First Photo Shoot - DPChallenge Forums

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

03/26/2006 05:19:34 PM · #1

Well, just got done with my first ever photo shoot. Unfortunately mother nature was not very helpful bringing freezing cold temps and nasty grey clouds. However managed to get in a good hour of shooting in 5 different locations. Here are a few quick edits from the first location.

Any C&C's would be very much appreciated and any suggestions on how to improve them before I send them off would be great.

Thanks.

Message edited by author 2006-03-26 17:22:17.

hotpasta

Nikon D800

03/26/2006 05:31:01 PM · #2

I left a couple of comments on ny two preferred shots...I would have liked to have seen a couple of shots without the glasses, ny favourite is your middle shot

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

03/26/2006 05:33:02 PM · #3

Thanks. I got some without glasses, just haven't gotten to them yet.

kdkaboom

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

03/26/2006 05:35:27 PM · #4

I think the 3rd and 4th are the best exposed shots - first one has very red skin-tones...and the high key one just isn't for me (it's good tho!)

I think the most technically spot on, and naturally posed one, is the middle shot too.

Nice,
Katy

hotpasta

Nikon D800

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

03/26/2006 05:40:10 PM · #5

Jason, you have a great portfolio, and I think you should keep trying this kind of photography. Would like to see some of the other shots...

UNTITLED

Canon EOS-20D

Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II for Canon

03/26/2006 05:50:33 PM · #6

I'm not much of a portrait/model type of photgrapher, so I'll leave critques to others. But I did want to drop in and say the series looks very nice. Great work!

thegrandwazoo

Nikon D750

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

03/26/2006 05:59:14 PM · #7

Good job bro! They look good to me!

Artifacts

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/26/2006 06:47:01 PM · #8

Originally posted by JayWalk:

Two suggestions. First, consider cropping the images a lot tighter. The backgrounds add little interest to these compositions and the model is by far the most important content and should occupy as much frame real estate as possible. Second, though wearing sunglasses is not a bad thing try processing more showing the model's eyes. Eyes are the most expressive part of the human form.

If you have not already done so, conduct an Internet study of the galleries of professional portrait photographers, particularly those into "candid" portraits, to gather good ideas and emulate some of their work while adding your own ideas.

Last, and most important of all, take any advice you get from a landscape/nature photographer like me with a huge grain of salt. LOL!!

Message edited by author 2006-03-26 18:47:47.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/26/2006 07:33:43 PM · #9

I like the idea here. A little more contrast and you could have a really "edgy" shot. Here's what I'd recommend you play with... duplicate the layer in photoshop then set the layer style to either Overlay or Soft Light - either of which will drive up the contrast in the image. Then gaussian blur the layer and perhaps mask out the parts that you don't want softened.

Here's a quick 30 second edit of image #3 (my favorite of the series):

As for what to do different in the shoot next time... go with a really shallow depth of field and shoot at a 45 degree (or shallower) angle to the wall. That way the lines in the wall are not only leading lines to the subject, but you'll see them start out soft, come into focus and go soft again due to the shallow DOF and that will really emphasize the subject.

Have fun! :-)

Message edited by author 2006-03-26 19:34:38.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/26/2006 07:40:23 PM · #10

Ah... I just ran across a couple of examples of what I mean about shallow DOF, shooting at an angle to the wall, and a high contrast/edgy photo:

Click here

03/26/2006 10:47:21 PM · #11

^ Thanks for all the great advice. The soft light layer definitely made the pics pop more. The thing I learned most from this shoot is that I really need to start paying attention to the details. I lost lots of pics because I didn't notice a tree in the background (growing out of her head) or a reflection that I missed.

Anyway appreciate the comments. Here are a couple others (still have a TON more to go through).

edit: I think I definitely need to start doing some tighter cropping too.

Message edited by author 2006-03-26 22:49:31.