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My second attempt at people photography
Oct 4, 2016 15:06:05   #
catalint Loc: oslo
 
Was looking through the sections in hope I do not brake any rule , and I think this has to be the right place. Maybe some of you have noticed my post regarding White balance. It was from my last weekend fun photo shoot with my lovely friend Susanne. She asked me help her make a little portofolio for her. Nothing special, just new pictures for herself. Or who know, she did not wanted to tell me :)

Anyway, I just want to share with you some of my favorites from this session. I am still learning , both my camera and lenses capabilities, but also how to take those damn good photos. ISO, Aperture/DOF, Shutter speed have been on my practice and "take care"- notes for a while. Heck, last month I've even dreamed about aperture settings. I still dont own a good blitz, and I hate the inbuilt one, but I think it put me through challenges along these two years I've been really studying. I feel this "no blitz" situation forced me to learn. And I can admit, I have reach the limit and I see the usefulness of a good external blitz. Still, I think I manage to do well without in the good conditions.

Lemme know how you like them before I toss them to the tigers at the Critic Room

Cheers
C.

D750+ Sigma 50mm 1.4 ART @: 1/500 , F8, ISO 800
D750+ Sigma 50mm 1.4 ART @: 1/500 , F8, ISO 800...
(Download)

D750+ Sigma 50mm 1.4 ART @1/500 , F8, ISO 800
D750+ Sigma 50mm 1.4 ART @1/500 , F8, ISO 800...
(Download)

D750 + Nikon 105mm 2.8 micro@ 1/500, F8, ISO 400
D750 + Nikon 105mm 2.8 micro@ 1/500, F8, ISO 400...
(Download)

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Oct 4, 2016 15:20:54   #
jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA
 
Nice model, I stay away from splotchy sunlight through trees because of the effect as in number 2. Number 1 you at least had her full face and chest in the same light value, but a little hot on the cheek.
Number 3 is nicely done but the flash is low and her hand/arm is strangely posed against the tree.

Having said that, I am not a portrait photographer, but am trying to be better by learning.

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Oct 4, 2016 15:25:23   #
catalint Loc: oslo
 
jdubu wrote:
Nice model, I stay away from splotchy sunlight through trees because of the effect as in number 2. Number 1 you at least had her full face and chest in the same light value, but a little hot on the cheek.
Number 3 is nicely done but the flash is low and her hand/arm is strangely posed against the tree.

Having said that, I am not a portrait photographer, but am trying to be better by learning.


Agreed jdubu,
That's why I am also looking into have that blitz in the future. But to be honest, I love to play a little with shadows, but in these examples I did not managed to get it as I wanted.
This is my second attempt, and like always, I am more able to spot the problems when I arrive home, than when I'm out there.

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Oct 4, 2016 15:28:46   #
catalint Loc: oslo
 
--

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Oct 5, 2016 09:41:58   #
Toby
 
catalint wrote:
Was looking through the sections in hope I do not brake any rule , and I think this has to be the right place. Maybe some of you have noticed my post regarding White balance. It was from my last weekend fun photo shoot with my lovely friend Susanne. She asked me help her make a little portofolio for her. Nothing special, just new pictures for herself. Or who know, she did not wanted to tell me :)

Anyway, I just want to share with you some of my favorites from this session. I am still learning , both my camera and lenses capabilities, but also how to take those damn good photos. ISO, Aperture/DOF, Shutter speed have been on my practice and "take care"- notes for a while. Heck, last month I've even dreamed about aperture settings. I still dont own a good blitz, and I hate the inbuilt one, but I think it put me through challenges along these two years I've been really studying. I feel this "no blitz" situation forced me to learn. And I can admit, I have reach the limit and I see the usefulness of a good external blitz. Still, I think I manage to do well without in the good conditions.

Lemme know how you like them before I toss them to the tigers at the Critic Room

Cheers
C.
Was looking through the sections in hope I do not ... (show quote)


The "sun spots" on her from shooting under the trees are not nearly as bad as one frequently gets in that situation and I kind of like what you have. Number 1 is my favorite from an artistic point of view. I like all of them but her hands in #3. Right hand looks tense against the tree. Perhaps it should be more curved or fingers spread slightly. The left hand doesn't look quite right. Over all very good and remember my comments are about art not technical issues so to each his own.

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Oct 5, 2016 09:45:38   #
catalint Loc: oslo
 
Toby wrote:
The "sun spots" on her from shooting under the trees are not nearly as bad as one frequently gets in that situation and I kind of like what you have. Number 1 is my favorite from an artistic point of view. I like all of them but her hands in #3. Right hand looks tense against the tree. Perhaps it should be more curved or fingers spread slightly. The left hand doesn't look quite right. Over all very good and remember my comments are about art not technical issues so to each his own.


