First Post!! Gothic Inspired Shoot

[Lucyjlou]

Okay, this is my first post on here, just joined the site! This was a just-for-fun shoot that I did with my best friend, myself and my niece. We wanted to do a gothic style / dark shoot out in the woods. My BF was late, so the sun was setting, and as such some of them were too dark for not having lights or my flash with me. Also, she didn't show up looking very goth! She was more pin up styled. My mom tagged along to help shoot the pictures of me, I set the camera up and took the other photos. Just looking for any general CC, this was my first time shooting in the dusk outdoors, with little light. Also,
my first time editing this type of shoot. I use photoshop CS3 and was really doing this shoot to play around with editing and processing something dark and fun. All of these were taken with my Sony a300 and the settings were ISO400, 1/250 and 3.5

 

[Mully]

Sorry I do not like them ...no real POV the images are too dark ..no pun intended, strange skin tones and very angry looking people

 

[Tony S]

Your lighting is harsh and all over the place. In several images it doesn't appear the model is even looking at the camer, more like there was someone standing next to it that caught there attention. I like to see the frame filled with the subject, only the 5th image (you really should number them for commenting on) fills this need for me (what's with the strange light across the chest and her right shoulder?) , but the focus is off making too soft for me.

 

[o hey tyler]

Was this a commissioned shoot?

 

[Tony S]

This was a just-for-fun shoot that I did with my best friend, myself and my niece.

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[o hey tyler]

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It was a rhetorical question, as it was posted in the professional gallery.

 

[SCraig]

Sorry I do not like them ...no real POV the images are too dark ..no pun intended, strange skin tones and very angry looking people

I have to agree with Mully. The skin tones are really strange with only the 1st and 4th close to being correct while the others have a magenta or blue cast to them. Hot spots on the face in the same two from the harsh light. To me they look more like zombies than goth. Sorry, they don't work for me either.

 

[tirediron]

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It was a rhetorical question, as it was posted in the professional gallery.

Minor mistake, easily corrected...

 

[tirediron]

I have to agree with the others; these aren't really working for me. I like the intent of the idea, but I think the execution needs [a lot] more work. In no particular order: The chairs make no sense in this setting. They might as well be lawn chairs... The models' expressions which I assume are supposed to be dark and angry come off looking like, "Are you f**king done yet????". The skin is either grossly over-smoothed, or the focus has been missed (I suspect a combination of both). I see a lot of potential in the setting and idea, but I think you need to spend a lot more time on lighting and composition. Do you have any off-camera lights? Images like these are almost impossible to do well without at least one or two lights off-camera.

 

[Derrel]

If you want to work with this kind of "dappled sunlight", or "shafts of sunlight in the woods" kinda' lighting, it is really,really,really helpful to bring in a large amount of reflector fill lighting, or flash fill from a large, diffused light source, like a 40 to 60 inch umbrella, or a PAIR of umbrellas. Most digital sensors are simply not going to be able to handle the really "hot highlights" that result when sunlight comes in through foliage or trees, and so your shadows are going to be VERY,very dark, and almost information-free is the highlight exposure is correct.

So...you need to lower the contrast ratio when you shoot these kind of photos. A large bedsheet just clamped between two light stands, or two skinny steel rods pounded into the ground with a hammer...or whatever...would really help make this kind of dappled sunlight in the woods look work better, with minimal editing needed. Bottom line...ya' gotta get some kind of shadow fill into the equation, to bring the shadows "up" and closer to the exposure for the highlights.

 

[Lucyjlou]

I respect constructive ideas and comments but as far as saying you don't like the chair or the facial expressions, too bad. We are creative and have weird sense of humor and we were goofing around. I don't think I care if you like my outfit or my chair.... And yes we like zombies. My first and last post, thanks for the rude comments and not helpful observations. The last comment was the only polite and respectful one. Grow up and find something better to do than tearing down strangers in an online forum.. Pathetic

 

[SCraig]

I get the impression that she didn't care for the critique and expected people to tell her how wonderful they were.

 

[Lucyjlou]

No I just wasn't expecting a bunch of very rude and personal comments. Saying you don't like them or its zombie not goth or you hate my chair is not constructive, it's just stupid. Get off your high horse! If you were that great you would have something better to do w your time than look at my ****ty photos. Last comment from me here but I'm sure you will go on and on like a loser

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

 

[o hey tyler]

No I just wasn't expecting a bunch of very rude and personal comments. Saying you don't like them or its zombie not goth or you hate my chair is not constructive, it's just stupid. Get off your high horse! If you were that great you would have something better to do w your time than look at my ****ty photos. Last comment from me here but I'm sure you will go on and on like a loser

Well, this didn't end well.

Your shots aren't the worst shots I've seen, but they need some work. Poses and chair aside, you really can't have people with white fair skinned people with black clothing on in dappled sunlight. Granted, it's best not to shoot anyone in dappled sunlight, but in this instance you have multiple things working against you.

I would suggest you get a little bit more on the subject's level. These all have a very downward angle feel to them, and it's not always flattering for the subject.

No one was really rude to you per se. You just weren't quite ready to absorb critique. If you learn not to take things so personally, and apply parts of critique that don't crush your style... but also improve your image, you will become a much better photographer.

As of right now you're just digging yourself a hole.