young girl portrait: C&C

[Montanamyst]

Well, would you mind just telling me what bothers you most about the picture and telling me how you think it could be fixed?

Hi, Brittanyrose. The first thing that I notice is that you shot in horizontal format, and IMO, you should have shot in portrait format. Also, you should get down to about eye level with the subject. Also, the shot seems over exposed, probably due to the background being so close that your camera is trying to expose for the brick wall AND the subject, so is something of a compromise in exposure.These things should be automatic, that is; you should do them/consider them intuitively.

So, When shooting people, it's best to shoot in portrait mode instead of just using manual? I do see what y'all mean now by over exposed... (It might be because of the screen on my computer... It's somewhat darker on the one I edited it with.) Thank you for your input!

Cute little Girl! I think what they meant by portrait mode is turning the camera vertical rather than horizontal. I think had you brought her off the brick just a bit more, and shot vertically you would have had a winner. I'm a noob as well, only a few classes, but try to really watch your backgrounds. I think someone mentioned the dirt to her left. I think had you done that it would have been a great pic!

 

[brittanyrose864]

Hi, Brittanyrose. The first thing that I notice is that you shot in horizontal format, and IMO, you should have shot in portrait format. Also, you should get down to about eye level with the subject. Also, the shot seems over exposed, probably due to the background being so close that your camera is trying to expose for the brick wall AND the subject, so is something of a compromise in exposure.These things should be automatic, that is; you should do them/consider them intuitively.

So, When shooting people, it's best to shoot in portrait mode instead of just using manual? I do see what y'all mean now by over exposed... (It might be because of the screen on my computer... It's somewhat darker on the one I edited it with.) Thank you for your input!

Cute little Girl! I think what they meant by portrait mode is turning the camera vertical rather than horizontal. I think had you brought her off the brick just a bit more, and shot vertically you would have had a winner. I'm a noob as well, only a few classes, but try to really watch your backgrounds. I think someone mentioned the dirt to her left. I think had you done that it would have been a great pic!

*facepalm* Ah, that's what they meant... I didn't know why they wanted me to use that setting! lol, annoying when the flash goes off... anyways.

Her mom originally wanted her beside the trees which threw a lot of weird shadows over her face and so I moved her toward the brick wall... didn't think about the background/dirt too much. (And a tighter crop would have made the picture look worse, I'm afraid...) Thank you for replying!

 

[Designer]

Hi, Brittanyrose. The first thing that I notice is that you shot in horizontal format, and IMO, you should have shot in portrait format. Also, you should get down to about eye level with the subject. Also, the shot seems over exposed, probably due to the background being so close that your camera is trying to expose for the brick wall AND the subject, so is something of a compromise in exposure.These things should be automatic, that is; you should do them/consider them intuitively.

So, When shooting people, it's best to shoot in portrait mode instead of just using manual? I do see what y'all mean now by over exposed... (It might be because of the screen on my computer... It's somewhat darker on the one I edited it with.) Thank you for your input!

Well, not exactly. I did not mean that you should ALWAYS shoot "portrait" when shooting PEOPLE, and in fact, many successful "portraits" are in horizontal or square format, depending upon other conditions. Without trying to name all the various conditions wherein a horizontal format will be better, I will simply say that when I see one person who is mostly vertical (standing) I just would rather see more "balance" in the photo, and that generally means vertical.

Perhaps you could do some further reading on composition. Check out some books on composition, etc. I think you will enjoy such reading.

 

[SCraig]

*facepalm* Ah, that's what they meant... I didn't know why they wanted me to use that setting! lol, annoying when the flash goes off... anyways.

Her mom originally wanted her beside the trees which threw a lot of weird shadows over her face and so I moved her toward the brick wall... didn't think about the background/dirt too much. (And a tighter crop would have made the picture look worse, I'm afraid...) Thank you for replying!

You HAVE to think about the background in every shot you take. The background is as important as the subject and can NEVER be ignored or taken for granted. This is especially true in situations where you can control how the subject is placed in relation to the background. When shooting landscapes and nature we are frequently only able to adjust our position in relation to the subject to control the background, but in this instance all you had to do was move her a couple of steps further from the wall.

 

[jwbryson1]

I think it's overexposed, OOF and could use some more contrast. The area between her upper lip and her eyes near her nose is almost completely blown.

 

[brittanyrose864]

Perhaps you could do some further reading on composition. Check out some books on composition, etc. I think you will enjoy such reading.

Thanks! I'll look into that. I have quite a few photography books I still have to read. I'm learning... slowly.

 

[brittanyrose864]

You HAVE to think about the background in every shot you take. The background is as important as the subject and can NEVER be ignored or taken for granted. This is especially true in situations where you can control how the subject is placed in relation to the background. When shooting landscapes and nature we are frequently only able to adjust our position in relation to the subject to control the background, but in this instance all you had to do was move her a couple of steps further from the wall.

I'll remember that! Thanks.

If I had had more time with this shot, I would've noticed it but her parents were ready to leave. Thank you for your advice.

 

[brittanyrose864]

I think it's overexposed, OOF and could use some more contrast. The area between her upper lip and her eyes near her nose is almost completely blown.

I'll try re-editing when I have more time. Thanks for your imput! =)

 

[gopal]

liked the portrait...if she cud smile in more natural way? child is child.

 

[brittanyrose864]

liked the portrait...if she cud smile in more natural way? child is child.

Thanks! I know... she normally has a very cute smile She just decided to "fake it" that day. She's a great little model.