Need Portrait Critique - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

08/11/2005 10:01:04 PM · #1

These are my first attempts at portraits. I know they aren't good, but any comments are much appreciated. I am not quite sure how to make them look better. I have been processing photographs for about 4 to 6 months. Thanks again!

All these are portraits taken today or yesterday. Comments on any of them are welcomed!

//www.dpchallenge.com/portfolio.php?USER_ID=39270&collection_id=9599

irishempress

Nikon D200

08/11/2005 10:10:52 PM · #2

Hi Joshua...what an incredible model you had for your first portrait attempts! she is strikingly beautiful! i'm actually quite new at photography, so please take my comments with that in mind. your compositions (with the exception of the one with just her head and the vast expanse of sky) are very traditional and expected. there is nothing wrong with this -- you may want to play around with different crops on these. i really love the ones of her in the full sun...the ones in the shade are still nice, but the dappled sunlight on her face is distracting.

what post-processing have you done? I would say that you don't need much (to me)...these look very clean. great saturation/contrast, etc.
what time of day did you shoot?
nice job!

maybe try reshooting when the sun is a little lower in the sky.

hope you get some good comments/feedback from members.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

08/11/2005 10:13:53 PM · #3

Thanks for your eyes and kind response. Yes, I am lucky to have very beautiful sisters lol.

To answer your questions;
-it was 6:30 pm and it was overcast skys with the sun peaking through everyonce in a while.

-post processing; auto levels, levels, bright/contrast, USM, neat image

Thanks again!

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

08/11/2005 10:17:35 PM · #4

E-lake4 is by far my favorite. I like the way she's looking into the camera. I agree that the ones with a mix of shade and sun cause some distraction.

savannahjames

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

08/11/2005 10:19:57 PM · #5

This is a quick 2-step edit of the third shot. She has beautiful eyes! The reason I leaned toward black and white is to make the roof in the background kind of blend in/disappear and to make her face stand out. Like I said, this was just a VERY quick try to see what it would look like - it may not be your taste at all. Beautiful model!

barndog

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/11/2005 10:23:03 PM · #6

Nice pictures.
E_lake5 is a gorgeous picture. (the model is pretty too)
The focus, angle, light and DOF are right on!
You're battling some strong light on the rest of the photos. Try some with a downward angle as well. The background where you used the sand, water, greenery and sky contrast her colors very well. The sand accentuates the reds in her hair and the black shawl is a very nice contrast with the water. Your color temperature is much better in the lake5 pic as well. Are you shooting raw? Try playing with exposure or color temp if possible. Not bad photos at all. I bet the girl thought they were fantastic.

christie3

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

08/11/2005 10:34:25 PM · #7

Left a few comments (I'm no expert myself, though!). I think that these are, overall, pretty nice shots, though with a little more PP they could be really, really nice. :)
Your sister makes a nice model! Just don't wear her out, like I've done with my sisters, lol. Now they all refuse to pose for me, hehe. :)

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

08/11/2005 10:42:29 PM · #8

Thanks so much to everyone who has left comments so far! I took some suggestions and made a black and white photo and edited some of the contrast in the clouds image.

Thanks

christie3

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

08/11/2005 10:52:33 PM · #9

I think the b&w clouds image is much nicer.
Lovely work! :)

Canon EOS-60D

08/11/2005 11:06:11 PM · #10

Hi Joshua! We spoke about these in chat earlier today, and tonight I decided to try a couple of things with my two favorite of the bunch. I cropped and then cloned some on this first one, enhancing what was there and eliminating what didn't need to be. On the 2nd one, I used b/w and a soft filter effect, then brought the eyes back with the eraser tool so thaty they retained their sharpness. I think you did a great job for a first attempt. Keep trying all kinds of processing techniques and don't give up! :)

kenskid

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/11/2005 11:34:50 PM · #11

Hello,

I took the liberty of "bluring" out the roof. Took only a few seconds. With a little more time put in, this would be a great photo.

Hope this helps.

kenskid

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/11/2005 11:36:31 PM · #12

Hmmm I'm not sure you can see the photo...here's another try.

Your photo...blured out....

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

08/11/2005 11:55:30 PM · #13

I think she has wonderful eyes.
Here's a couple I did in b/w. Tried to keep the contrast inside the eyes. pardon the noise.

Sorry. I should have said that I find the colors a little saturated in some of them but with a redhead it might be hard to keep the colors more muted. She is a lovely model. Perhaps if she was in an area with more even/softer light there would better colors. You've made a good start.

Message edited by author 2005-08-12 00:03:23.

elsapo

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f1.2L

08/12/2005 12:18:35 AM · #14

here was my try on one of them...

Message edited by author 2005-08-12 11:29:58.

marmalade1121

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

08/12/2005 12:24:08 AM · #15

Try using a reflector card to battle some of the harsh shadows on her face. It's amazing what a couple of pieces of $6 foam core board will do to improve those harsh shadows.

Left a comment on one of the shots.

David.C

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

08/12/2005 01:37:42 AM · #16

A beautiful model and good location, but there are a few things that are immediately distracting. The eyes are the usually the most important aspect of a portrait, especially if mainly a head shot. Her eyes are left dark and lifeless by the combination of the overly dark makeup and shadows in the eyes. The makeup may not be controllable if she insists on it, but the shadows can be handled by reflecting light back up at them.

Oh, and tell her a joke.

David

08/12/2005 10:30:14 AM · #17

Originally posted by laurielblack:

Laurie... thanks so much for looking at them and giving them some much needed attention. I am going to try and reproduce your steps on the 2nd one. I am not sure if I have a soft filter, but will try to find one. Thanks again!

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

08/12/2005 10:40:22 AM · #18

Kenskid - I really like the idea behind the blur and I tried your method, but I cant' get it to look right around the outlines of her hair. I am not quite sure how to get it smooth and natural looking.

pcody - I like the black and white re-productions of the images. The lighting was really dim and in the wrong spots so some of the image's exposed under-sat. I post processed them with levels and sat to try and make them pop, but in some parts of her clothing it was over done. I think b/w takes some of that down. Thanks!

elsapo - i would love to see what you did, but the link doesn't work

marmalade1121 - I am sure its a great suggestion, but I really don't know what a reflector is, looks like or where to get it. If you have more informatoin about how and what to use it is much appreciated.

Britannica - great suggestions especially around the eyes. Unfortunately she is 16 and insist on wearing dark make up around her eyes. In this case I asked her to because I wanted to take a certain shot at the end. Was going to throw water on her face and make the make up run and then give her a fake gun and do a suicide shot by the water. Didn't end up doing it.

Thanks again everyone!

SJCarter

Canon EOS-7D

08/12/2005 11:15:58 AM · #19

Left some comments. Really nice work!