Seeking Advice/Critique-ing!

[Tigertail]

Hi! So currently, I'm just a "hobbyist" photographer though I would like to consider getting into the more professional side of photography. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on how to get started either as a portrait or maybe even wedding photographer and Much More importantly, if you could critique some of the photos I have taken thus far. I'm mainly wondering if I'm actually good enough to have people pay me to photograph them!

Here's a link to my Tumblr with some of my more favorite images: Tumblr Link

They are generally photos of my friends/family or other interesting things I've seen.

So ya, any advice or criticism would be most appreciated! Thanks!!

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Ugh, that has to be the worst display of images I have ever seen. A mosiac of constantly changing images, such that you never really get to focus on any single one.

If you want critique, post your images here, a few at a time, like thousands of members that came before you seeking help.

 

[Tigertail]

-.-

Okay here are a few...

 

[The_Traveler]

No, pick one or two of the best.
No one can give sensible critique on lots of images in different styles.

Tell us why you think they are good and what you think is wrong.
That way anything you hear will be new to you.

 

[noodles]

#1 - i'm assuming the spider is the focus here. I'd want more details of the spider. The out of focus foreground leaf is distracting. I'd saturate the green a bit more to have a deeper contrast against the light background.

#2 - not sure what this is photo is telling me... the light ? the tree? the lamp post ?

#3 - doesn't do much for me.

#4 - not a bad pic, but i might level the horizon a bit and pan the subject to the right a bit.

#5 - i actually like this one, lots of rich colors

#6 - i like it, there's emotion there, but i'd crop out the bit of black on the bottom left of the picture.. it's distracting contrast.

 

[Tigertail]

I will get this right. ><

Okay, I edited the above post to just have 2 photos..

And I'm essentially wanting to know what can be improved upon, is there anything horrid I'm doing, things like that. I feel like I have the basics of photography down but not the much finer points.

 

[The_Traveler]

#1 - guy with green hair. IMO, overexposed so that the detail and coloration are lost. Interesting composition but I think he is too small in the frame and too almost-centered. By keeping the building intact and not at the edge, there is the sense that the building is important and it is distracting to me while, at the same time, making me want to look past him.

The second picture is just incoherent. Successful pictures must have an obvious point ot two we want to look at with some idea why. There's lots of stuff in focus with lines and attention in all directions. Her arm, all bright and pointing, attracts my eye, but it has no relationship to the two faces. What should I be looking at here, and why?

OTOH, these two are indicative of the fact that you have an inquisitive mind and an eye that is searching out the good composition. The first one taken with better exposure - and perhaps sharper, would be excellent.

My guess is that if you took more pictures in that environment with those females, you would end up with a better, interesting composition. You have the interest, the mind and the eye - just work on the rest.

Really good start here.

Lew

 

[Tigertail]

The second picture is just incoherent. Successful pictures must have an obvious point ot two we want to look at with some idea why. There's lots of stuff in focus with lines and attention in all directions. Her arm, all bright and pointing, attracts my eye, but it has no relationship to the two faces. What should I be looking at here, and why?

OTOH, these two are indicative of the fact that you have an inquisitive mind and an eye that is searching out the good composition. The first one taken with better exposure - and perhaps sharper, would be excellent.

My guess is that if you took more pictures in that environment with those females, you would end up with a better, interesting composition. You have the interest, the mind and the eye - just work on the rest.

Really good start here.

Lew

Thanks! That was very helpful. [=

 

[Patrice]

Nice of you to heed the suggestion to limit the number of images, it makes it much easier to view and offer some sort of constructive criticism. Thank you for that.

Now here is what I think.

There re many different types of photography such as portraits, landscapes, fine art, abstract, architecture, erotic, pornographic, boudoir, macro photography, astrophotography, etc.... Within those types each photographer will develop a sense of style that eventually will reflect his unique view and interpretation of the world he is imaging. That takes time. However everyone has to start somewhere.

I'll assume that the two images you present are meant to be portraits. Portraits, in my opinion, are descriptive images of people to show their character, or their mood, or their activity, or their involvement within their environment while attempting to stay sympathetic to them. Your two portraits do not quite achieve this.

The young man on the beach: his elbow is cutoff, there is too much space around him that does not contribute anything to his portrait, he is lit by direct harsh sunlight causing him to squint, the background is distracting, horizontal framing might have been the wrong choice, the horizon appears tilted. This image is a snapshot of your buddy on the beach. As a client, I would not pay for this. Do not include it in your portfolio.

