Vintage/Pin Up style -What could I have done better?

[ash12783]

I love this picture but I know there are things that could have made it better. What do you like or not like about it. I think I have a hard time with composition unfortunately....

 

[DiskoJoe]

A hot old car would have helped

 

[SCraig]

I'd start by cloning out the stiletto peeking out from behind the gas pump on the right side. They didn't have them in the 50's.

 

[Mully]

You do not need the extra room around your subject ..... girl and pump ....Crop into the bottom of the pump and get rid of the top. and sides

 

[PlanetStarbucks]

Eye contact. I think this would have been a lot better with her looking at the camera. Also, how about a traditional vignette instead of the pink one?

 

[DannyLewis]

Why not her standing next to the pump or in front. Her being on it is just odd to me. A photograph should say something. ....

 

[digital flower]

A better sky.

 

[Buckster]

I'd start by cloning out the stiletto peeking out from behind the gas pump on the right side. They didn't have them in the 50's.

Somebody forgot to tell Betti Page that, as well as the artists that were drawing them on most pinups of the era.

I think she needs a classic pinup era hair style from the 40's or 50's to really sell the "pinup genre'.

I would also have featured her next to the pump, showing plenty of leg, up to some short shorts or skirt, pump in hand and a look on her face like she can't figure it out and needs help - while looking at the viewer. Those are classic elements of pinup.

 

[jowensphoto]

Generally the compostion is not bad, a tighter crop as suggested by a PP would help a lot.

Agree with the above, the styling is really what makes something pinup or vintage or whatever. The only thing that looks appropriately from the era is the gas pump. I see what you were going for with the processing, but it's not quite working... too much pink for my taste.

 

[JackandSally]

I'd start by cloning out the stiletto peeking out from behind the gas pump on the right side. They didn't have them in the 50's.

Somebody forgot to tell Betti Page that, as well as the artists that were drawing them on most pinups of the era.

I think she needs a classic pinup era hair style from the 40's or 50's to really sell the "pinup genre'.

I would also have featured her next to the pump, showing plenty of leg, up to some short shorts or skirt, pump in hand and a look on her face like she can't figure it out and needs help - while looking at the viewer. Those are classic elements of pinup.

I adore Bettie Paige. When I say, adore, I mean am completely in awe of her.

And I have to agree, there's just a bit too much pink in it.

 

[amolitor]

It feels a little over-vintaged, to me. You want the look of a vintage image, not the look of a photograph that's been out in the sun for 20 years fading, right? The higher tones are all flattened out and yellowed a little, as if you shoved it through a "vintage this" preset. Also, the light feels a little flat, although that might be the processing again. I think the classiic pinup look DOES have pretty muted light, but it's there, I'm pretty sure.

Have her smile in such as way as to not show off her upper gumline. Some people's mouths are just made that way, and it's just not attractive.

 

[OrbitalJosh]

Pin ups are the best, would love to take some pin up style photos.

 

[ash12783]

Thank you all for your input. I do have others where she is standing next to the pump but there was something about this one that I liked. Some of the things mentioned were a little out of my control such as a hot old car, better sky, and not showing her gumline when she smiles lol....and I guess my eyesight is off a bit because everyone keeps mentioning the pink but on every monitor I've seen it on, it looks orangey/yellow (none of the monitors are calibrated though) I may take a look into re-editing it though, maybe not so much P.P. ...as far as the crop, I agree it could be a bit tighter but in my opinion it just wouldn't look right without seeing part of the bottom of the pump as someone mentioned cropping that out. Also, I agree it would have looked cool to have classic pinup hair here, but we honestly weren't going for that look at this time- it just happened to be this particular photo that reminded me of it a bit so that's how I tried to edit it and I didn't know any other way to describe it really I do appreciate the feedback though because I do want to try some actual pinup shots in the near future