Roommates

[robbie_vlad]

Some recents shots I have. These two are roommates, otherwise the two shoots aren't really related. The shots are environmental portraits, my personal preference is a slightly over-exposed end-result, and a bit less contrasty than most. C&C is welcome, but just over all comments are just as good. Enjoy.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Shot with a 5D & 50L/85L.

 

[myvinyl333]

I find the first to be very light. Try reducing the exposure. Actually the same on the second. I like the subjects smiles. The last one (again light) is good.
jorge

 

[robbie_vlad]

I find the first to be very light. Try reducing the exposure. Actually the same on the second. I like the subjects smiles. The last one (again light) is good.
jorge

Thanks, but I actually made them a bit over-exposed for a reason.
-Rob

 

[misstwinklytoes]

The backgrounds in all but the first are distracting. Fun subjects. The first looks like it could use more contrast. The other three look like the WB is off.

Just a suggestion, but if you over expose (for a reason) you should state that in your OP, otherwise people who would offer you good C&C are going to come look at the thread and think that you're taking the first C&C and defending yourself, so why bother.

I'm speaking from my experience on your end of it, not being snarky.

 

[Studio7Four]

1) My favorite of the set. I like your DoF here. I rarely like tilted images but here it really works, particularly as a counterpoint to the very straight lines of her pose. My only suggestion is that I might have left just a tad more space on the bottom. You did a good job of not amputating her toes, but her right foot is so close to the edge of the frame that I almost get the impression she's stubbing her toe. Somehow the tight framing on top doesn't bother me as much, probably because it's such a large hat that I feel she isn't actually bumping her head. Fine line, I know, and without a wider crop to reference I'm not convinced I'd go wider, it's just a thought.

2) My second favorite. You've violated two "rules" of portraiture - you're subject is square to the camera, and she's centered in the frame - and in this shot it absolutely works. I actually like the busy background here. It's out of focus enough, and dark enough to contrast with her hair and hat, that I feel it provides some context to the shot without distracting the eye from your subject. And even thought there are members here who will ask why this isn't in portrait orientation, I think the landscape orientation works well here. Again, it allows enough background into the frame to provide some context so that you have a picture of a scene, not just of a pretty girl.

3) Sorry, not a fan of this one. The background is way too busy and not nearly enough out of focus to stop being a distraction. The tilt does nothing to enhance the image so only comes off as hokey. And shooting from above (which worked really well in the first image) just seems wrong here. Maybe it's because it feels wrong to be viewing from that high in a bedroom (whereas the location in the first shot is so undefined we don't have an instinctual comfort zone). On the other hand it is a nice capture of a lighthearted moment. Worth having as a well-timed snapshot, but not up to par with the other three.

4) While I don't like it as much as the first two it corrects everything I didn't like about #3. The camera has come back down to her level so it feels natural. There's no artificial tilt. And the background is so out of focus that, even though it's the same busy scene, her face now pops. Unlike in #2 I don't think the background adds anything, so I might consider going with a tighter crop (take a look at it with a square crop, all the way in to her shoulders).

Well done!

 

[robbie_vlad]

1) My favorite of the set. I like your DoF here. I rarely like tilted images but here it really works, particularly as a counterpoint to the very straight lines of her pose. My only suggestion is that I might have left just a tad more space on the bottom. You did a good job of not amputating her toes, but her right foot is so close to the edge of the frame that I almost get the impression she's stubbing her toe. Somehow the tight framing on top doesn't bother me as much, probably because it's such a large hat that I feel she isn't actually bumping her head. Fine line, I know, and without a wider crop to reference I'm not convinced I'd go wider, it's just a thought.

Thank you, I definitely see what you mean with the tight crop on her toes, I will keep that in mind. I printed this one 13x19 Boarderless and it is perhaps my own personal favorite print this year.

2) My second favorite. You've violated two "rules" of portraiture - you're subject is square to the camera, and she's centered in the frame - and in this shot it absolutely works. I actually like the busy background here. It's out of focus enough, and dark enough to contrast with her hair and hat, that I feel it provides some context to the shot without distracting the eye from your subject. And even thought there are members here who will ask why this isn't in portrait orientation, I think the landscape orientation works well here. Again, it allows enough background into the frame to provide some context so that you have a picture of a scene, not just of a pretty girl.

This was the favorite of everyone else during critique (though a slightly different edit). I love this composition for some people, but they have to be able to be lit the right way haha. I chose landscape for this one in order to include some of the background since it was part of my "Thrifting" series I did recently.

3) Sorry, not a fan of this one. The background is way too busy and not nearly enough out of focus to stop being a distraction. The tilt does nothing to enhance the image so only comes off as hokey. And shooting from above (which worked really well in the first image) just seems wrong here. Maybe it's because it feels wrong to be viewing from that high in a bedroom (whereas the location in the first shot is so undefined we don't have an instinctual comfort zone). On the other hand it is a nice capture of a lighthearted moment. Worth having as a well-timed snapshot, but not up to par with the other three.

Nothing to say but that I agree. The tilt on the first one was intentional, however this one is tilted because I couldn't get far enough from her to frame her without cropping part of her otherwise and definitely looks hokey. Very interesting read on the viewing angle, but it makes sense now that you explain it like that. I really just like the emotion in this one since she was pretty somber most of the time otherwise.

4) While I don't like it as much as the first two it corrects everything I didn't like about #3. The camera has come back down to her level so it feels natural. There's no artificial tilt. And the background is so out of focus that, even though it's the same busy scene, her face now pops. Unlike in #2 I don't think the background adds anything, so I might consider going with a tighter crop (take a look at it with a square crop, all the way in to her shoulders).

Well done!

I do like the square crop idea, I'll play around with that when I get the chance later. But thank you for the in-depth and well thought out response, it's been hard to get a decent critique out of anyone in my classes lately.

-Rob

 

[myvinyl333]

I find the first to be very light. Try reducing the exposure. Actually the same on the second. I like the subjects smiles. The last one (again light) is good.
jorge

Thanks, but I actually made them a bit over-exposed for a reason.
-Rob

I was not sure of your intent, thus my comment(s). I was coming from what I would have done had they been mine, which they are not