What is the obvious?

[RyKindig]

Hey everyone,

I am looking to get my work critiqued. I am wondering if those experienced enough out there could tell me my most obviousl mistakes, or things I should have done.. I want to be able to expand my horizons.

Thanks!

 

[kundalini]

Be mindful of your existing lighting. Two are in the shadow and without supplemental lighting the subject looks rather dull. The other two have issues with dappled lighting and causing streaks or highlights where they are not the best.

Using either a flash or a reflector (or a combination of both) would have improved the lighting on your subjects face. That is where the money is, the subjects face.

 

[KmH]

Strobist: Lighting 101
http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/

Chasing the Light: Improving Your Photography with Available Light (Voices That Matter)
Direction & Quality of Light: Your Key to Better Portrait Photography Anywhere
Professional Portrait Retouching Techniques for Photographers Using Photoshop (Voices That Matter)

On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait Photography
Off-Camera Flash: Techniques for Digital Photographers

 

[mmaria]

- yeah, the first thing that came to my mind is light
- in this stage even if you buy a flash it wouldn't help your skills (jmo of course, other will disagree) because you need a bit work in learning about posing, dof, watching carefully what's is going to be your background... etc
- the first one is the best out of 4 posted here but it could use some editing
- it shows that you have a model that's very interested in posing you, so, keep shooting and practicing. Make her some great photographs!