First attempt at a portrait w/natural light with DSLR C&C?

[kundalini]

I guess you missed that somewhere? :scratch:

Absolutely I missed it. Mostly because the OPs gender is irrelevant.

 

[o hey tyler]

I guess you missed that somewhere? :scratch:

Absolutely I missed it. Mostly because the OPs gender is irrelevant.

I was referring to Speckles. Not the OP.

 

[TwoTwoLeft]

Two TwoLeft, just an opinion. Listen to Lew (aka The_Traveler) and try to absorb the larger message being delivered.

I appreciate the ones who liked the photo, I liked it to. Otherwise, I wouldn't have used it. I don't have an eye yet for much of the technical stuff, that's why I'm trying to learn. I want to know how to make it better. Lew had lot of good advice.

I'm not put off by the cleavage either. :eyebrows

Easy there, that's my girlfriend...

Numbnuts that spout "screw the rules", likely do not have a solid foundation to support that opinion.

They way I look at it, breaking the rules only works if you know which ones you're breaking.

 

[simpy]

Two TwoLeft, just an opinion. Listen to Lew (aka The_Traveler) and try to absorb the larger message being delivered. Numbnuts that spout "screw the rules", likely do not have a solid foundation to support that opinion.

I'm not put off by the cleavage either.

I am pretty confedent in my solid foundations as a photographer. A 12 year professional carrer has given me just a little experience so referring to me as a Numbnuts is simply arrogant.

The fact is that many people have said they like the shot so whop are you to say it is wrong. I like the background space as it gives me a sense of location. The lack of eye contact makes me feel liek maybe the subject is peering out to see or looking down a river bank. If i am getting these feelings from it then it works.

Just because it does not follow some rule that your find some important does not make is wrong.

I have to say there are things i do not like about it, i feel that it is a little to warm and i would tone down on the saturation, oi would have used some fill from the side as i am not enjoying the shadow, i even would have tryed to get more reflection of the glasses to really add to the sense of location but as for the angle and the crop i like it.

 

[gina_d]

Hi, TwoTwoLeft. Congrats on stepping into new territory with your photography as well as your apparent bravery in subjecting yourself to the mercy of the mob in your quest for helpful feedback! This is my first post as I'm new here and I have to say I'm a bit struck by the vitriol unleashed by some on this thread. Surely this isn't representative of most exchanges here. (yikes, I hope not!)

I have no problem with the angle nor the orientation of your photo. If it were me and I wanted to try this angle, I absolutely would do that and then I'd probably try several others as well. Try landscape AND portrait orientation. Try filling the frame with your subject AND giving some space. Try everything you can think of! Then, when you get home and can really take the time to study them on the computer, you'll start to see what works and what doesn't. Shot from slightly below would give this photo an entirely different feel. Not necessarily better, but possibly... or maybe another you try would be the stand out for you.

Another thing, this is absolutely a portrait and not a snapshot because that was your intent. You get to make that determination. This wasn't a snap at a birthday party... you had a specific intent to make a portrait of your girlfriend... at this angle, with these sunglasses, this beautiful golden light and a soft wind through her hair. You know what? Nice job.

As for it not saying anything, nothing of the person coming through, cold expression, etc. Sigh... where to begin? Here's what's coming through to me... here is a beautiful woman with this gorgeous warm light on her face, she has a calm and pensive look further enhanced by the direction of her gaze. My immediate thought was that she was looking out on the water... who hasn't had moments like that? Still, quiet, and looking out on the water as the sun is lowering? I connected with that immediately... sunglasses or no.

Looking forward to your next post!

 

[TwoTwoLeft]

The fact is that many people have said they like the shot so whop are you to say it is wrong. I like the background space as it gives me a sense of location. The lack of eye contact makes me feel liek maybe the subject is peering out to see or looking down a river bank. If i am getting these feelings from it then it works.

These are actually the reasons why I like & chose it. We were actually taking a break and I happen catch her watching the sunset. I tried to set it up again with portrait and with the glasses off but none of the others appealed to me like this one.

I have to say there are things i do not like about it, i feel that it is a little to warm and i would tone down on the saturation, oi would have used some fill from the side as i am not enjoying the shadow, i even would have tryed to get more reflection of the glasses to really add to the sense of location but as for the angle and the crop i like it

Thanks. I appreciate the processing advice.

 

[simpy]

These are actually the reasons why I like & chose it. We were actually taking a break and I happen catch her watching the sunset. I tried to set it up again with portrait and with the glasses off but none of the others appealed to me like this one.

.

And that is proof that this shot works. Many of us really got a feel of the image and you captured the environment of the location and the moment the subject was in great.

As gina_d said, dont let anyone put you off playing around with different angles and dont let anyone tell you this is not a portrait or this is in anyway wrong due to orientation or what they are calling "dead space". The truth is this is n ot dead space at all as it is scene setting.