Exposure Difficulty

[tennesseejim]

I have been shooting portraits for about 3 months and I admit that my biggest hurdle is exposure. Any advice on these? I'm learning but I'd like a critical eye to give me some guidance. Thoughts?

 

[spiralout462]

You will get more "advice" if you post fewer images. Exposure can be pretty subjective however.

 

[tirediron]

You need fill light.

 

[Derrel]

On this one, the light is very close to them, so the light's rate of falloff is extreme...the light is too close for even lighting. Also, you put the woman in the brighter top, with the brighter complexion, and the more robust body type closer to the camera than the smaller, darker, more-tanned woman. I think this pose should have been flipped in terms of the subjects, and the light fall-off would not have been so obvious, but would have looked a bit more favorable.

When a light is that close to the subject(s), the degree and rate of light falloff over even half a foot is substantial, and rapid.

 

[tennesseejim]

Derrel, I can't believe I didn't think of that. You are so right. what a difference that would have made! I was so focused on focus/background that I forgot the most important part of this photo, the subjects. Thank you! That is one I'll remember forever.

 

[Derrel]

Derrel, I can't believe I didn't think of that. You are so right. what a difference that would have made! I was so focused on focus/background that I forgot the most important part of this photo, the subjects. Thank you! That is one I'll remember forever.

You're welcome, Jim. On this one of the young woman with the red dress...the biggest exposure situation is mixed source lighting...there is flash on-axis, and it's providing a good percentage of the exposure, but there's a fundamental color dichotomoy on the left versus the right side of the frame...probably due to something like big leaf maples...the arm and shoulder on the right shows a lot of green color cast, the other arm is lighted more by the flash and a lot,lot less by the available light, so its color is more true. I think this portrait would have been better if the shutter had been sped up, and the flash power boosted, so it was actually a flash-as-main-light picture, rather than a daylight exposure + flash fill-in.

 

[tennesseejim]

So much to learn. Yes, I had difficulty in choosing whether to go with flash or not. I will try that next time as I plan to shoot at this location again. A lot going on at the location with the combination of variables. Sun was hid, trees all around, stone wall behind her and to her side. LOL A lot to consider here! Another piece of advice that will be used during many shoots to come.

 

[Bryston3bsst]

This has kind of has the 'background killer' syndrome going on. There is a lot going on back there and it's all too in focus. The electrical panels, the bright white thing on the right, and there appears to be a couple of clothing piles.....not too sure what that is. The background just in general isn't pleasing to the eye. And it's the first place I look. Think of composition as sort of neatening up your living space. When you sat her down there to shoot this, envision what your finished image will look like in your mind's eye. Is there a bunch of stuff in the frame that you don't want the viewer to see? If so then remove it. If you can't, then move your subject. She's a fair distance from the background so you could have decreased your DOF and softened at least the pattern in the bricks.

In this one the background is way too bright and she needs a little bit of fill light in her face. I would also crop it just above her waist.

This one......is just not. I think this one needs to be binned. But, no worry, we've all got plenty of those.

Read through your suggestions above and keep practicing. You're moving in the right direction and you sure as heck have some attractive models. Carry on.

 

[TCampbell]

When I shoot portraiture, I usually want a shallow depth of field and I want my subjects away from the background (e.g. if I put a subject up against a wall... it had better be a VERY interesting wall that somehow works to help the image.) This allows me to blur my backgrounds for the suggestion of background without being focused on a distracting background (especially if the background is messy.)

This means if I'm using a 70-200mm lens I'm usually shooting at f/4 or lower. With my 135mm I'm probably at f/2.8 or lower. With my 24-70 (which I generally just don't use for portraits) I'd be all the way down to f/2.8.

Excellent comments on the lighting. Some need fill light. Some have so much "fill" that it's really now the "key" light -- but being a straight-on pin-point light source isn't flattering to portraits.

On the railroad tracks, the rails are too hot as are her right shin and left knee. A fill would have let you drop the exposure level on the camera, which would have reduced the intensity of the sunlight on those elements. A shallower DoF (lower f-stop) would have helped blur the background.

 

[tennesseejim]

Appreciate all the comments and my photos will be different from this moment on when it comes to portraits. Like I said, I'm new, but I've learned a life's lesson just by these comments. From now on, the background will not distract unless I want it too> thanks to all for your help!

 

[vintagesnaps]

I would suggest getting out with your camera and practice getting proper exposures in a variety of light conditions at various times of day. Try that before getting into taking more portraits. I think it has to become second nature to know how to set your camera, how to frame shots to get 'clean' compositions, to see everything in the frame, to know how to change your vantage point to change what's in the frame, etc.

It seems like you have some good ideas as to what can work for portraits but need to work on the technical aspects of getting good photos. Get lots of practice with your camera.

 

[tennesseejim]

Again.. thanks. I plan to do that this week. Man, this forum is really beneficial and I love the fact that I'm getting good advice without getting hammered! Thanks so much guys!

 

[The_Traveler]

You need to get in the habit of looking at your images hard.
Do all the colors seem right?
Do the parts match?
Are important areas blown out?

You can't have looked at this one below very hard.
Note how the colors of the face and arms are dramatically different.
There are large blown out highlights on the left arm and her face looks fish-belly white with bluish casts everywhere.

 

[tennesseejim]

I did look at it but I still posted because I wanted some help, although the more I look at it, the more isues I find.. I was wondering might cause this other than just lighting.

 

[The_Traveler]

I understand but the best way to home in on significant issues is to post only the best exemplars of the problem, mention what you know and think and include the exif.
That gives respondents a good amount of info to start with and you will be hearing stuff you aren't yet aware of.
You want to get to be your own harshest critic.