Maternity

[Seadawg]

This is the first time I have taken photos like this. Personally taking portraits is something I have very little practice in (not that I have a lot of practice in anything else) but it was my sister in law and she's tote'n my little nephew so I felt obliged. Thanks for looking and as always C&C are welcome and encouraged.

Thanks,

CJ

1: Going for a retro look.
IMG_6945 by choward_01, on Flickr

2: She digs horses.
IMG_7009 by choward_01, on Flickr

3: And Fishing.
IMG_6948 by choward_01, on Flickr

4: And Hunting.
IMG_7025 by choward_01, on Flickr

 

[tirediron]

C&C per req:

1. The strongest of the set IMO; I wish though you'd added a little fill to her face. The skin tone/exposure isn't quite working.


2. Too much going on in this one for my taste. The object of maternity photography is to show the woman's happiness and her pregnancy. In this case, the much brighter white scarf and white horse hold the eye, and the belly is placed too low to really be even part of the picture. Also, note the "horns" she's growing out of her head.


3. With a little more refinement, this could have been a nice shot, but again, the belly is partially hidden by her hand and the fishing rod, which is acting as a leading line to pull the eye right outof the frame. It appears that her left breast is also using its own fishing rod. As well, the lighting on her face is rather harsh and some diffusion would have helped a lot here.

4. I don't really get this one. The rifle and jacket don't match the rest of the clothing, and the surroundings don't seem like a location where you'd go bird hunting.

Just my $00.02 worth - YMMV

John

 

[Seadawg]

Thank you for all of your feed back, and i agree about the harsh lighting. I only have one flash and purchased a Gary Fong light sphere as recommended by my local camera shop. I asked the lady about shooting off camera she said i would be fine with the flash on camera. The sun was very bright as these were taken around 3 in the afternoon.

As far as the forks i was so conscious about not doing that but when we were at the stables i was more focussed on getting a shot with the horse that i didn't pay attention to the back ground.

Everything you mentioned was very helpful and i appreciate your feed back.

 

[Derrel]

I kind of like the fishing shot...I spent a lot of time fishing from a pier at one time, and the shot rings true. The focus "out of the frame" actually feels right to me. The fisherman on a pier thinks of what is "out there" a lot, and so to me, that photo really works well. I like the inclusion of the rods that have been cast out and which are "plunking", as we call bottom fishing here on the left coast. The modern grip style, which is VERY new as fishing rods go, defines this as being fishing gear of a specific era-this era. Again, I used to be totally,totally hooked on fishing, for about a 10 year span of my life. I think the pier shot is the best of the lot.

 

[Seadawg]

Thank you for the kind reply. She is definitely the outdoors type. She duck hunts and holds the county record for a pope and young deer. Her husband is a local fishing and hunting guide as well.