Beauty/Boudoir of my Fiance

[Patrice]

Her head resting on her arm in photo 2 causes some compression of her eye, the skin around it and a bit of her cheek.

Are you posting for critique, comments or did you simply want to show the forum your images?

 

[fjrabon]

I agree that there's nothing 'wrong' with how they're cropped or colored. This isn't classic chopped feet we're talking about here, it's a matter of judgement. OP should know that some people hate that style, and some people love it, and I think he gets that. It's not right or wrong, it just is. To some people (mostly older photographers) those sorts of crops are like nails on a chalkboard, but that's not really because it's wrong, as much as they've just been trained not to do it.

It's sort of like once I was talking to James Brown (yeah, the godfather of soul) and he said "yeah, I do a lot of things that sound wrong to jazz cats, but it sounds right my ear." I think you have to apply the same thought here. If you look at it, and it looks right to you, then do it. The only wrong thing is not considering it at all, which seems to be the case here. If James Brown had listened to the jazz cats, we'd never have had papa don't take no mess.

 

[brandonbpm]

Her head resting on her arm in photo 2 causes some compression of her eye, the skin around it and a bit of her cheek.

Are you posting for critique, comments or did you simply want to show the forum your images?

I'll just say sharing, comments and "constructive feedback" because within the 24 hours of browsing this forum, I realize that many people misunderstand the word "critique" as "rip me a new one" from what I've seen. Which can especially get touchy if you think about that if someone is proud enough of a specific work they have done or a photo they have taken to post it here for the public to see, they have obviously put some time, work and pride into it, so you don't need to kill their hopes and dreams haha. No one has done it to me though, everyone has been really helpful and respectful so far. I only got into photography last year so I realize I have a ton to learn and I want to be a sponge and suck everything up. I am definitely taking note of everything said here, in fact I have already made some adjustments based on feedback I have gotten. Its important not to have tunnel vision.

 

[fjrabon]

Her head resting on her arm in photo 2 causes some compression of her eye, the skin around it and a bit of her cheek.

Are you posting for critique, comments or did you simply want to show the forum your images?

I'll just say sharing, comments and "constructive feedback" because within the 24 hours of browsing this forum, I realize that many people misunderstand the word "critique" as "rip me a new one" from what I've seen. Which can especially get touchy if you think about that if someone is proud enough of a specific work they have done or a photo they have taken to post it here for the public to see, they have obviously put some time, work and pride into it, so you don't need to kill their hopes and dreams haha. No one has done it to me though, everyone has been really helpful and respectful so far. I only got into photography last year so I realize I have a ton to learn and I want to be a sponge and suck everything up. I am definitely taking note of everything said here, in fact I have already made some adjustments based on feedback I have gotten. Its important not to have tunnel vision.

eh, i tend to prefer reasoned brutality than kid gloves. Heck, things here are nothing compared to some of the feedback I got in my early days in the studio from our photo editors.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

[h=2]Definition of FIANCÉ: a man engaged to be married.[/h]
A woman would be a fiancée...

Not that I really care.

 

[pixmedic2 1]

The difference between hair color of #1 & 2 versus #3 is pretty dramatic.

I'm not particularly fond of your cropping of the appendages. Each example shows an error of in-camera framing or post editing.

Thank you for your feedback kundalini. I appreciate your critique but I have to respectfully disagree though I'm obviously biased. You are 100% correct about the difference in hair color, but as I stated before that was intentional because of my color balance adjustments. If you were to see each picture by itself, with no reference point of the subject or other pictures next to it, this argument would not be very valid. As for the cropping of appendages, that was also intentional because unless I am deliberately using negative space, I like to fill the frame to at least a reasonable extent. And having fingers and elbows etc. JUST in frame, at the edge of a frame is extremely aesthetically unattractive to me. Almost "cookie-cutter" if that makes sense. For example, if I extended the crop of her elbow in the first crop and stopped just past the tip of her elbow with some space in-between, it would look a little cheesy to me, and I would want to extend the crop even more past the elbow for more negative space provided the backdrop was either interesting enough or uniform enough (in this case I might find myself doing more work by cloning the bed to fill the rest of the frame).

But like I said, I am biased about this, being the one who took the shots, because the results reflect my own personal style. I suspect many will have different preferences about the color balance (I actually have about 5 different copies of each when it comes to white balance and color toning) but color differences aside, does anyone else find such a significant problem with the composition and cropping of the shots? I don't want to have tunnel vision and want to know if what I find aesthetically/artistically pleasing varies so much from what others find acceptable and effective.

for your own pictures, this very well may not be an issue. but remember, you did not post these pictures as single images, but in a group, with the same subject in each, so you must expect that consistent processing will be an issue for critique here. It will also be an issue if you photograph for someone else, who will expect their wife/girlfriend/fiance's hair color to be the same in all of their pictures. all in all, good shots!

