Portrait/Fashion: Jade - Self-Critique (C&C appreciated)

[helenjune]

And I know what you mean about not being able to get in the photograph what you have in your head, or being able to explain to the model. Just keep practicing.
If you're feeling like you're in a funk, go to an art gallery to decompress. I mean it. I had a teacher that used to send us off to look at paintings and other artwork, not necessarily photography. It's just a way to to get the creative juices flowing. I've been meaning to do this myself.

Yes, that's a good suggestion, I believe I should get around to doing that at some point soon - I think it's different being surrounded by art in a physical sense, not just see it on a computer screen where you don't pay attention and consider things enough, where things are always distracting us.

I think also what I need to do is make something purely for my own enjoyment and not intend on showing it to someone else, that way I know I'm doing it fully for myself, and maybe that will help me access the paths in my mind that currently feel closed off to me. Hopefully.

see it more like a CD-cover type of shot, square in aspect ratio. This scene WOULD have made a fantastic vertical composition, since she is standing against a light-colored wall, and is upright, and a vertical camera orientation would have shown more of her, and less of the plain c ream-colored wall, and just about enough of the OOF building on the right to give an urban feel.

I like your edit - I really do prefer more natural looking shots like that, but for me she just doesn't have enough brightness in general. I don't like the magenta-y tone she has to her skin either, it looks odd to me. I DID shoot this vertically, remembering bitter jeweller saying I should shoot both wide and vertical of the same scene, but her head is still in the middle of every one of them, so she basically just has the same amount of her body showing.

No I don't think you need to put down your camera. You just need to learn to unthink.

Its strange because it feels the other way around, like I need to put more thought into the shoot beforehand and go in with a plan, because I don't feel like I do, though it's not an intentional laziness. I just can't seem to visualise, make decisions or allow my real ideas to flow towards the forefront of my mind. I don't think I'll put down the camera so much as use it for a different purpose and invest in a different medium for now - video filming. I think the process of that feels more fluid to me at the moment and it's still like photography, but in a looser sense...

and to the OP, you have looked into or been made aware of the rule of 3rds im guessing, just use the absolute **** out of that technique. even if you center the shot, which is often a great way to say something in an image, keep those rules in mind. you dont really need models you are paying for, just find someone that both you and the model are comfortable working together. harmony is amazing.

Yes, rule of thirds was one of the first things I learnt and I did adhere to it for a long time, but these days everything feels like it just goes out the window. I find myself doing a lot of things I know I shouldn't be doing and wouldn't do if I consciously knew I was doing it. I don't know, it's weird. And I'm not paying for any models, just advertising TFP shoots. I have heard that working with female models and being a female yourself, it's good to "treat them like you're their best friend" -at least this is the advice I got from another female photographer, but I can't seem to take that advice, it's just not me, especially not with the models I'm choosing to shoot.

I'm currently choosing models that I think look beautiful, but don't seem to have the personality or natural energy that I'd like to them to have. Perhaps that's what you mean by harmony I suppose - finding someone who is on a compatible level? I don't know, for some reason I feel like having to be "compatible" with a model and giving the excuse of "we're just not compatible" is something like a cop-out, an unsatisfactory excuse for poor results. But anyway, I think I'll be advertising more for actors now, and we shall see what we shall see!

 

[kundalini]

That's quite interesting, maybe I should take some modelling classes to get a better understanding of modelling or something? She does look unstable in #2, but I don't exactly see it in #3, most probably because I don't know enough or have good sensibilities about such things just yet.

In #3, she looks as if she is about to fall backwards. There is very little foundation showing. This is mainly due to her being 90° to the camera in the 3/4 shot. A foot forward and a twist of the hips would resolve this. This body position is analogous to being square to the camera in a front facing shot (football shoulders). The pose offers very little to creating a dynamic portrait with the body forming lines for the viewer to follow within the image. Also, this position puts the shoulder as the prominent feature of the subject. Add to that, the shoulder being bare skin, you exacerbate the issue of the face playing the major part of the portrait. Keep in mind that a portrait is about the model's face first and foremost.

Now back to the feet. I want to credit Ed Shapiro from the Camel for the following explaination of the importance in positioning the feet. This is a quote from him in the thread for beginners portraiture.

IT ALL STARTS AT THE FEET: Photographic posing for portraiture is like orthopedics in medicine, there are the mechanics of the body involved. I am sure some of the people here who suffer from lower back pain and other such discomforts have heard that many of theses issues start with the feet. Such problems like flat feet, fallen arches, ill-fitting shoes, other diseases or malfunctions of the feet cause pain not only the feet but the legs, hips, shoulders, the back and even headaches. Many doctors my prescribe orthotics, special support devices placed in the shoes, or custom made orthopedic shoes to correct some of theses problems.

