Emm5

So have been practicing with my 24-70 f 2.8, shot at 2.8, 70mm
iso 400 Nikon d600.
Took this in late afternoon under overhang using just available
light.
looking for critique on pose, lighting and processing does it work?
first picture is ooc with just a bit of sharping and contrast.
Second one is one of many versions I have been playing with.

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

I prefer the more natural looking color in the first one. I have doubts about the expression and pose. He looks a bit like he's smelled something bad, or like he sees a suspicious-looking character. Otherwise, nice framing, good background.

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

Hi Emm,

You know I shoot this type of shot all the time. Here's what I do differently.
First the technical stuff.

1) I rarely shoot people up agains brick backgrounds. The white lines from the mortar makes it a little harder to deal with. I try to find non patterned surfaces. If I have a white background I will shoot long way against the wall to use the wall as a kicker. Acts just as a reflector. If the background is solid grey or brown or red .... I will use the wall as a background and use it as a light subtracting element.
Technically that's it for this shot.
You knew that the light under an overhang out of direct sunlight was good you just forgot that a Brick Background is not the best!


Now we get into the grey area.... Emotion.
You have to be able to get an expression that speaks. I have said this before. This photo is so close to that but it falls just a little short. Ask yourself this question. How many expressions did you get. I bet just one or two. You were focused on other things your background your light your camera. This is what the technical shooter does.
Become the emotional shooter. You have to connect your mind to his. I know this sound abstract. Whenever I do shots of people I'm talking to them the whole time. Sometimes the shot comes right away... I've got a take. Sometimes it's five minutes in.
Do you know who I like to shoot best. It's drunks.. The reason why is they aren't focused. Every shot I get is with the walls down. That's the trick. Every photographer has to tear down the walls. I must say that many times it is very difficult. In the end you have to settle.(Sometimes).

I am going to tell you the best way to shoot with emotion. At least it's the way I do. I look for the background. I want get the subject in the general direction I want. I make a half circle around the subject having a conversation and shooting at the same time. I give some direction like "Close your mouth".. How come you aren;'t smiling are your teeth green...(Yep that's a shocker. Click....) You're going to get angles. When you're talking about whatever you want some photos looking at the camera and some pensive and non posed. Stick your hand out and tell the person to keep their face at the point your fist was even when you move it.
(You look like you did that here. Congrats!)
Making conversation and a connection is what most fail to achieve.
That's why their photos look like everyone else's.

These are just reminders for you. You know this stuff.

A final note.
This gentleman looks like someone I photographed some years ago. When I photographed him I felt like I could have done better than what was. I didn't know what was wrong.
To be honest I still don't know if it was him or me. I just couldn't do him justice.

And don't forget... Watch your background..

Russ

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

I wanted to post two of my samples for shooting with brick wall backgrounds. (Was from a model shoot I did over the summer)

In photo 1 you will notice that the subject was pulled away from the background. Shot at F2.8 I could easily blur the background.

In photo 2 The shot was composed along the lines of the wall.
Notice the deep shadows on the wall. The wall lines are not brighter than the subject.

Head and shoulders


3/4 body shot

CajonPhotog Loc: Shreveport, LA

I like everything about the 1st one except his facial expression. Fix that and you have a winner for sure. #2 & 3 are fantabulous, great lighting, focus, and composition.

Emm5

[quote=PalePictures]I wanted to post two of my samples for shooting with brick wall backgrounds. (Was from a model shoot I did over the summer)

In photo 1 you will notice that the subject was pulled away from the background. Shot at F2.8 I could easily blur the background.

In photo 2 The shot was composed along the lines of the wall.
Notice the deep shadows on the wall. The wall lines are not brighter than the subject.[/

Appreciate all the advice. Thanks!
This outing was suppose to be about landscapes that turned into me practicing
The model so to speak is my husband.
When we came upon the building with the overhang, I really was just
Looking to practice with the lighting.
Getting him to smile or laugh is not the problem.
I was trying to get him to be more serious no smiling.
It was really hard for him to not smirk .
He has a great smile but I have tons of smiling pics.
I like the brick as a background but I see what you mean about it being distracting. I couldn't pull him away because the overhang was shallow
And then he was in sun and squinting.
Here is the first picture I posted in photo gallery with the lines blurred.
The second is the type of pictures I have tons of.
Thanks again for the advice.
Next time we go out I am getting him drunk first!

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

The second two are much better.
Ditch the first one.
This is the critique section you know.(lol)

Family is real hard to shoot.
Real hard to be objective.

...always bring a bottle!... But don't drink yourself your pictures will go s
Down hill fast.

Just a note the way you did the brick as lines in the second pick work perfect.

Good looking guy congrats! But you still need to ditch the first pick!
Doesn't compare to the other two.

Emm5

Thanks Russ , that pic with the vanishing lines was my first choice .
But I guess if you want critique you must post it here now . Not in photo gallery.

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

I was very reluctant to critique anything in any other section.
If you weren't such a good photographer I,wouldn't have even posted here.
Because you really know what a good photo is you can expect to get pushed by me here. You slip up occasionally on background and light but you are miles ahead of most. The only thing to perfect after your skill level is color and mood.

You know how shadows and expression can effect a B&W image.
After all the other technical components of portrait photography, expression and color are the hardest to get. That's what makes photos spectacular!

;-)

Memphis Loc: Seattle

A really nice exchange of ideas here...I learned a lot. Thanks for posting and for the critique from PalePictures. My only ability to react to the original photo is his expression...he looks so sad as if he is is thinking about something he really regrets.

Emm5

Thanks for the vote of confidence !