First Forum Post - Portrait

keith foster · Jan 2, 2013

I think it is a nice shot! I would like to see the light on her face toned down just a little with a little less power from the flash or bumping up your fstop a little. Otherwise nicely done.

The OP hasn't said but I am not sure this is selective color. It looks to me as though because of the time of day and his use of flash gives you that impression but I could be wrong.

Several of the suggestions here puzzle me.
For example: How would you have exposed the background better given the time of day? Since he used flash on the subject it would take a very large fill light to get the background brought up. Or, a long enough exposure to expose the background would have had motion blur from the subject moving or camera movement.

It would be great if when we give critique we explain how we would accomplish what we suggest. IMHO. It would add credibility to your input, don't you think?

tentwo · Jan 2, 2013

keith foster said:
It would be great if when we give critique we explain how we would accomplish what we suggest. IMHO. It would add credibility to your input, don't you think?

Completely agree here.

Maybe take the shot with the individual and remove the individual from the scene and shoot another shot lighting the background, then post processing and merging the photos to get a well lit individual and background.

keith foster · Jan 2, 2013

tentwo said:
keith foster said:

It would be great if when we give critique we explain how we would accomplish what we suggest. IMHO. It would add credibility to your input, don't you think?

Click to expand...

Completely agree here.

Maybe take the shot with the individual and remove the individual from the scene and shoot another shot lighting the background, then post processing and merging the photos to get a well lit individual and background.

That's a good suggestion, Ten. I have seen that done a lot but didn't think of that here. That would work great if the OP has a shot of the mountains that he likes from about 20 or 30 minutes earlier than this shot.

Designer · Jan 2, 2013

keith foster said:
I think it is a nice shot! I would like to see the light on her face toned down just a little with a little less power from the flash or bumping up your fstop a little. Otherwise nicely done.

The OP hasn't said but I am not sure this is selective color. It looks to me as though because of the time of day and his use of flash gives you that impression but I could be wrong.

Several of the suggestions here puzzle me.
For example: How would you have exposed the background better given the time of day? Since he used flash on the subject it would take a very large fill light to get the background brought up. Or, a long enough exposure to expose the background would have had motion blur from the subject moving or camera movement.

It would be great if when we give critique we explain how we would accomplish what we suggest. IMHO. It would add credibility to your input, don't you think?

A longer shutter opening (more time for it to be open) would help get a better exposure for the background. You can adjust the aperture and flash power for the subject illumination. FYI

keith foster · Jan 2, 2013

Designer said:
keith foster said:

I think it is a nice shot! I would like to see the light on her face toned down just a little with a little less power from the flash or bumping up your fstop a little. Otherwise nicely done.

The OP hasn't said but I am not sure this is selective color. It looks to me as though because of the time of day and his use of flash gives you that impression but I could be wrong.

Several of the suggestions here puzzle me.
For example: How would you have exposed the background better given the time of day? Since he used flash on the subject it would take a very large fill light to get the background brought up. Or, a long enough exposure to expose the background would have had motion blur from the subject moving or camera movement.

It would be great if when we give critique we explain how we would accomplish what we suggest. IMHO. It would add credibility to your input, don't you think?

Click to expand...

A longer shutter opening (more time for it to be open) would help get a better exposure for the background. You can adjust the aperture and flash power for the subject illumination. FYI

i see what you are saying but I'm not understanding how we make it work in this situation. No matter which solution we choose we give something away, right.
longer exposure solves the background lighting but then subject is already too bright and the additional ambient light we bring in for the background will also be adding light on her. In addition to get the background exposed right at dark may require a 10 or 20second exposure. So the issue of blur is introduced. I'm not arguing ther aren't better ways to take and light a shot but a Lot of the decion will ride on what up the intent of the photographer. What is he try to do in this shoot.

I sometimes have so many question about what they wanted to capture and why before I know how to give advice.

jodygrigg · Jan 3, 2013

My intention was never to light the background, I wanted my wife's jacket and snowboard to stand-out, I wanted the background to be underexposed. This was reallly a last minute play around shoot more than anything. Just throwing this out there instead of saying the background should have been straight, or its over saturated etc......how about the next time you see a photo that does or doesn't seem your regular look ask yourself what is the photographer trying to achieve.

Keith Foster put it correct what is 'the intent of the photographer?'

When I first posted the picture it was more of hi I am new here, next time I will put more information about why I choose what I did etc that way you can make your opinions based on other information too not just the image. I have no problem with critique actually I welcome it because maybe I missed something or I just don't see it the way you do, and please don't get upset if I respond about your post being BS or 'hey have you ever thought about looking at it like this'. Please just have an open mind about any pictures you see from me or anybody.

tentwo · Jan 3, 2013

I agree with ya! Open mind is the most important in learning from each other. I thought it looked like an ad for the coat and the board when I first looked at it.