Lake Portrait

[jenko]

I had a shoot all planned out with Holly yesterday. Unfortunately, I had to change my plans. The lake was packed with people fishing, and the cool tree roots I wanted to use were all but a mess from the heavy rainfall. So, I decided to go with something very traditional instead. A simple landscape using one of the cut tree logs as a seat. I had to move it where I wanted it, and OMG it was freakin heavy! It was one of those jobs where I lifted one side and nudged, lifted the other side and nudged, repeat that 50x. lol

 

[timor]

Portrait itself nicely posed. Very good idea, beautiful model. Yet I think she is underexposed by at least one stop, there is lost texture in her skin, dress and hair. Exposure was appropriate for the stump (and still light). For all the work you did with moving the stump into position I feel like I am cruel to you with my opinions but I think the background is also wrong, too bright with lost textures and doing nothing to support your portrait. It's just darn too bad, the way you position her feet is brilliant, half a stop exposure more and you can cut out this part and have a picture on it's own, smooth skin of her legs plays beautifully with texture of the wood.
Did you take more combinations of composition here ? I would see many more.

 

[Tee]

I like it (as I do with all your work) but the only thing I'll add the advice given above is to remind the model to not slouch her shoulders.

 

[jenko]

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions!

tbh, I wasn't crazy about any of the shots. This and a few others were okay to me, but I think the whole vibe got kinda crushed by the change of plans. It's cool, though. You win some and you lose some in this game.