Some Close Ups

gummibear

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I'm really trying to work on some of my close up portrait shots, been practicing with my now19 month old son who Never stays still but he managed to when I told him I had some ABC's on my camera, lol. Guess that's why the confused face. I've been working on getting a sharp image, esp. the eyes. Please let me know what you think and what I can do to improve.

1) http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4559682492_336bcf497d.jpg
4559682492_336bcf497d.jpg


2) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/4559680188_0e4ea05d49.jpg
4559680188_0e4ea05d49.jpg


3) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3345/4559680750_487f3485af.jpg
4559680750_487f3485af.jpg


and one of myself, hand held, in the truck thought the light coming off the concrete building would be a nice touch ... and no, my son's not addopted. he just looks just like his handsome Daddy and nothing like me,lol

4) http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4583063368_108b118a4c.jpg
4583063368_108b118a4c.jpg
 
From what I can tell you've got the sharpness down. And the lighting is fine in #1 and 2.

The light in #3 is bad. His eye basically disappear. So, now you need to work on your light.

I'm not big on close up portraits unless the subject has a most amazing face (like major wrinkles, or... something like that http://development-toddler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/wrinkles1.jpg) or the face is cropped in an interesting way. Neither is the case here, so I think you should now also work on your composition.


As far as #4 is concerned, if you're not pretty, can I have your pretty sister's number?
 
I love the frames))) cute.

But I think there should be more B&W contract in the firts photo.

The second needs better sharpness, as c.cloudwalker mentioned.
As for the third one, you def made that shot on a very lit background with a flash, and so your forehead is very dark.....

just pay attention to this when you make shots the next time);)
 
c.cloudwalker thank you for you input. Yeah i kinda had a feeling lighting in #3 was bad, guess i was a little biased with the cute face, lol. I tried to lighten the eye in photoshop but not much luck.
I agree with having to have an interesting face, I love the photo that you listed, I'd really like the opportunity to shoot someone with such an interesting face. Would you happen to have any information or links to any sites as to which I can work on my composition, p.s. sisters taken too..
susanmart thank you too. although I never used any flash in any of these photos. just sunlight and the sun was kinda harsh in #3 and it was cloudy on the day I took #4 so i tried to use what I had at the available time. I'm working on getting a reflector, Or a way to turn my piece of white foam board into something I can prop up....? Also in #1 I was trying to make His Eyes really pop by lightening it more, but I guess I did it too much.
Thanks all, I appreciate It
 
Darn your sister! :lol:

For composition, I always suggest taking Design 101 and 102 classes. I'm the kind of person who learns from manuals and books but in this case I appreciated having access to the reaction of my classmates and professor. It was money well spent.

If no one offers those classes in your area, try the library for books on design. Photo books on composition leave a lot to be desired imo but if that's the only game in town, grab whatever the library has. It doesn't matter how old the book is. The principles of design have not changed over the years.

Foam core boards make wonderful, cheap reflectors. Enlist your husband as a mobile reflector stand :)
 
:lol:
thanks I will check out the library and study some on this subject. thanks. yeah I also thought about using one of those car shades that you put in your dash, arent they reflective on one side, I thought about this because you can fold them up real compact too couldn't you? Don't know I've never used one. Just had this Idea riding down the road after wiping the dash with some Meguires...
 
Yes, car shades are used by quite a few people. Their advantage and disadvantage is that they fold. You can't just lean it against something, like yourself for example. Also, they usually are silver, it seems to me, which will sometimes give more reflection than you want...
 
ok that's great to know thank you very much
 
I use car shades, the ones I got are silver, but one side is shiny, and the other is not, more dulled. Its nice to have a couple options, and $10 compared to $50+ for a real reflector, works great!
 

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