First ever portrait picture, C&C please :)

[Scarlet Siren]

Although this photo is part of the "100 Strangers" project (I'm sure some of you have heard of it) I was wondering if some of you could be so kind as to give me some feedback.

I've never taken a 'portrait shot' before and I'm looking to improve.


Lana from Geneva - 001/100 by JDS_Photography, on Flickr

 

[mrstravis]

I'm a noob so my feedback wouldn't be of much help but I must say that I like the idea of the "100 strangers" project and would like to try it. What are the guidelines? Hopefully this will break me out of the camera shyness that I have.

 

[Scarlet Siren]

I'm a noob so my feedback wouldn't be of much help but I must say that I like the idea of the "100 strangers" project and would like to try it. What are the guidelines? Hopefully this will break me out of the camera shyness that I have.

Are you sure? would still be nice to hear about what you would have done differently.

Follow these links for more info Flickr: 100 Strangers and 100 Strangers there's lots of info on Flickr as well as guidelines! I've been a member for a few months now and took my first stranger portrait yesterday!

 

[KmH]

You could have turned the camera to the vertical or 'portrait' orientation rather than using the horizontal or 'landscape' orientation to make your photo stonger. The stuff camera left draws the eye away from your portrait subject.

She has dark eye sockets and we can't see he eyes very well. A person's eyes are usually considered the most important part of a portrait, being the so called "windows to the soul".

 

[Scarlet Siren]

You could have turned the camera to the vertical or 'portrait' orientation rather than using the horizontal or 'landscape' orientation to make your photo stonger. The stuff camera left draws the eye away from your portrait subject.

She has dark eye sockets and we can't see he eyes very well. A person's eyes are usually considered the most important part of a portrait, being the so called "windows to the soul".

I like this comment (I'm writing this all down btw, yes I have a note/log book for this because I'm lame like that! LOL!) . How would I go about improving this? Is it lighting? As I recall, it was VERY cloudy and we were surrounded by a lot of wide/high-rise buildings, I noticed this pretty girl but thoughts about the location went out the window! I was pretty nervous about it all so didn't think to compose better etc.

 

[tirediron]

A hint of fill flash would have helped greatly, but I think that with a little careful work in post, you can pul some detail out of her eyes. Nicely shot!

 

[Geaux]

It goes against most rules (not in portrait, clipped top of head, a lot of dead space, fill flash), but I like it! You could probably dodge the raccoon eyes a bit to fix it some.

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

I feel that this image would have been better if it were in portrait orientation (vertical),

 

[Scarlet Siren]

A hint of fill flash would have helped greatly, but I think that with a little careful work in post, you can pul some detail out of her eyes. Nicely shot!

I'll have to try that sometime. Not all that familiar with using PP but I'm hoping to learn that too.

It goes against most rules (not in portrait, clipped top of head, a lot of dead space, fill flash), but I like it! You could probably dodge the raccoon eyes a bit to fix it some.

I guess it does go against the rules, dear me! interestingly, I didn't use flash... once my re-touching skills are up to speed I'll work on your suggestions, thank you.

I feel that this image would have been better if it were in portrait orientation (vertical),

I guess, landscape is a 'habit' of mine and not very often do I think to shoot in portrait. For example, there was a guy who was raising money in town yesterday and he was standing on his head, his head was in a bucket. I took a quick picture and went on my way. When I got home I kicked myself for not taking the picture in portrait because in the photo a cut out some of his legs! it would have been an OK photo otherwise!

Will consider the orientation for next time. Thanks all!

Anymore remarks?

 

[dots]

What's the ratio used for the crop?

 

[Scarlet Siren]

What's the ratio used for the crop?

Outer - 16:9 (widescreen)
Inner - 2.35:1 (cinemascope)

I've always been drawn to photos that use 'letterbox' so decided to try it

 

[mrstravis]

Are you sure? would still be nice to hear about what you would have done differently.

Follow these links for more info Flickr: 100 Strangers and 100 Strangers there's lots of info on Flickr as well as guidelines! I've been a member for a few months now and took my first stranger portrait yesterday!

Ok I will give to a go. I think I would had a little more space above her head. It seems almost like you almost cut part of it off but that may have been done in pp. Otherwise I like the shot. It doesn't seem over processed, and the expression is very natural but it doesn't have a snapshot feel either. Thanks for the links.

 

[dots]

What's the ratio used for the crop?

Outer - 16:9 (widescreen)
Inner - 2.35:1 (cinemascope)

I've always been drawn to photos that use 'letterbox' so decided to try it

2.8:1 i like (Cinerama). And Xpan ...65:24.

 

[Erinw417]

Well I am a noob so I can't get all technical but I think it is a nice shot but could have been stronger if there was less space on the left and more on top. Other than that looks really nice .