Some senior pics.... C&C welcomed

Stradawhovious · Sep 23, 2012

Yeah... I know.... Senor pics.... [yawn]

A friend o mine was getting close to having to submit his son's Senior pics, and was in a pinch so I offered to help him out.

here are some of the shots I got yesterday.

This was a fun kid to take pictures of. He seemed to be having a good time, and wasn't as shy in front of the camera as some. Most of these had artificial lighting. A friend of mine acted as a human light stand, and held a monopod with a speedlight and umbrella. This was really helpful, and much more comvenient than having to lug around and constantly reposition a lightstand. To address the recent ongoing debate about natural vs. artificial light.... I enjoy using artificial light, so let's leave that debate out of this thread. if you have some critique about how I'm using the artificial light however.... I'm all ears! I got about 30 shots I'm giving to the parents, but I won't subject you to all that. Here are a few of my favorites.

1.

Yes, I'm aware of the vulgar quote in the grafitti.... He thought it was hilarious, so I kept it in.

2.

3.

The one above needs a little back story. The background is part of the Minneapolis Skylineto the left, and the Stone Arch Bridge to the right. That bridge is the oldest bridge in Minneapolis, and is instantly recogniable to the folks in the area. Also, there were 6 huge nasty power lines coming from the left of the frame into his left elbow.

4.

5.

Thanks for looking!

We did get some of the usual boring head and shoulder shots too.... ( yes Darrel... they were shot in ortrait orientation :lol:

) but I figured nobody here needs to look at another of those.

bledererphoto · Sep 23, 2012

Exposures look pretty good but outside of the first one it would have been good to get the others off center following the rule of 1/3rds

Stradawhovious · Sep 23, 2012

I get what you're saying. Many of the pics I shot did follow that rule and I'm no stranger to it.... but with the senior pics showcasing the senior themselves, these seemed to work pretty well for me for what they were. The rule of thirds is a powerful one and absolutely has it's place, but for me, IMHO, it can be overlooked in many cases for senior pics seeing as they are stylistically more portrait than anything else. Thanks for your input! It is appreciated.

cgipson1 · Sep 23, 2012

Stradawhovious said:
I get what you're saying. Many of the pics I shot did follow that rule and I'm no stranger to it.... but with the senior pics showcasing the senior themselves, these seemed to work pretty well for me for what they were. The rule of thirds is a powerful one and absolutely has it's place, but for me, IMHO, it can be overlooked in many cases for senior pics seeing as they are stylistically more portrait than anything else. Thanks for your input! It is appreciated.

I agree! ROTS and PORTRAITS! lol! Maybe the Horizontal portraits that are so popular with some (which you did ROTS)... but standard portraiture?

2WheelPhoto · Sep 23, 2012

Pics look great

cgipson1 · Sep 23, 2012

Oh.. I almost forgot! Nice work, Strad!!!!

Light Guru · Sep 23, 2012

bledererphoto said:
Exposures look pretty good but outside of the first one it would have been good to get the others off center following the rule of 1/3rds

Oh no he broke the rule of thirds now he's going to get kicked out of photography.

The rule of thirds is not a set in stone break it and you die rule. I prefer to call it he the suggestion of thirds.

There are many photos that do not use the rule of thirds that are amazing images.

From the photographers response it sounds like he did it intently. Which in my opinion is the right way to not use the suggestion of thirds.

In this case I think that intentionally not following works really well. They are nicely done and look great.

cgipson1 · Sep 23, 2012

Light Guru said:
bledererphoto said:

Exposures look pretty good but outside of the first one it would have been good to get the others off center following the rule of 1/3rds

Click to expand...

Oh no he broke the rule of thirds now he's going to get kicked out of photography.

The rule of thirds is not a set in stone break it and you die rule. I prefer to call it he the suggestion of thirds.

There are many photos that do not use the rule of thirds that are amazing images.

From the photographers response it sounds like he did it intently. Which in my opinion is the right way to not use the suggestion of thirds.

In this case I think that intentionally not following works really well. They are nicely done and look great.

We see many noobs grab onto a "RULE" or guideline, and start applying it to everything and anywhere... happens all the time!

Stradawhovious · Sep 23, 2012

cgipson1 said:
Oh.. I almost forgot! Nice work, Strad!!!!

Thanks guys! It's nice to know i'm making progress.

bledererphoto · Sep 24, 2012

Just giving my two cents as the c and c were welcomed. Not one for following all the rules myself but in the end its the person on the other side of the lens opinion that matters. If they liked them then good all around.

651stp · Sep 25, 2012

very nice portraits strada! i like the lighting that was used for the 2nd and 3rd pic. was that by the guthrey? what was the location of the first picture if you dont mind me asking

Derrel · Sep 25, 2012

Stradawhovious said:
>SNIP>We did get some of the usual boring head and shoulder shots too.... ( yes Darrel... they were shot in ortrait orientation ) but I figured nobody here needs to look at another of those.

Awww,

but just look at what you COULD have come up with had you tried!!!

The_Traveler · Sep 25, 2012

I like #3 the best; nicely engaged with the camera, good environment, great scale.

#1 don't care for, why is he looking away with semi-deadpan? it doesn't look true.
#2 too big bright light, head too close to top - not as good as 3
#4 good sturdy natural pose
#5 shirt too bright and pulls my eye, I think, otherwise OK. (upper corners a bit bright, added vignette)

Stradawhovious · Sep 25, 2012

Derrel said:
but just look at what you COULD have come up with had you tried!!!

But Derrel... I did come up with those. I just didn't crop them that way.

651stp said:
very nice portraits strada! i like the lighting that was used for the 2nd and 3rd pic. was that by the guthrey? what was the location of the first picture if you dont mind me asking

The first few were taken under the stone arch bridge across the river from the Flour Mill, the other were taken at a point along the Minnehaha Creek by the Nicollet Avenue Bridge. The First one specifically was taken by the old boarded up tunnel entrance around the corner from the wooden stairs.

I realize this means absolutely NOTHING to those who dno't live in Mpls, so I aplolgize for that.