 

[brycepearl]

Very beautiful young woman. I LOVE these shots, especially the first one. The color toning doesn't bother me at all. I think these pictures are very tastefully done, which is hard to do when people use the words "intimate" or "boudoir" photography with an attractive subject in little clothing. Cheers!

 

[AMOMENT]

I find these to be exceptional! they are sexy yet subtle and the lighting is beautiful and flattering. Can I ask what lens you used and any additional light? Personally, in 2 (or maybe it was 1...have to go back and look) I like that her face and eyes especially are tack sharp and her body kind of fades softly..........3 is all around pleasing and the light is divine.

 

[AMOMENT]

I recently purchased lightroom and really need to learn about all these adjustment capabilitites.

 

[AMOMENT]

When you split tone, ca you adjust highlights in some areas without affecting the others along with coloring?

 

[tevo]

The pose in the second and third image bothers me. The second photo has some sickly gray tones going on in the top left, and wrinkles/folds are shown that do not compliment the beauty of the model. The third feels a bit awkward, like she is trying to fit inside a tiny crawlspace or something. I like the processing, and I don't have any objection to the framing / crop. The first is my favorite, but I can't decide if I like seeing the edge of the bed or whatever she is lying on, it makes a blue-gray triangle at the top right of the composition that keeps grabbing my eye.

 

[tevo]

Her head resting on her arm in photo 2 causes some compression of her eye, the skin around it and a bit of her cheek.

Are you posting for critique, comments or did you simply want to show the forum your images?

I'll just say sharing, comments and "constructive feedback" because within the 24 hours of browsing this forum, I realize that many people misunderstand the word "critique" as "rip me a new one" from what I've seen. Which can especially get touchy if you think about that if someone is proud enough of a specific work they have done or a photo they have taken to post it here for the public to see, they have obviously put some time, work and pride into it, so you don't need to kill their hopes and dreams haha. No one has done it to me though, everyone has been really helpful and respectful so far. I only got into photography last year so I realize I have a ton to learn and I want to be a sponge and suck everything up. I am definitely taking note of everything said here, in fact I have already made some adjustments based on feedback I have gotten. Its important not to have tunnel vision.

*sigh* Let me be the one to say this now. Here at TPF people are very helpful, with a user base comprised of both amateur and professional photographers. Members provide C&C for photos posted, in the interest of being constructive towards one and other's photographic abilities and pursuits. However, this does not mean that users are obligated to praise and compliment your work. It is called constructive criticism. There is an assumption that as a photographer with some deal of experience, you know the things you are doing right. With that being said, there is no need to be reminded of them. When people C&C your photos, they are pointing out areas that can be improved so that your future photographs will be better. If your idea of C&C is people saying how much they like your work, this is not the place for you. There is not and will never be a "perfect" photograph, so if you ask us for C&C you will get it. That does not mean we dislike you or your work. We're really quite nice (with the exception of a few crotchety old men )!

 

[brandonbpm]

@Amoment, thanks so much for your feedback!
To answer your questions, in Lightroom 4 you can either change the tone of the highlights and shadows all at once or you can use adjustment brushes to apply it to a specific area.
For these shots, I used an old Pentax SMC-M 50mm f1.7 prime lens that works beautifully if you don't mind manual focus. I believe I used it wide open on the first shot but I honestly couldn't tell you my aperture for the second and third shots. As for the lighting, I utilized the white walls and ceiling in the room to throw light everywhere with a speedlight reflected off of the ceiling and slightly behind me in the third photo. For the first two, I wanted it more directional, especially in the first one. For the first one I bounced the speedlight off the right wall and slightly tilted upward. On the second one I used a softbox high and to the left pointed downward.

@tevo, Thanks for you feedback! you are 100% right. The heavy vignette I put in the second one caused the top left of the frame to fade into that sickly gray/green hue, I definitely plan on fixing at that now.

 

[brandonbpm]

Like I said before, I have absolutely no problem with constructive criticism, but there is a difference between constructive criticism and being rude. I was browsing a thread in the General Gallery section yesterday and there was a post that has since been removed of a member who said something along the lines of "i personally think this couldn't be worse, read about white balance, otherwise you're nothing more than a soccer mom with a nice camera." I don't know if he/she was banned or what, but I found that rude and not very constructive.

 

[tevo]

Like I said before, I have absolutely no problem with constructive criticism, but there is a difference between constructive criticism and being rude. I was browsing a thread in the General Gallery section yesterday and there was a post that has since been removed of a member who said something along the lines of "i personally think this couldn't be worse, read about white balance, otherwise you're nothing more than a soccer mom with a nice camera." I don't know if he/she was banned or what, but I found that rude and not very constructive.

Oh yes, there are a fair amount of rude users, but that is true of any forum. However, there are also users on here that come off as rude but are really quite nice. We've had quite a few new users post and expect to have their hands held, and get upset because people did not give them endless praise on their work. Some things just need to be taken with a grain of salt, and if you can overlook the rudeness of some people, you'll have a great time here!

There is also an "ignore" feature