Hello! My name is Alex Vranas and I am relatively new here. I have been shooting for around a year and a half and have been looking for some good C&C on my work. Here are a few images from my portfolio (feel free to leave my comments on this thread as well as on Flickr): 1: Memphis & Arkansas / Frisco / Harahan Bridges on Flickr 2: Rocket Engine Pipes on Flickr 3: Asterisk Vehicles 2 on Flickr 4: Central on Flickr 5: Sunset on Flickr I use a Canon Rebel XS with an 18-55mm lens, plus an array of cheap gear including a hot-shoe flash and a 2000mm reflector telescope lens.
Welcome Alex. C&C per req: 1. I really like this image. It's a nice,high-contrast mono coversion. The composition is interesting, but I think there's another image which would be worth capturing too. Shooting from a similar position with your camera positioned in portrait aspect and zoomed in/cropped so that you only have this bridge in the image. I would also consider a day with a better sky, but overall, nicely done! 2. I'm afraid I get almost nothing from this image. There zone of focus is very small, and thre's a lot of distracting elements; my eye really doesn't know where to go. 3. This is another interesting image; I'd like to see the exposure on the trucks reduced a little bit, but I like the effect. How did you light this one? 4. This one needs some work IMO. The background, while softly focused is still very distracting, and the image is at least 1/3 - 1/2 stop under-exposed. As well, try and have the subject look toward you, not necessarily down the lens, but at least in your direction. The colour also seems slightly off, perhaps a WB adjustment? I'm seeing a slight green cast. 5. A classic, and nicely executed except for the missing top of the sun. I would also consider cropping a bit off of one side and making slightly less centered. Overall, some nice, and interesting images. Looking forward to seeing more. Just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary. ~John
#1 is definitely the strongest. The powerful lines and structures create an appealing subject. Though the image does appear to be slightly crooked. Also it may just be my monitor but it seems you left just a slight hint of color in there, creating a bit of interest. The rest just seem to be nothing more than some random shots, what is it that you want to do with your portfolio? Is it just to show people like friends? Or are you looking for work? I'd suggest thinking out why you would have a portfolio in the first place and creating a cohesive theme. You want to do headshots? Then only show those. That kind of mentality. Not to get off topic: The rest of the photos have an intended subject, but any hint of interest or possible story that could have been told were just lost. Not really sure why the truck and van are all that interesting, the random person with an uninteresting background (which is also very busy), and the sunset which is hazy. You obviously have some sort of an eye, you saw that first picture and knew you had to take it. Now you just need to learn to control it a bit more, best of luck!
1 and 5 are very interesting,great composition. 2- doesnt do much for me plus i dont know what it's about. 3-like the red sky,the overall effect is nice. 4-nothing special.
Thank you for your feedback. I probably should give better explanation to what I was hoping to achieve with each shot, as well as address anything asked so far. 1. The Frisco Bridge (in neighboring bridges) in Memphis, TN; Taken with 35mm B&W film, digitized with a negative scanner. I cannot take any new shots as I am no a trespass list that will get me in trouble with Homeland Security if I go back to that area. 2. I took a lot of close-up shots of the intricate workings of rocket parts on display at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville Alabama. This is part of the engine assembly for the Saturn V. 3. A VoIP software/hardware company also in Huntsville, AL. The shot is lit by a mix of the lights from a nearby parking lot, the lights from the Digium HQ building, and the city lights reflecting off the low clouds. 4. A friend of mine who I have taken many shots of. She is going for an androgynous look, so I set a custom white balance with low saturation to better emphasize androgyny. I would like to capture more colors in these shots, and would like advice on how to better capture that look. 5. Taken with a 2000mm Reflector Telescope. It was very difficult to aim with the tripod I had at the time, so I was unfortunately unable to get the entire sun in the frame before it set completely.
