My first c&c request.

[MidnightGrimm]

These are a couple of spontaneous shots I took over the summer. They've been resized for the forum.

1.

2.

Please be brutally honest. Thanks!

 

[Wesche]

I dont like the first one too much, too much color for my style, love second one. Pretty eyes

 

[Rudha]

i think #1 would have worked if you shifted slightly to the right
i don't like #2 much....i think you are way too close and also the background is pretty distracting
Keep shooting :thumbup:

 

[Gruen Photo 7 Design]

2 would work better with a wider view of the landscape & more space between subject and background

 

[PhillyPhoton]

what kind of camera/settings? nice work!

 

[MidnightGrimm]

Thanks guys! It's nice to hear some good honest opinions. I'm still developing my style and I will keep these things in mind.
Also, I've seen a bit on the forums about watermarks. I know it's a touchy subject, and I'm *definitely* not trying to start any new wars. But I was curious whether mine was too imposing or distracting from the image?

PhillyPhoton, I'm only using a Canon Powershot SX20IS. It's a "high end" point and shoot. The top one: 1/100sec. F/3.5 ISO-200 no lighting/color adjustments. The second one: 1/125 sec F/2.8 ISO-160 very very minor desaturation with CS3.

 

[MidnightGrimm]

Another shot from the same day. The couple loved it and it was both of their Facebook profile pictures for months!

 

[sobolik]

The first is tilted left per the horizontal lines in the bricks. I would straighten/level that. I would make her pupils level in the second. Both should probably have a correct color for skin tone (elements 5.0 term) I would select and sharpen just her eyes in the second. And crop off the right hand gray jacket for a less distracting right edge

I would tilt the third right a hair so the horizontal line of dark and light is level.

I don't really like water marks on amateurs stuff but the one in #2 is fine. (beginner takes photo of fluffy and water marks it like a 20 year pro-Huh?)

Oh ps I like/love the compositional choices

 

[MidnightGrimm]

sobolik: here is a quick edit off of the original image, using your advice. I don't have Elements, so I'm not familiar with "correct color for skin tone". Do the skin tones have a bit too much of a red tone to you? I run a dual flat screen set-up on my pc, and my older monitor shows the skin tones with more red toning than the newer one.

I will play with the other shots as time allows. Thank a lot, tho!

 

[swedberg311]

Just my quick edit

I over smoothed her face just due to laziness I flattened and moved to the eyes before I took a step back to look at it, anyhow I lightened overall lightened & sharpened eyes downed the saturation of red on her face smoothed the skin and sharpened overall, I feel like I'm missing something but you get the idea.

Keep practicing!

 

[Alter_Ego]

I like the frame on the edits lol But she looks prettier with the imperfections but like you said over smoothed.

 

[swedberg311]

I didnt take into account how low res it was and selected like 8.0 blur, dang it

 

[SageMark]

I agree with 2 things, swedberg oversmoothed the face, but she's right it does need alot of post.

Keep shooting

 

[3bayjunkie]

The photos aren't that great to be honest. The first one, the girl looks like she is about to trip over her own feet. and the composition is not interesting.

The second picture has good composition but the background is entirely too busy for a portrait. Try shooting at a lower f stop to blur the background and try using a tripod to make the photo sharper.

If you don't have a tripod and a remote shutter release, you should definitely invest in those two things to make your photos sharper =)

 

[cdino88]

#1 has potential. Looks like it could be slightly overexposed on my monitor, skin seems to be a little blown out. As sobolik has already pointed out, there is a slight tilt in the photo. In these types of shots it is hugely important to have your verticals straight to help lead your eye down the field of view.

#2 also has a lot of potential. I feel like both would benefit a shallower depth of field, but I am a huge fan of sexy, creamy bokeh. Also seems like it could be underexposed as well and it is also tilted.

Seeing the edit, the horizon is definitely better than the original.