tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Shot this outdoors using only natural light and no reflectors. Not to worry; she was fully clothed.

Sonny A77ll, Sigma 18-250mm lens.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

IMO, Your model is beautiful, the lighting is perfect, the pose is nice, but I would like to see just a hint of the young ladies left eye ( open a bit more). I am on the fence about the placement of her earring, just curious if it would look better if it were not "crushed" against her cheek.
I wouldn't worry if she were not fully clothed.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Thank you! I don't know what to think about the eye. I wish I could go back and re-shoot to see what the difference would be. Interesting. Yeah, even though those are pretty earrings, they did drive me up a wall. I have a beautiful front view where the earrings are hanging straight, but the narrow angle between front and back and the sunlight hitting the metal created some diffraction. producing a white space in the open area which was impossible to see in camera. I tried fixing it in post but with less than satisfactory results. I will post an example now showing where I tried repairing the situation with her left hoop and gave up and I decided to leave the right one alone.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

This nice lady was on the street doing a professional shoot with another woman and during a break, they both let me do a short session with them. They did ask me what I was going to do with the pics and I simply told them that I have an infatuation with natural light and that these were for my own use in order to improve my skills. I knew what that was all about. That would mean money and a model release. They knew I was being honest and were both just very nice, smart ladies.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Yuck on the earrings
This Young lady reminds me of the girl that play Don Johnson's daughter on Nash Bridges Jody Lynn , Can't remember her last name.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Pretty model- nice shots.

Here's a few things to consider.

On the first image- the "eye thing": First rule of thumb is don't cross the nose with the far cheek- go for a profile or a 2/3 view of the face. You had a perfect rim light for a profile. If you have an opportunity or the equipment with you- if you block some of the frontal lighting you will have less emphasis on her back and the lighting will be more definite on the face. All you need is a black flag, card or gobo. It's called subtractive lighting. Leave a bit more negative space on side where the subject is facing outward


The second shot. The light is coming from directly overhead and is under-illuminating the eyes and the eye sockets- the orbital area of the face. Sometimes of you move the subject slightly, raise the head and the camera position or add a bit of fill from a reflector or weak flash you will get a better rendition of the eyes.

I know you are into natural light but sometimes you need to modify the lighting situation. If I am shooting casula shots of people, out-of-doors, I carry 2 of the collapsible disk reflectors- one SILVER and the other one is BLACK- one to pump in ligtt and the other to black. For had shots- you don't need big ones- mine collapse to 12 or 14 inches and expand to about 24 inches.


I have attache a few quick and dirty edits to illustrate my points.

(Download)

dat2ra Loc: Sacramento

Thanks, E.L.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Come to think of it, they are a bit much, but they did look kind of cool at the moment. And I know who you are thinking about, but I Can't remember the name either.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Thanks, for pointing that out about the nose. I could kick myself for that one for I know that rule all too well. The sad thing is that I had the opportunity to prevent that if I were only thinking. This why I am still an amateur. I would have loved to set it all up my way, but it was not my shoot. These people were kind enough to let me impose on them. They weren't using any reflectors or such either. The professional photographer was using a small, hand held LED panel light. By the way, this was all happening in the middle of Bourbon Street.

The funny thing is that I tried the exact same thing that you did with her back in photoshop. I also got the same result with her left arm with the skin tone flame coming out of her arm. I tried to fix that but to no satisfaction.

Oh, and I appreciate you help very much. Thank you.

Tom

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Hey. Tom

Not to worry, the more you shoot and practice the better you will becom at the details. With impromptu situations, sometimes it's difficult to direct and manipulate everything that you woud do under controlled circumstances. As for angles of the faces, sometimes just a slight change in came position will get it right.

When I do formal or planned portrait shoots, I go over costume, accessories and all of that in advance. Even with that kinda planning, some of the younger folks like rather bizarre outfits, jewellery, tattoos and strange colored hair. That's why I don't usually critique on clothing choices. I tell folks to wear darker solid colors for low key portraits and whites and pastels for high key- mostly they listen and take my advice and sometimes they don't. If you are shoot unexpectedly on the street- it is waht it is!

I also tend NOT to critique on the beauty or the lack there of of the subject. I am more interested in how the photographer handled the aesthetics to bring out the best in each subject. Not all of our subjects are models and movie stars so we have work to do!

Keep up the hard work!