Hei Toby,
I take every comment,suggestion opinion as my lesson and I always would like to get a proper and honest opinion so I can learn.
And happy you are honest about it :) It's notes like this that makes me go back and try again

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Oct 5, 2016 14:33:34   #
Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada
 
# 1 is my favourite . . . possibly because she is looking at the camera which makes it more intimate. The harsh sunlight is not as complimentary to women as a softer light found in the shade . . . perhaps try some there.
# 2 is my second choice, but my only critique here is how far she is looking away from the camera . . . too much white of the eyes showing for my taste.
# 3 is my least faourite because of a couple of things . . . her right arm is in a totally unnatural position and looks terribly uncomfortable for her . . again looking too far from the camera with the resulting too much white of the eyes showing . . . and portraits are most complimentary to the subject when shot from just above eye level. "Shooting up the nose" is considered a no-no.

You have done an incredible job of retaining great detail in both shade and sunlight and that is not easy to do! I would suggest for your next shoot with this young lady to try in the shade only, keeping sunlight out of the frame altogether.
Directional light is very important to get depth and modeling, and as it is obvious that you understand this principal with your images, there is a way to get this in the shade. Directional light can be accomplished both by having only a single source of light, or by eliminating parts of the light on your subject. This is called "subtractive lighting". Subtractive lighting simply involves the blocking of unwanted natural light to create a natural three-dimensional quality to the lighting of people outside.
To start with, for example, by getting under a tree, or under the cover of a canopy, roof overhang, etc, you have just eliminated, or at least drastically reduced, the light from above. Some photographers will have an assistant hold a gobo over top of the subject to accomplish the same thing. From that point you will be able to see the directional light and simply move the subject around to get the light modeling you desire. For some tips on subtractive lighting, check out the following . . .

http://portrait-photographer.blogspot.ca/2010/03/todays-post-comes-from-book-jeff-smiths.html

Hope that helps. Keep up the great work!

Reply
 
 
Oct 6, 2016 03:13:52   #
catalint Loc: oslo
 
Weddingguy wrote:
# 1 is my favourite . . . possibly because she is looking at the camera which makes it more intimate. The harsh sunlight is not as complimentary to women as a softer light found in the shade . . . perhaps try some there.
# 2 is my second choice, but my only critique here is how far she is looking away from the camera . . . too much white of the eyes showing for my taste.
# 3 is my least faourite because of a couple of things . . . her right arm is in a totally unnatural position and looks terribly uncomfortable for her . . again looking too far from the camera with the resulting too much white of the eyes showing . . . and portraits are most complimentary to the subject when shot from just above eye level. "Shooting up the nose" is considered a no-no.

You have done an incredible job of retaining great detail in both shade and sunlight and that is not easy to do! I would suggest for your next shoot with this young lady to try in the shade only, keeping sunlight out of the frame altogether.
Directional light is very important to get depth and modeling, and as it is obvious that you understand this principal with your images, there is a way to get this in the shade. Directional light can be accomplished both by having only a single source of light, or by eliminating parts of the light on your subject. This is called "subtractive lighting". Subtractive lighting simply involves the blocking of unwanted natural light to create a natural three-dimensional quality to the lighting of people outside.
To start with, for example, by getting under a tree, or under the cover of a canopy, roof overhang, etc, you have just eliminated, or at least drastically reduced, the light from above. Some photographers will have an assistant hold a gobo over top of the subject to accomplish the same thing. From that point you will be able to see the directional light and simply move the subject around to get the light modeling you desire. For some tips on subtractive lighting, check out the following . . .

http://portrait-photographer.blogspot.ca/2010/03/todays-post-comes-from-book-jeff-smiths.html

Hope that helps. Keep up the great work!
# 1 is my favourite . . . possibly because she is ... (show quote)


Good morning from Oslo !!
And thank you Weddingguy for your analysis. Lot of useful information here for me. I spend lots of time, and I have focus a lot on how to use and understand my cameras capabilities and achieve good details on my photos, and now it seems I have come to the next stage where I need to learn more about photographing my subjects/composition. Lots of factors that can degrade a picture and all comments help me correct my view/sight and become more familiar with the downfalls of portrett/people photography.

Once again , thank you and wish you all a wonderful day
C.

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Oct 13, 2016 08:22:14   #
greg vescuso Loc: Ozark,Mo.
 
Re read everything Wedding Guys has said and try to work on all these points. The only thing I would add is unless your back ground is really adding anything to your image try shooting with less aparture,say f/4.0 to give the background more of a blurred effect it will draw the viewer to your subject. And if your shooting natural light put your subject in complete shade on a sunny day and over expose about 2/3 stop to light up the subjects face. With your 50 mm I would be opening that lens up to f/2.2 to f/2.8 and be getting a beautiful creamy background.

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