Now, even of one has perfectly healthy feet, improper positioning of the feet and legs will cause a multitude of posing problems such as awkward poses and postures, discomfort, NOT being able to pivot or easily control the position of the hips and even affect the head and shoulder relationships as to finite positioning. The medical connections show us who our skeletal structure, muscles, and nerves are interconnected in such a way that the balance of the entire body can be affected by seemingly unrelated issues. It may sound far fetched but if you go to your doctor with back pain, for example, he may begin to examine your feet, your stride and even how your shoes fit and you may be referred to a specialist in these areas. Back pain can be caused by other serious problems bit I am giveen to understand that issues of the feet can be one of the causes of pains elsewhere in the body.

When you go to the portrait photographer for an elegant portrait, again, don't be shocked if he or she begins by establishing the position of your feet and legs, even if you desire a closeup portrait. As the photographer, participating in this thread, don't be surprised on how much attention I may paying to the feet and the legs and NO- I don't have some kind of foot fetish

!

To start this part of the lessons, at first you can put your camera and lights aside for a while - the only equipment you will need is a full length mirror. If you don't have one, the inexpensive ones at Wal -Mart will do the trick- the last one I bought for my dressing room at the studio, set me back about 9 bucks- frame included!

The subject is you! To stat out with you don't need models, you won't have to pester you spouse, your significant other or your kids to pose. You can do the various positions in the mirror- like ballet students and carry on like that for a couple of days. I like doing this and training people to do this because I sometimes have to illustrate poses to my clients- the catch on right away when I do that and gives them a good laugh as well!
It is better to wear slacks tat are somewhat thigh so you can see the leg positions. If you are game- leotards are the best attire for this exercise.

To begin with- stand in front of the mirror and angle your body at about 35 or 40 degrees. Place the nearest foot and leg CLOSEST to the mirror a step ahead to the other foot with you toe pointed at the mirror and bend the forward knee with the majority of your weight on the back hip and leg. At this point pivot your body at the hips in various directions. lean forward at the waist, place more weight on the back leg or foot and continue pivoting and rotating. Now- retract the front leg and foot placing both feet together (side by side) and try the same rotation, pivoting and moving. Observe all of this as to how it looks and feels. Then report back and give me some observations- No pictures yet!

Take note of the exercise he suggests in bold text. It will help you consider the body mechanics of the model and how you can help direct them into a position that enhances a more dynamic photograph.

You mentioned doing things you know you shouldn't.

Yes, rule of thirds was one of the first things I learnt and I did adhere to it for a long time, but these days everything feels like it just goes out the window. I find myself doing a lot of things I know I shouldn't be doing and wouldn't do if I consciously knew I was doing it. I don't know, it's weird. And I'm not paying for any models, just advertising TFP shoots. I have heard that working with female models and being a female yourself, it's good to "treat them like you're their best friend" -at least this is the advice I got from another female photographer, but I can't seem to take that advice, it's just not me, especially not with the models I'm choosing to shoot.

Keep a scapebook of clippings from magazines, copies from a book and notes you've made for posing models in a style that you find intersting. Talk to and show the model how you intend to pose her for a visual clue. Explain that you may ask for positioning body parts in a manner that may feel unnatural for them, but your ultimate goal is to make them look their best. Make a shot list for the shoot and keep it nearby for reference. Check them off as you go along to make sure you don't leave the session without that pose.

Hope some of this helps.

 

[helenjune]

Whoa that's a lot of really cool information and ideas - it's true, I never even considered the positioning of feet while doing portraits. I think I'll check that beginners portraiture thread out, I didn't even know it existed on here - I just gravitated blindly toward the people photography section. I will do that exercise you have bolded as well!

The scrapbook clippings is a very good idea, and I like how organised and neat it all seems with your advice, it feels like if I did all of those things there would be a ton more control and we would both be much more relaxed during the shoot. Time to go buy a scrapbook!

Thank you very much Kundalini

 

[kundalini]

Whoa that's a lot of really cool information and ideas - it's true, I never even considered the positioning of feet while doing portraits. I think I'll check that beginners portraiture thread out, I didn't even know it existed on here -

It doesn't. I'll PM you.

 

[jake337]

Whoa that's a lot of really cool information and ideas - it's true, I never even considered the positioning of feet while doing portraits. I think I'll check that beginners portraiture thread out, I didn't even know it existed on here -

It doesn't. I'll PM you.

I wouldn't mind that same PM either.

 

[MWC2]

Whoa that's a lot of really cool information and ideas - it's true, I never even considered the positioning of feet while doing portraits. I think I'll check that beginners portraiture thread out, I didn't even know it existed on here -

It doesn't. I'll PM you.

I wouldn't mind that same PM either.

I wouldn't mind either.