Second Portrait Attempt: I made another try at portraiture today, especially pleasurable since the weather was much too fine to stay indoors. More feedback and suggestions, please.

azemon Loc: Saint Charles, MO, USA

I made another try at portraiture today, especially pleasurable since the weather was much too fine to stay indoors. More feedback and suggestions, please. Everything I received last time was super helpful.

I think the B&W masked woman of intrigue is my favorite. Candy and I are going to shoot that again with a black hat, black blouse, and dark background.

(Download)

John Lawrence

I vote for #2. Your wife has a warm and wonderful smile.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

On composition alone, number two. However, I'd prefer it without the hat. Number 1 reveals a great personality but I'd prefer if she was looking at the camera. Number three is, compositionally, too centered. I think if she were positioned a bit higher in the frame, looking downward at the viewer, it would have a good sense of foreboding.
--Bob

azemon wrote:

I made another try at portraiture today, especially pleasurable since the weather was much too fine to stay indoors. More feedback and suggestions, please. Everything I received last time was super helpful.

I think the B&W masked woman of intrigue is my favorite. Candy and I are going to shoot that again with a black hat, black blouse, and dark background.

azemon Loc: Saint Charles, MO, USA

rmalarz wrote:

On composition alone, number two. However, I'd prefer it without the hat. Number 1 reveals a great personality but I'd prefer if she was looking at the camera. Number three is, compositionally, too centered. I think if she were positioned a bit higher in the frame, looking downward at the viewer, it would have a good sense of foreboding.
--Bob

Bob,

#1 was actually a throw-away as I was dialing in the exposure but when I got home and looked at it on the big screen, I fell in love with it. I may be the only one, though.

Regarding #3, do you mean that the camera actually ought to have been positioned a bit below her eye level? Or just recrop the photo so that her face is toward the top of the image?

-- Art Z.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Art, I can easily see why you'd fall in love with that photo. I think eye contact would have been an even bigger fall in love moment.

I think either would work. However, the "evil" portrayal would work better if the camera were looking slightly upward. However, position the eyes about 1/3 down from the top of the frame. That places the subject in a more dominant role within the photograph. Although the face is mostly hidden a lot can be said with just the eyes. See if you can have the subject envision a persona of saying, "you worm" in a belittling manner sort of thing.
--Bob

azemon wrote:

Bob,

#1 was actually a throw-away as I was dialing in the exposure but when I got home and looked at it on the big screen, I fell in love with it. I may be the only one, though.

Regarding #3, do you mean that the camera actually ought to have been positioned a bit below her eye level? Or just recrop the photo so that her face is toward the top of the image?

-- Art Z.

azemon Loc: Saint Charles, MO, USA

Bob,

I tried recropping. I don't see a way to upload it to the forum so I posted it here: https://gallery.wonderart.us/Ugly-Hedgehog/
Candy and I both like the first one better but I do see the appeal of the second composition. We are going to reshoot this theme with darker accessories and I will definitely try repositioning the lens lower.

Cheers,
-- Art Z.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Art, if you use the Quite Reply button, it will include the content of the post to which you are replying as well as letting you attach additional photographs.
Cheers back,
Bob

azemon wrote:

Bob,

I tried recropping. I don't see a way to upload it to the forum so I posted it here: https://gallery.wonderart.us/Ugly-Hedgehog/
Candy and I both like the first one better but I do see the appeal of the second composition. We are going to reshoot this theme with darker accessories and I will definitely try repositioning the lens lower.

Cheers,
-- Art Z.

azemon Loc: Saint Charles, MO, USA

rmalarz wrote:

Art, if you use the Quite Reply button, it will include the content of the post to which you are replying as well as letting you attach additional photographs.
Cheers back,
Bob

So it does. Thank you, Bob!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

You're welcome, Art.
--Bob

azemon wrote:

So it does. Thank you, Bob!