DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

My first post here. I hope this falls into the guidelines of this section.

Canon 5D II, Canon 70-200 f4L at 104mm, off camera speed light with 24" soft box for fill.

Victoria

(Download)

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

JUST MY OPINION: This is a very nice photo!! I love the backlighting and your fill doesn't over power the sun. The one thing that is bothering me is the sky in the background. Since it is the lightest part of the photo the eye is pulled away from your model. I would try to crop as much of the top as possible while retaining the over all balance to reduce the amount of sky.

Dodie

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

I like the shot very much. The Sky didn’t draw my eyes until I read this comment. Cropping wouldn’t hurt anything but isn’t necessary.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I am not a pro, and in no way have credentials to judge.
But I know what I see and like. Simply put, it is a nice photo, but I think the entire background is a bit busy and distracting from the subject.
I am surprised you have not received more feedback from the pros that know--I wanted to read what they had to say.
Their silence loudly says something.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Maybe they are experiencing the lifting of Covid restrictions and are out taking photos. With this being Memorial Day weekend there are parties and events taking place so the experts may view this later than they normally would.

Dodie

azted Loc: Las Vegas, NV.

First of all it is a nice picture of a very pretty subject. Personally I would have used the thick tree as a space holder to the right of the subject. Having it behind her is a little bit distracting. Also, the post above about the sky could be reduced by using a vignette adjustment on post processing. I like the color a lot, and the bokeh is just fine.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

I'm not sure that silence in this forum says anything. Particularly from what I have read in the bylaws. Constructive criticism seems to be the rule not the exception here of which I welcome and thank you for yours.

Victoria is a country girl who wanted to be photographed in the country not against a backdrop so I think I accomplished that very well in this portrait. For the record I'm not pro nor could I be called a semi pro since I don't make my living from photography. However, I supplement my income quite well and all of my business is from word of mouth and recommendation.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Hey, relax. I told you what I thought from an untrained amateur, but objective point of view--the background is busy, but if you and the model are happy with the image--Great. Dismiss what I said.

When few make comment, it might be because people do not want to offer comments that will be negatively received--as was mine.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

The best reason for posting your photos for critique and suggestions is to allow yourself to see your photos from someone else's perspectives. I commented on your sky and another person said it didn't bother them. Now you can look at the photo again and decide whether it bothers you or not or whether to offer the client this photo as is or another with the cropping or a vignette, as suggested by another person....or both!!

I don't think anyone here wants you to think it's a bad photo; it isn't. We all have our ways of analyzing a photo. I first look at the composition...do I like it, what method did they use, etc. I like to see if there is background, middle ground and foreground (usually in landscape photos) and on and on. I am sure someone else analyzes photos a different way. We just use different procedures to find what we like and don't like about a photo.

Take the opportunity to learn new procedures and ideas from what people say. Maybe next time you will want to try one of the ideas offered. I posted a flower photo for critiques and suggestions and had some very good comments on things I missed and even on some things I had forgotten since I hadn't taken macro photos in many years. It was an awesome learning experience.

I was in my 50's when I finally learned that critiques (not criticism) weren't put downs but a way to open my eyes to new ideas and experiences.

Please don't stop posting your photos or take comments the wrong way. Yes, there are trolls out there but you will learn who is or isn't . We are trying to help you improve.

Dodie

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

Thanks for your input Dodie. I actually went in and played with the sky to tone it down a little to see how much I could change it without muting the color. I do take in everyones ideas and critique and my responses were not meant to be snarky in any way.

I will keep posting - thanks.

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

Hi folks- No! I am not experiencing issues related to the pandemic- all is well and as good as can be expected during such a crisis. Although I live and work in Canada, (I am a dual U.S./Canadain Citizen), Memorial Day has special meaning to me as a Vietnam Veteran. Sadly it is not a day of joyous celebration for me, even under the best of circumstances. It is a time for me to honor those, especially the soldiers in my unit, that I served with that never "made it back to the word" as we used to say in-country. So..no parades or flag-waving- just a time of reflection and peace.

Now, back to business- PLEASE FOLKS- lets no get into some of the snags and "monkey-business" that oftentimes goes on in the main section of the forum. This is a place for quiet, professional-like and business-like discussions, honest critiques, good feedback, and technical and artistic conversations. EVERYONE is invited and encouraged to participate- there is no need to present credentials or business status unless someone wants to discuss those aspects of professional portraiture.

This is not a highly-trafficked area of this forum. It seems this . is not much of an interest in traditional and contemporary portraiture so it is a good and peaceful place for folks who are interested in this kind of work. We don't do birds, landscapes in this section and we are no obsessed with gear, GAS, and equipment retailers- fine and excellent portraits can be done with relatively modest gear in the hands of a savvy shooter.

I check in as frequently as I can, however, I am still operating a full-time professional photography business and lately, our commercial customers have gone to more on-line Ebusiness models, what with the lockdown, etc., and I have been inundated with product and food menu shots.

This is a fine portrait from the OP- so please be patient, I will offer a full critique ASAP- I'm sure you will find it interesting. Traditional, fine portraits depend on careful "darkroom work" and custom printing to enhance the camera work. Nowadays, digital post-processing takes on that role. This is where the good data on the fil is maximized but not overprocessed.



Meanwhile, Y'all stay safe and healthy!

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

Re: Victoria.

This is an environmental, casual portrait. It is not always necessary to have the background completely out of focus to establish a certain kind of "bokeh". Oftentimes the background is part of the story about the subject- her environment, where she lives, and prefers to be.

Backlighted portraits can oftentimes be problematic because the angle of incidence that beautifully illuminates the hair and provides accent or rim lighting also will overly light certain elements in the background and cause a bit of distraction- even if they are totally out of focus. Sometimes it is easier to control the background by shooting into a darker area but that may not be available. In my own method, I sometimes use special vignetter to subdue the background or use a clear filter with a thin pinstripe black tape stuck to it in a diagonal orientation- this breaks up some of the highlights in the background as long as the background is out of focus.

So, as is permissible in this section I did a quick edit on my tablet to illustrate a few points: My screen shows a pronounced RED bias so I correct the skin tone.

I reduced some of the hot-spots by burning them in slightly. I replace the sky with "foliage" and left a bit of pretty blue sky on the upper left of the composition- it is compatible with the direction of the backlight. I worked up her eyes a bit- she seemed to be squinting slightly.

The expression is lovely- the pose is casual, and the subject is well captured as to personality. GOOD JOB!

The image has dimensionality. With the background no entirely blurred, it gives the viewers the impression that they can visuall enter the image and "walk around the subject"- yet she is still the main focal point to the composition.

The edit may below rez- I am not in my studio and using my location tethering tablet- If the color is off- I apologize- I may not have your calibration on this machine.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

Thanks for the input E.L. Yes calibration could be an issue - seems to be a heavy green hue, to my eye anyway.