Portrait Practice - hard C&C please.

FlakoFigZ · Dec 9, 2010

Thanks for looking, I'd appreciate honest feedback and please point out anything that looks "wrong".

Backdrop was a white quilt. Two uncovered living room lamps and bounced flash unit on top of cam for lighting. PP in LR.

Shot using Sony a330 w/ 50mm f/1.8 lens.

1.

2.

3.

jjparson · Dec 9, 2010

I think #2 is the strongest. The vignette is kind of weird and her eyes are super dark. You may try to lighten them up a little in post. Your first one looks overexposed to me and the pose is odd. THe whitebalance also looks off. More like a snapshot than a portrait. The third looks soft and the black and white is not doing it for me.

GraphiXimage · Dec 9, 2010

1 and 3 has some exposure issues and the sheet could have used an ironing, do like the focus on the eyes in #2

looks like you tried to light the back drop in #2 and that will separate your subject from it, but the chair looks like its tight to the back drop, can try moving about 5 feet out

tirediron · Dec 10, 2010

C&C per req:

1. I'm afraid I don't 'get' this pose. It looks to me for all the world like she has just burped or something. It's also significantly over-exposed and seems to have a strong yellow cast. I would take this back to the pixel room and try and adjust the levels/curves to bring the exposure down a notch and maybe tweak the WB as well. I can't say for sure, but the eyes look a little soft to me.

2. In this image there is now a strong red cast, which, judging from your backdrop I suspect may be caused by the incandescent lighting "fighting" with your speedlight. Pose and expression are fine here, but without any catchlights her eyes seem rather dead. Understanding the limits of your lighting, it would have been really good to have either a toplight or hairlight to put some detail into her hair.

3. This one has potential, but I really don't care for her expression. I would also prefer that she be looking toward the camera; not necessarily right down the lens, but at least toward it, since as the viewer, we can't see what she is looking at.

Overall, they're a good start. The biggest improvement you could make (aside from lighting) would be greater separation between subject and background. place her at least 8 - 10' in front of the backdrop and use a large aperture to isolate her in the image.

Keep practicing; just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary.

~John

Breaux · Dec 10, 2010

I agree with all the above, but I just want to add that moving her away from the background can also throw the wrinkles out of focus!

David-Wayne · Dec 10, 2010

I like #1 ALOT!! I see exactly where you are going with that. Your eyes say it all. My wife has gorgeous eyes too and i love photos of her eyes. The eyes are saying so much. Its also cool that you are trying to "hide" the smile with your hand but see it peeking out on the side. A little over exposed but other than that great photo. My grandmother wouldnt take it and wouldnt like it, but it def fits todays modern style for the younger generation.

#2 is good, just ease up on the aftermarket vignetting.
#3 would be really cool with tons of shadow! try a flash with diffuser from the camera upper left, just a little back from directly beside you so you have shadow coming across the front. Just watch the overexposure. Overall, good photos with a lot of potential!