The two young ladies having fun at the market. Nice concept but there are a couple of things wrong with it. This portrait is of TWO persons so both should have been in the frame. The brunette has been cut in half. An environmental portrait (person interacting with the environment) should have a deeper depth of field. The red head's hand in the foreground should be in focus. There is just a touch too much head space for the amount of body included. This is stronger image than that of the guy on the beach but still not worth paying for.

Keep trying, you are on the right tract. We know what the subject matter is, the exposure is good, the camera is steady and the processing is not overdone.

Take the above as you wish, I'm just an old man rambling on. Others might join in with some more appropriate critique.



edit: Traveler, you beat me to it. Nice post by the way!

 

[The_Traveler]

Portraits, in my opinion, are descriptive images of people to show their character, or their mood, or their activity, or their involvement within their environment while attempting to stay sympathetic to them.

Patrice said this I should have thought to say. I think, with a good portrait, you should somehow be able to look through the image into the person's character/soul/ something. It helps if the person projects but it is the responsibility of the photographer.

Here are three pictures of mine that I think are successful in that. - links purposefully but safe ones

Lew Lorton Photography | Travel Favorites
Lew Lorton Photography | Environmental Portraits
Lew Lorton Photography | Environmental Portraits

 

[JWellman]

Your links appear broken Traveler, at least to me.

Edited: They are working now! I guess your site was down for a bit.

~Jess

 

[Tigertail]

I wanted to bump this thread to get some input on several photos taken yesterday with my friend. I did post one of these in the Rate The Above Photo Thread but wanted more in depth feedback.

Is there anything different you would do when shooting like this? Like say this was a client wanting headshots for acting or modeling is there anything I should make sure to do? Also, are there any specific times when it is best to leave space above a subject's head or when it is better to have it slightly cut off?


#1 - This is my favorite though I find the reflection of the fountain to be a bit distracting.

EDIT: #1 Re-Cropped - Is this an improvement?

#2 - I wish I hadn't cut off his left hand.

#3 - I don't think this is my best, but still find it to be an interesting composition...What do you think of it?

 

[Patrice]

These are showing a bit of improvement. I'll comment on a few things if I may.

Harsh direct sunlight does not often produce nice portraits. It causes your subject to squint and also introduces harsh shadows in areas of the face.

There is no hard and fast rule (there seldom are) about when to leave space above the head or not, it's a matter of balance, impact, content, ... all artsy fartsy stuff but when you get it right it shows. Well it's not all artsy fartsy, there is a lot of good material out there on people posing and portraiture.

Two images have cutoff limbs. The images show the upper right arm and then the lower right arm and no connection. Include the elbow and it will look better.

Fill flash is needed in the third image. Also sooting from way below like that is usually not flattering. Few viewers want to see up your subject's nostrils.

Finally, I don't know anything about your subject or what kind of image he wanted you to help him project through the portraits, but to me the poses and choice of wardrobe make him look kind of 'girly'.

 

[Tigertail]

These are showing a bit of improvement. I'll comment on a few things if I may.

Harsh direct sunlight does not often produce nice portraits. It causes your subject to squint and also introduces harsh shadows in areas of the face.

There is no hard and fast rule (there seldom are) about when to leave space above the head or not, it's a matter of balance, impact, content, ... all artsy fartsy stuff but when you get it right it shows. Well it's not all artsy fartsy, there is a lot of good material out there on people posing and portraiture.

Two images have cutoff limbs. The images show the upper right arm and then the lower right arm and no connection. Include the elbow and it will look better.

Fill flash is needed in the third image. Also sooting from way below like that is usually not flattering. Few viewers want to see up your subject's nostrils.

Finally, I don't know anything about your subject or what kind of image he wanted you to help him project through the portraits, but to me the poses and choice of wardrobe make him look kind of 'girly'.

Thank you for the reply. I'll keep all of that in mind! The elbow on the 1st one was actually almost fully in frame in the original (not posted)... and then I cropped it. -.- And uhh, my friend is gay (OMG they're gay!) and so he's not exactly the most masculine type. He liked the photos a lot.

EDIT: I did want to mention that how the person is projected is the thing I want to work on the most, since right now I haven't put thought into it. It's basically like we just go out and take photos. I'll focus on that next time.

 

[Patrice]

And uhh, my friend is gay (OMG they're gay!) ....

So he's gay, so what?

Being able to let the unique character of an individual show through in a portrait is what sets a portrait photographer apart from the wannabes.

Keep at it, it is not an easy skill to acquire or understand. Look at some of the portraits by Yousuf Karsh

karsh - Google Search