Results from the "Don't Call It a Gig" Engagement gig. C&C very welcomed

[Stradawhovious]

Well, my dumb ass went and posted about it, so I guess I have to post the results, and face the music.

All things considered, it could have gone worse. The couple is thrilled, and after I shop a couple of power lines out of some of the photos, They will be handed over for a final perusal from the happy couple.

All of the photos except the ones on the bridges have lighting. The ones by the arches have two, both camera left, one in front as a key and one behind to offer a bit of seperation.

Here are some taken at 5-6:30PM.

1.


2.


3.


4.


Here are a few taken at dusk at one of the more photographed locations in Minneapolis... The Stone Arch Bridge.

5.


6.


7.


8.


Here is my personal critique. I need to work on my lighting. In almost every picture, it is still too flat.

I could stand to work a bit more on composition in the viewfinder. I can crop the pics out in post, but I would rather get it right the first time. Luckily, most of these were only very lightly cropped.

I need to come out o my shell a bit. I'm not sure if I was nervous, or what the case was... but I seemed a bit out of character and introverted today.

Here are my notes from today. This is draining. I started at 4 this afternoon, and it is now Midnight, and I am just wrapping it up. I have been on my feet all day, climbing hills, vaulting large concrete barriers, dodging park police and getting strange looks from the general public.

Do-do-do-do-doooooooo I'm lovin' it.

I still have absolutely no aspiritions to go pro, but I wouldn't mind the opportunity to learn and practice much more often.

The good news, is that they are thrilled. I'm glad they are too, because I see a lot of room for improvement. Also, I think it went well. As hard as I am on myself, these pics easily could have turned out worse. Instead, they aren't terrible. The couple was fantastic. They were all giggles smiles and kisses, and were as outgoing as ever. Great fun was had by all.

I said in the other pot that I had refused payment for this gig, but they forced my hand. For my troubles, I was presented with a bottle of the 12yr Redbreast Irish Whiskey.

It doesn't suck.

I'm drinking it as we speak.

I would appreciate any C&C you would have to offer, and apologize for the large number of pictures. This isn't the whole series, but it is a good representation.

ETA... A quick note, the ones here are the only ones posed in the middle of the frame. The vast majority had a bit more variety in the placement of the subject. I though that for these, the centerweighed placement worked.

 

[Derrel]

I really like 3, and 4,5,6,7 are not tool bad either. Kind of a fun, funky vibe that these two give off, and it comes through in the photos.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Come on Straw.. gimme a break. I gave you a hard time because you called it "Real gig, for sure this time". Here are my CCs

1 & 2, I think this would be perfect location to do off camera flash directly behind the subjects to act like a rim light. Her hair is so dark and kinda got lost with the dark background. Kinda like this

#3 watch for lighting. If you are not using flash and you have diffused sun (cloudy), I would just go ahead and put the sun in front of them. I feel like his face is too dark. Personally if I were taking this shot I would just expose it on them and get somewhat blown sky.

#4 Still underexposed to me

#5&6 are my favorites lighting wise. Not sure about the poses but you know them the best. I would totally bring a model there. Nice location

7&8 are almost identical. You could easily clone out the 2 strangers on 8 using #7.

Also when you do an e-session, take some individual pics too! You also need some close up pics! Hopefully you have these because I am sure you have hundreds of pics. Keep it up!

 

[Stradawhovious]

Come on Straw.. gimme a break. I gave you a hard time because you called it "Real gig, for sure this time". Here are my CCs

1 & 2, I think this would be perfect location to do off camera flash directly behind the subjects to act like a rim light. Her hair is so dark and kinda got lost with the dark background. Kinda like this

Yeah, I did that flash as a rim light when I took the kid there.... I'm not sure why I didn't do it yesterday. I was nervous, and I'm sure it slipped my mind. Good call though, I total agree. Thanks for the input on the others as well. Also, I DO have many pictures of them, the finished pics will total near the 75 mark. These include a couple more locations, and a few individual as well as close up.

As far as the title to this thread...... Come schwetty, you earned it. Wear it with pride, man!

 

[Derrel]

Come on Straw.. gimme a break. I gave you a hard time because you called it "Real gig, for sure this time". Here are my CCs

1 & 2, I think this would be perfect location to do off camera flash directly behind the subjects to act like a rim light. Her hair is so dark and kinda got lost with the dark background. Kinda like this

To me this is way too strong of an effect. This much flash looks cheesy to me. It's simply far too powerful. When I see this 1980's style of rimlighting, I cringe.

 

[Stradawhovious]

To me this is way too strong of an effect. This much flash looks cheesy to me. It's simply far too powerful. When I see this 1980's style of rimlighting, I cringe.

It might be a touch strong in this example for my tastes too... but overall I do like the effect. I can see how some would like it, but I can also how it would be too much for some.

 

[Stradawhovious]

Just got done going through some more of the photos, and ran across this one.... I think so far it might be one of my favorites of the bunch.



Thanks for the critique so far... Please don't hold back. you won't hurt my feelings. Well, not that I'll admit to anyways.

 

[Stradawhovious]

Really? 250 views ,and only two folks responding? Generally not a good sign.
I don't think they're terrible enough to warrant no response, but I also don't think they are anywhere near good enough to be beyond criticism. I'd really like the input of some of the more seasoned folks here, because as much as I love them, my mother and soon-to-be wife seem to have biased opinions. I am extremely interested in progressing in my knowledge and skill, and rely on the folks who have been there and done that to tell me what needs attention.

