't change for others, only change and experiment for yourself and I say this due to the high caliber of work you are already putting out there for us asll to see. That advise would not be for everyone, it depends on what the person is already producing and you are producing great work, I look forward to seeing more.
Nov 28, 2011 23:17:19 #
Nov 28, 2011 23:30:40 #
I'm definitely not a pro, but I really LOVE your style. It's different! LOVE THAT! And when looking at the "washed out" look of the first 3 photos, I thought to myself, "Wow! She really knows how to make those eyes POP!" LOL! Kind of like making a photo B & W and then only color the eyes! LOVE that style, too.
I also Love the different angels you take. They're not all "centered" and up front, and that, to me, shows your uniqueness.
GREAT job! Keep up the good work! :O)
I also Love the different angels you take. They're not all "centered" and up front, and that, to me, shows your uniqueness.
GREAT job! Keep up the good work! :O)
Nov 28, 2011 23:33:22 #
u didn't do 'em today, u've posted them before . whats up again. what do ya wanna know?
ceg341 wrote:
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
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
Nov 29, 2011 05:15:57 #
Lucian,
Well said and I believe (at least for myself) we were all thinking that though we were offering criticisms.
We didn't mean to imply that Grandma didn't do a bang up job...just trying to help.
And again in this thread you've stated it perfectly.
Grandma, I hope that you didn't take our criticism's in the wrong way...our opinions are only that.
Well said and I believe (at least for myself) we were all thinking that though we were offering criticisms.
We didn't mean to imply that Grandma didn't do a bang up job...just trying to help.
And again in this thread you've stated it perfectly.
Grandma, I hope that you didn't take our criticism's in the wrong way...our opinions are only that.
Dec 4, 2011 12:30:24 #
Personally, I love the first shot - rather 'other worldly' - IMO. 2nd shot is ok. 3rd shot is very, very good. It looks to me like you have what it takes to become a truly great photographer. Your composition is fantastic. And it doesn't hurt that the model is gorgeous! I'm betting your friend is very happy with the final product.
Lou Ellen
Lou Ellen
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.