catalint Loc: oslo

Hi my dear hogs,
I am back for another critique.

My friend Susanne joined me for another session out in the woods. This forest is so dens it did not let much light in, and of course no flash yet. So I had a challenge with high ISO. This photo is something I want to keep, but needed a strong PP.

My self critique is that I should avoided the branches on the left and had her move a little more to the middle. I shot this in rather dark enviroment, @F2.8 ISO 1250 , 1/400s with my Nikon 105mm 2.8

What's done in LR :

Exposure +2,02
Shadows +36
Whites +62
Blacks 0

Maskin 86 and Sharpening 50
Luminance 30
Vignetting -19

Ready for the roast
Thank you

(Download)

steve w Loc: Mesquite, TX

Post processing is REALLY not my strong point but I would offer this and hope you will take it in the helpful spirit in which it is given:
My first impression of this image is that bright blue/turquoise dress absolutely overpowers everything else in the image. Nice enough dress and a fair color mind you in the right setting but while it jumps off the "page", the rest (darker) parts of the image just seem to be completely overwhelmed. Next my eyes go directly to the right arm, a partial left forearm and hand, the right leg and that shock of blond (?) hair off the left shoulder... again, all fairly "bright" items that need to be brought down in intensity or at least balanced to the remainder of the image. Unfortunately, the young lady's face is one of the last things I notice while it should be close to first.
There are small twigs across the front of the dress that need to be removed among other issues.
I don't use LR so can't comment on the settings you provided.
I hope this helps a bit... I typically don't give critiques because images are so subjective to each shooter but in this case, decided that I'd try.

edit: I might also add that if you're going to be shooting often in these type wooded conditions, add a small pair of garden hand clippers to your kit. It's easy enough to trim off a few SMALL stray branches here and there without hurting the plants in question or damaging anything important. Be neat and don't take off more than absolutely necessary.

trc Loc: Logan, OH

Catalin,

Now we can see how an image and taste are subjective. I think the color of her dress supplies great contrast to the darker background. I do have to agree with it being just a tad too bright as if there was more light cast on her dress than on her face. I would definitely try to lighten her face up a tad in Post Processing since you did not have a light for fill, so to speak. Her skin appears to be just a little orangish, perhaps? Possibly this is her natural skin tone or maybe your white balance needs adjusted a bit before shooting or after in Post?

Did you apply a dark vignette to the image? The lighting just seems to be a tad off and is confusing to me. Camera right side of her body seems to be a bit brighter than the camera left side . . . how do you attribute that? Its almost looks like it could be just approaching being 'hot' on her camera right hand and a strand or bunch of hair hanging down from her camera right shoulder.

If you were going to move her a little toward the center, I would caution you to not have the tree trunk growing out of the top of her head, and I also like the trimming of the branches suggestion to make it look a little less cluttered and the background less distracting. I honestly have not decided about the bright yellow leaf in the branch camera left (if it needs removed and provides an added distraction), and also the 3 or 4 bright spots even with her head and camera right - maybe clone them out and avoid any unnecessary distractions?

Generally, a good image and you seemed to have done well with no Off CF light/flash available to use when you clicked the shutter button. I might also have her move her camera left arm up or out from her body a little more to open up the space between her torso/body and her arm which would add a little more slimming effect and more of a slim line pose. I do like her feet placement, but perhaps have her move her eyes slightly more camera right (or you move) so that she is looking a little more directly into the camera lens with a little less white of her eyes showing. Lastly, what is that bright horizontal strand of hair or twig or, whatever, sticking out to camera right from her hair about breast level camera right?

Well, I critiqued your image with a bit of detail and hope you don't find any of my comments offensive. A lot of what I have mentioned is really stuff I usually see after I take the shot . . . there always seems to be a lot to think about when taking a picture in a setting as you have done. To me, the usual case is that hind sight is twenty-twenty, and I see things I wished I had caught after I snapped the shutter button. Thanks for posting your image.

Best Regards,
Tom

catalint Loc: oslo

Thank you trc :)
And I appreciate your comments. There is nothing offensive or negative in your review :)
I have come a long way in learning camera system, about ISO, Appertude and shutter speed, post-processing and all that. What I need to do now is "calibrating" my eyes for photo compositions. And that's critiques comes in handy. All personal views , good or bad, positive/negative is what is substantial for me in order to watch out for the many falls that can ruin a good photo.

"Did you applied a dark vignetting ? " Yes I did . To begin with the photo is very dark. Therefore lots of PP. But I kind am a sucker for vignetting effects and often try it a little more than I should.
As for the branches on the left side I did not see before I got home. That's how dark the photo was.

I note down again comment about having her eyes looking at me. Often I try to be original and have some expression of the face and not necessary eyes directly in the camera. I guess it takes some more practice on this.

Yellow leaf on the left : There you go, :) a detailed my eyes did not bother to much and cant say I payed attention to it before you commented.

So, Thank you again Trc, as mentioned your critique is my calibration for the future attempts :)

catalint Loc: oslo

Hi Steve W and thank you for commenting.
I've had comments about the arms/hand placement before, and once again there seems to be one of parts I tend to not pay that much attention to.
The small twigs I've noticed myself right away as I started to put some light into the photo. So good to see that you commented as well, It means I am starting to calibrate my eyes (as mentioned in my answer to Trc)

Once more, thank you for taking the time and commenting my photo.
and thanx for the tip with the clipper. I did a lot of cleaning on that area before starting to shoot :) And I promise , I am an animal and nature lover, and wont hurt any of them just for a photo :)