Ok. Enough of my petty groveling for attention. Thanks in advance for your understanding and patience with my juvenile insecurities.

 

[Twisted_Pixel]

So I'm not just another passerby, will say I like the overall feel to the set.
The first couple do seem a bit underexposed, with the 'block' grabbing my attention more than the couple.
Nice to see you getting to use your underbridge location from before.

 

[jands]

I can't offer technical advise, but I don't get number 6. I don't understand what they are pointing at.

 

[Stradawhovious]

So I'm not just another passerby, will say I like the overall feel to the set.
The first couple do seem a bit underexposed, with the 'block' grabbing my attention more than the couple.
Nice to see you getting to use your underbridge location from before.

Thanks for the feedback! I agree that the first two were a tad underexposed. I was having a hard time balancing things out. They wanted a dark feel, and it was in the middle of the day, with sunlight coming in from the right of the frame. I was also having trouble with the Cheapie McCheapo radio triggers. Next time I think I'm going to rent some pocket wizards.

I can't offer technical advise, but I don't get number 6. I don't understand what they are pointing at.

Minneapolis is a hotbed of UFO activity. That night, this couple saw what we Minneapolisites refer to as a "Ranger Charlie". A very small, yet bright Alien aircraft that flies curiously close to the river. Some people think its the powerlines over the water that brings them in.... but I know better. I think its the overrated and awful comedy styligs of Garrison Keillor drawing them to Earth like a Siren's call.



Actually, they both just froze in that pose as I was taking pictures, and I thought it was hilarious. Very impromptu and fun.

 

[Geaux]

CC per request:

1. Even with lighting, they seemed underexposed. The biggest issue I have with it, is her feet being blocked by that cement pillar on the ground.
2. Again with the underexposed and cement pillar (but it's not blocking her feet this time)
3. Cute idea, but underexposed
4. Cliche', but well executed.
5/6. I think the lighting was excellent on these, along with the location. The kissy one is cute, the pointing one though .... eh? (BUT, it fits their personality too, so well done there)
7/8. Cute idea/poses, but they seem so far away. Would have been a cool idea to get a little closer on them (chest and up) with the downtown background behind them. I would have also liked to see them centered on the walkway centerline.
9 (bridge shot): Excellent, nothing more I can say on it. I dig it. It's far away like the lamp post shot, but it they have a sense of separation from the background, unlike the lamp post.

 

[Stradawhovious]

CC per request:

1. Even with lighting, they seemed underexposed. The biggest issue I have with it, is her feet being blocked by that cement pillar on the ground.
2. Again with the underexposed and cement pillar (but it's not blocking her feet this time)
3. Cute idea, but underexposed
4. Cliche', but well executed.
5/6. I think the lighting was excellent on these, along with the location. The kissy one is cute, the pointing one though .... eh? (BUT, it fits their personality too, so well done there)
7/8. Cute idea/poses, but they seem so far away. Would have been a cool idea to get a little closer on them (chest and up) with the downtown background behind them. I would have also liked to see them centered on the walkway centerline.
9 (bridge shot): Excellent, nothing more I can say on it. I dig it. It's far away like the lamp post shot, but it they have a sense of separation from the background, unlike the lamp post.

Thanks very much for your insight!

 

[Village Idiot]

How much ambient is coming through on those tunnel shots? You should have enough power with a hot shoe flash to light them up fairly well. The flat lighting comes from lack of contrast and an easy way to create contrast is to underexpose the ambient about a stop or so and hit the subjects with flash.

The street light you posed them under is giving them an orage color cast. It didn't appear to be dark enough outside for it to totally illuminate them, but you can see it starting to affect the exposure. There's several ways to fix it from changing the WB of the scene to shooting them with a flash with a CTO gel on it.

The bridge shot is back lit, which was already said. An easy way to tell if a white subject is underexposed is if it's no longer white and starts to turn gray. For that, you either had a choice of lighting them with a flash or bumping up the total exposure and risk blowing out the sky. If you're shooting in RAW, you have a little more room to play with the exposures. You could have always bumped up the exposure to the point where it appears that the sky is starting to be blown and bring it down in post.

The rest are exposed good enough for my taste.

Most of the poses look forced. It looks like they were uncomfortable being in front of the camera. That's not necessarily your fault, but it is your job to try and bring them out of their shells. I could be wrong about this, but it looks like they were trying too hard. When someone throws devil horns or the shocker in a photo, it means they're uncomfortable and they don't know what to do. Trust me, I do it everytime one of my female friends pull out their P&S and wants to get group shots.

 

[Stradawhovious]

Thanks VI..... very thorough with the critique.

Actually quite a bit of ambient was coming into the frame on the under the bridge shots. It was middle of the day, and the sun was out. You can see it bleeding through in the right of the frame. Next time I will use it to my advantage rather than trying to fight it. That's a great location, and I want to make sure I learn how to light it.

To be fair, the pic the he's throwing the horns in was just setup. We were having some issues with the exile trigger, and I was just snapping away. They were acting like idiots to bide time. I thought this one was hilarious.

At first I thought they were extremely comfortable in front of the camera...... but now that you say it I can see how they look a little rigid and out of place, especially him.

Thanks for the advice on the rest as well! I'm not sure there will be a reshoot since they are thrilled with the outcome, but I will definately store that info in the braincase and practice it for next time.