Forest portraits c&c

Bellezzo · Oct 3, 2012

Hello, yesterday me and my friend went to the forest to photograph. I'd love to get some c/c on these... I'm honestly not sure what I think of the black and white ones, but there's just something about shadows.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Tony S · Oct 3, 2012

I like the idea of framing her face with the natural vegetation, but the shadows that fall on her face don't work for me. Find a way to light the face with more pleasing light and they will be winners.

Designer · Oct 3, 2012

Perhaps if you would tell us your intent. I don't understand by looking at the photographs.

The_Traveler · Oct 3, 2012

Of the four I like the first the most. The shadows aren't as jolting and there isn't something fuzzy in front of her face - as in #2.
I would rotate it to get the face upright and dodge/burn the face so that the lower half isn't so bright as to draw the eye and the upper half isn't so dark.

Derrel · Oct 3, 2012

^^^What Lew did above. YES!

amolitor · Oct 3, 2012

I like #4 the best, but I like b&w and I like mystery and ambiguity in my photographs, so that's why. The mouth being lit seems to be the thing that makes me like it much more than #3, but I cannot quite put my finger on why that matters.

Good idea! Worth digging in to more, I think.

charlie76 · Oct 3, 2012

I think the BandW adds interest elements to an otherwise plain comp. Id keep em, the color shots are kinda boring IMO. But there is something mysterious about her hiding behind the leaves, just the same.

Bellezzo · Oct 3, 2012

Thank everyone. Well
I don't think I have a special intent with these, I just (like Tony pointed out) like the way to frame her face with nature.
I see what you mean with the shadows, they should at least not cover her eyes.

The colors does look a bit boring, but they are brighter on my flickr (of some odd reason).

Again, thanks for the c/c!

The_Traveler · Oct 3, 2012

The_Traveler said:
View attachment 21887

I think it might be useful, if only to see how someone else's mind works, to understand why this picture appeals to me.

First, her intense concentration and involvement with the camera.
Her face is almost perfectly symmetrical so that is esthetically pleasing and yet doesn't cause me to think about specific issues, I just stay locked on her eyes.
Her shirt matches her lipstick and teh blush in her cheeks so there is a harmony there.
The leaves close to her face are oof and thus signal to me that they aren't important - and of course they don't get in the line of sight to her face.
The large leaves in the foreground are also OOF and are again a signal that they aren't to be looked at.
The corners are dark and so my eye is kept in.
She is off-center and the part to the right is 'concealed' thus giving a bit of mystery to match the fact that she is obviously partially concealed.

All in all, quite a nice picture, I think.

Cirkeline · Oct 3, 2012

I think it's important to say, that the model is very beautiful. She is in her right element.

Bellezzo · Oct 3, 2012

Thank you Traveller, it's very appreciated, it does really help to hear other people view on one's picture.

Cirkeline · Oct 3, 2012

It is a very nice parrot on your avatar! Where does it come from?

Designer · Oct 3, 2012

Bellezzo said:
Thank you Traveller, it's very appreciated, it does really help to hear other people view on one's picture.

My impression is that the subject is someone who is secretive, or who has something to hide, or a reason to be partially hidden. Not meaning to read something into this that isn't there was the reason I asked your intent. If that was your intent, then you hit the nail on the head. If not, then no.