my first laid back/handheld try at a portrait

[danalec99]

Feel free!

 

[LaFoto]

Oh dear.
His head's cut off.
Yet you left him so much collar.
It's a pity to see his head cut off. He looks friendly enough - I'm sure he's GOT brains..... ()

 

[danalec99]

Okay. Thanks for that point!

 

[markc]

I don't think cropping into the head is itself an issue, but I do agree it's a little drastic here. I tend to use it to get a sense of intimacy, but when in closer and not usually this much. I like everything else. The background is blurred out enough to not be distracting, yet there's enough detail to add to the story, and the lighting works well. There's a little bit of a hot-spot on the nose, but I still like it.

Well done!

 

[danalec99]

I don't think cropping into the head is itself an issue, but I do agree it's a little drastic here. I tend to use it to get a sense of intimacy, but when in closer and not usually this much. I like everything else. The background is blurred out enough to not be distracting, yet there's enough detail to add to the story, and the lighting works well. There's a little bit of a hot-spot on the nose, but I still like it.

Well done!

The head cropping was a result of some of the portraits that I've come accross. But I see the point that I should only attempt that when the image is more closed in.

thank you.

 

[canonrebel]

It doesn't fly for me. I have issues with the crop. My monitor shows a yellow cast on the complexion. I don't like the background

One of the main things that separates portraits from snapshots is the detail in the eyes. The eyes have to be more than black holes.

 

[markc]

Heh. I keep forgetting that my laptop's monitor is messed up. It kills the contrast and lowers the saturation. This shot has a lot, so the monitor made it look softer than it is. Now I see the yellow and the background doesn't work as well as I thought. Sorry.

 

[DanielK]

You've heard the bad points, so I'll throw in some good points. I liked the expressiveness you caught in his eyes and his smile. The shot has a really warm and friendly feel.

I think you did well with the DOF and you made a difficult shot (awful lighting conditions) have a bit of personality.

Keep working on it. I think you're almost there.


Daniel

 

[GilTphoto]

In addition to what others said about not cutting off the head and dark eyes, I would have done it as a vertical. A single person, whether full body, cut off at the waist, or head shot, always works better as a vertical. Fill the frame and try not to cut off body parts.

The space at the left is wasted and the bright spots from the lights are distracting.

 

[danalec99]

Thanks everyone for the comments

Cheers

 

[captain-spanky]

I actually really like the crop.
I like the whole pic.

 

[danalec99]

I actually really like the crop.
I like the whole pic.

hehe...this is funny

I like it too Captain

 

[danalec99]

I actually really like the crop.
I like the whole pic.

hehe...this is funny

I like it too Captain

 

[markc]

A single person, whether full body, cut off at the waist, or head shot, always works better as a vertical.

I can't think of a single photo "rule" that's an "always". I can think of quite a few images where this isn't true. I like this one here and think he's got an effective start.

 

[danalec99]

A single person, whether full body, cut off at the waist, or head shot, always works better as a vertical.

I can't think of a single photo "rule" that's an "always". I can think of quite a few images where this isn't true. I like this one here and think he's got an effective start.

You mean the horizontal placement or the crop?